Sheila Jasanoff Books
Sheila Jasanoff is a professor of Science and Technology Studies at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Her research focuses on the relationship between science, technology, and law, and she is recognized as a leading scholar in the field of science policy and governance.
Known for: The Fifth Branch: Science Advisers as Policymakers
Books by Sheila Jasanoff
The Fifth Branch: Science Advisers as Policymakers
This book examines the role of science advisers in shaping public policy in the United States. Sheila Jasanoff explores how scientific expertise interacts with political decision-making, analyzing case studies from environmental regulation, biotechnology, and risk assessment. The work argues that science advisers act as a 'fifth branch' of government, mediating between scientific knowledge and democratic governance.
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The Historical Context: Science Joins the State
The story of the fifth branch begins after World War II, when the success of scientific mobilization for the war effort inspired a new model of governance. Science was seen as the ultimate instrument of national strength and rational progress. Federal agencies expanded their research arms, advisory ...
From The Fifth Branch: Science Advisers as Policymakers
Theory: Where Science Meets Policy and Law
The conceptual foundation of *The Fifth Branch* lies in understanding science as a social practice deeply intertwined with political and legal norms. Policymakers like to imagine science as offering ‘facts’ that can guide decisions; scientists often prefer to see politics as something that begins on...
From The Fifth Branch: Science Advisers as Policymakers
About Sheila Jasanoff
Sheila Jasanoff is a professor of Science and Technology Studies at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Her research focuses on the relationship between science, technology, and law, and she is recognized as a leading scholar in the field of science policy and governance.
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Sheila Jasanoff is a professor of Science and Technology Studies at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Her research focuses on the relationship between science, technology, and law, and she is recognized as a leading scholar in the field of science policy and governance.
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