Putting scientists in their place: Participatory research in environmental and occupational health

Date

1989

Authors

Merrifield, Juliet

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Economics Education Project

Abstract

Many community and workplace activists have come into head-on collision with the scientific establishment in recent years over threats to people's health from toxic chemicals in the environment and workplaces. These conflicts have cast doubts on some of the most deeply embedded values of science itself, including the central concept of objectivity. This article reviews some of the issues of control over the production and use of scientific knowledge which have emerged from struggles over the past decade in the southeastern United states. Alternative approaches have been developed which range from systematizing and validating people's own knowledge, to attempts to develop a 'new' science which is responsive to people's needs and accountable to their oversight.

Description

Keywords

Citation

Merrifield, J. (1989). Putting scientists in their place: Participatory research in environmental and occupational health (Economics Education Project Working Paper series #12). Highlander Research and Education Center.

Collections