Technology Translation and Synthesis: A Conceptual Framework for Critiquing Determinism in the Development Project

<p>This thesis constructs a theoretical framework which critiques the legitimacy of technology transfer for the purposes of development. Under the auspices of the development project, technology transfer has involved the introduction of technology into so-called developing societies in the hope of leapfrogging them toward modernity. This process embodies a deterministic definition of technology that sees it as an inherently objective and rational process, mapping the ideas of Western science. Hence, all technological and social change is expected to follow a linear progression from pre-modern to modern, and developing to developed, respectively. In contrast, philosophers of technology have argued that technology has a cultural dimension which permits multiple avenues of change. This definition incorporates a dialogue between technology and society, whereby technologies are reinterpreted and imbued with culturally specific meanings by the adopting societies. The culturally contingent nature of these meanings entails that they are not necessarily transferable between cultures. Rather, technology must be translated. Conceptually, technology translation requires that aspects of the donor and recipient cultures are intertwined, producing a novel set of hybridised meanings. I argue that this process occurs primarily through the mode of synthesis - an emergent process whose outcomes are not predictable based solely on a priori knowledge of the interacting cultures. These ideas are tested in case studies arising from Indian agriculture. Indian agriculture has a long history of external agricultural influence in the shape of European colonialism, the Green Revolution and the more recent Gene Revolution. The results support the idea that both technology transfer and synthesis have occurred in Indian agriculture following the adoption of new technologies. Development agencies must revise their simplistic notion of technology by acknowledging the centrality of culture as part of technology, therefore, if they wish to ensure greater success in the future.</p>

Technology Translation and Synthesis: A Conceptual Framework for Critiquing Determinism in the Development Project

<p>This thesis constructs a theoretical framework which critiques the legitimacy of technology transfer for the purposes of development. Under the auspices of the development project, technology transfer has involved the introduction of technology into so-called developing societies in the hope of leapfrogging them toward modernity. This process embodies a deterministic definition of technology that sees it as an inherently objective and rational process, mapping the ideas of Western science. Hence, all technological and social change is expected to follow a linear progression from pre-modern to modern, and developing to developed, respectively. In contrast, philosophers of technology have argued that technology has a cultural dimension which permits multiple avenues of change. This definition incorporates a dialogue between technology and society, whereby technologies are reinterpreted and imbued with culturally specific meanings by the adopting societies. The culturally contingent nature of these meanings entails that they are not necessarily transferable between cultures. Rather, technology must be translated. Conceptually, technology translation requires that aspects of the donor and recipient cultures are intertwined, producing a novel set of hybridised meanings. I argue that this process occurs primarily through the mode of synthesis - an emergent process whose outcomes are not predictable based solely on a priori knowledge of the interacting cultures. These ideas are tested in case studies arising from Indian agriculture. Indian agriculture has a long history of external agricultural influence in the shape of European colonialism, the Green Revolution and the more recent Gene Revolution. The results support the idea that both technology transfer and synthesis have occurred in Indian agriculture following the adoption of new technologies. Development agencies must revise their simplistic notion of technology by acknowledging the centrality of culture as part of technology, therefore, if they wish to ensure greater success in the future.</p>

Introduction

The study of music in the political and religious contexts of Third Republic France poses challenges that center around the relationship between the Catholic Church and the French Republic and the role of the musician therein. This introduction frames how the political and religious landscapes of the Third Republic have been discussed in the past and how cultural products shaped and were shaped by their social environment. Finally, it sets up the book’s ultimate move away from the simplistic notion that Church and State were separated by irreconcilable differences by introducing key players in the Republic’s musical transformation of Catholicism into an acceptable and desirable facet of its national and international identity.

Inside the Theatre of Business: Performance and Corporate Presentation Training

How are theatre-techniques used in business training? Do theatre-making skills represent a unique field of knowledge? In this case study, I consider the National Institute of Dramatic Art’s (NIDA) ‘Executive Presenter’ two- day course in Sydney, Australia, and attempt to counter a simplistic notion of theatre as magical practice. Performance techniques are complex, historically and culturally-contingent processes for making and sharing meaning (McAuley 2008). I describe exercises from the course in some detail ‒ including elements of space, voice, body, structure, awareness, spontaneity, and rehearsal ‒ and suggest that we can understand these presentation skills in a relationship of continuity with everyday meaning-making, rather than as a magical art form. On the one hand, NIDA trades off and reinforces the popular mystique surrounding acting. On the other hand, the course introduces simple and effective techniques of verbal and non-verbal communication. Ultimately, my investigation considers the claim made in marketing the course that ‘public speaking can come naturally to you.’

The Black Madonna: A Theoretical Framework for the African Origins of Other World Religious Beliefs

This review summarizes existing scholarship in order to theorize how Abrahamic religions and Hinduism were influenced by African beliefs, in order to illuminate the contributions that African beliefs have had on other world religions. The review begins with a brief historical overview of the origins of indigenous ideologies, followed by a review of classical theories of religion and a summary of contemporary religious trends, with particular attention on African beliefs. The Black Madonna, with origins in Africa, is a prominent example of how African beliefs have been integrated into other faiths in ways that are often obscured from view. The Black Madonna is compared with the characteristics and symbolism of the traditional fair-skinned Virgin Mary. It is estimated that there are hundreds of depictions of the Black Madonna, yet her identity as truly black is generally minimized. This review contributes a theoretical rationale for the lack of recognition and acceptance of the Madonna as black, contextualizing this within a feminist theoretical viewpoint and analyzing the connection to African folklore and traditional religious beliefs. The theoretical framework articulated in this paper contributes an elucidation of the ways that indigenous African religions have affected other world religions. Acknowledging this influence challenges the simplistic notion of reified distinctions between Western and non-Western religions.

Looking beyond PGC-1α: emerging regulators of exercise-induced skeletal muscle mitochondrial biogenesis and their activation by dietary compounds

Despite its widespread acceptance as the “master regulator” of mitochondrial biogenesis (i.e., the expansion of the mitochondrial reticulum), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α) appears to be dispensable for the training-induced augmentation of skeletal muscle mitochondrial content and respiratory function. In fact, a number of regulatory proteins have emerged as important players in skeletal muscle mitochondrial biogenesis and many of these proteins share key attributes with PGC-1α. In an effort to move past the simplistic notion of a “master regulator” of mitochondrial biogenesis, we highlight the regulatory mechanisms by which nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), estrogen-related receptor gamma (ERRγ), PPARβ, and leucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat-containing protein (LRP130) may contribute to the control of skeletal muscle mitochondrial biogenesis. We also present evidence supporting/refuting the ability of sulforaphane, quercetin, and epicatechin to promote skeletal muscle mitochondrial biogenesis and their potential to augment mitochondrial training adaptations. Targeted activation of specific pathways by these compounds may allow for greater mechanistic insight into the molecular pathways controlling mitochondrial biogenesis in human skeletal muscle. Dietary activation of mitochondrial biogenesis may also be useful in clinical populations with basal reductions in mitochondrial protein content, enzyme activities, and/or respiratory function as well as individuals who exhibit a blunted skeletal muscle responsiveness to contractile activity. Novelty The existence of redundant pathways leading to mitochondrial biogenesis refutes the simplistic notion of a “master regulator” of mitochondrial biogenesis. Dietary activation of specific pathways may provide greater mechanistic insight into the exercise-induced mitochondrial biogenesis in human skeletal muscle.

Causation and the Origin of Suboptimal Design in Biology

This paper seeks to demonstrate why the existence of suboptimal design in biology does not offer a reason for Christians to reject the biological case for Intelligent Design (ID). In it, I argue that Christians who critique ID based upon alleged deficiencies within biology fail to imagine the various ways in which a divine designer might bring about certain biological effects. That is, such critics presumably envision a simplistic notion of divine causation—where God either directly brings about every biological effect, or is not involved in any biological effect. Such either or thinking, I maintain, is theologically unnecessary.

Coaching Effectiveness: A Personal Discourse on Bringing Clarity to an Overused Concept

Coaching effectiveness is a ubiquitous term in the sport coaching literature, yet it remains ill-defined and challenging to operationalize. This paper explores the concept and provides a polemic intended to generate discussion within the field. Effectiveness is a more nuanced concept than generally accepted and is best considered a superordinate concept that synthesizes other lower order concepts. Feature matching approaches are most common but provide, at best, a partial account of effective practice. This has also led to a focus on ineffective behavior. The simplistic notion of effectiveness as goal achievement is not as straightforward as it seems and in setting the bar too high, effectiveness has been equated with excellence. Effective coaching should imply that coaches have drawn on their expertise to harness appropriately the resources available in the context of environment and ambition. In this sense, effective coaching is a realizable goal for all coaches; it may or may not lead to performance success. It remains a useful “unifying label” for reasoning about sport coaching.

What screening does

This chapter gives a deeper understanding of screening, and of the diverse consequences it brings. It illustrates the overdetection problem with reference to mammography breast screening programmes, and explains the ‘popularity paradox’ that this leads to. In the early days, the simplistic notion that screening must automatically be beneficial meant that people only asked ‘why are we not doing it?’ Later scientific challenges brought a new question, ‘How do we tell if screening succeeds in reducing risk?’ This served well as a driving force for better evaluation, but it ignored the need to assess harmful consequences. Growing experience has revealed the need to ask ‘what are all the consequences?’ Different observers see some consequences more starkly than others depending on their viewpoint. This chapter explains why it is important to consider a complete overview of an entire programme and to recognise that overdetection, overtreatment and underdetection, are inevitable features even when screening is delivered to a high quality.

SCIENTISTS’ PERCEPTIONS ON THE NATURE OF NANOSCIENCE AND ITS PUBLIC COMMUNICATION

Some level of understanding of and about nanoscience and nanotechnology (NST) has been suggested as being relevant in up-to-date scientific literacy for all. Research scientists working in these fields are central in current efforts to inform and engage the public in NST. Earlier research has shown that scientists can contribute to authentic science learning, but communication always entails roles that affect the choice of content. This study investigated NST researchers’ views on the nature of their research and their preferences in NST communication. Eight experienced professors working in various fields of NST were interviewed. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews focused on the scientists’ views on 1) the nature of their research, and 2) aspects of NST that should be communicated to the public. Qualitative content analysis of the interviews revealed that the themes the interviewees highlighted when describing their research (interdisciplinarity, size scale, methods, objects, nature of NST in general) were somewhat different from the ones they considered as important for communication to the public (applications and products, risks and benefits, visualizations). The results problematize the simplistic notion that exposure to real scientists would unquestionably enhance the authenticity of science learning. This study gives insight for research and development of science communication, especially scientists’ role and training in it. Keywords: authenticity, nanoscience, nature of science, science communication, scientist interviews.