#218 Sabina Leonelli: Science in the World of Big Data
Dr. Sabina Leonelli is Professor of Philosophy and History of Science at the University of Exeter. She pursues an approach to philosophy of science that is grounded on the empirical study of scientific practices, as informed by historical research, ethnographic methods used in the social and anthropological studies of science and technology, and collaboration with practicing scientists. She has a strong interest in topics like Data-Intensive Science and Practices of Data Sharing and Re-Use, Open Science and Open Data, Bio-Ontologies, and Historic and Epistemic Status of Model Organism Research. She’s the author of Data-Centric Biology: A Philosophical Study, and “La ricerca scientifica nell’era dei Big Data” (“Scientific Research in the Era of Big Data”).
In this episode, we talk about science and Big Data, based mostly on Dr. Leonelli’s book, Data-Centric Biology. We discuss the relationship between data and science; data classification; bio-ontologies; what are curators, their role, and their relationship with scientists and researchers. We also talk about the processes of decontextualizing and recontextualizing data, and data travels; and how political and financial powers might interfere with the production of scientific knowledge. Toward the end, we also talk about the role that model organisms have played in Biology, and the potential of synthetic biology.
Time Links:
The relationship between data and science
Data classification
Bio-ontologies
The role of curators of data, and their relationship with scientists
Decontextualization, recontextualization, and data travels
Political and financial interference with science production
Model organisms in Biology
Could synthetic biology play an important role?
Follow Dr. Leonelli’s work!
Follow Dr. Leonelli’s work:
Faculty Page: https://bit.ly/2W25PTi
ResearchGate profile: https://bit.ly/2K2TyXU
Data Studies: https://bit.ly/2JmEPF2
Books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Ny6TuA
Data-Centric Biology: A Philosophical Study: https://amzn.to/2XmYOxc
Twitter handle: @SabinaLeonelli