Representing and intervening in virtual technoworlds: simulations, fictions and controversies

Las simulaciones computacionales constituyen el principal campo de pruebas virtual en múltiples ciencias, una práctica distintiva con respecto al Representar e Intervenir que Hacking proponía en 1983. Estas no solamente constituyen una herramienta de cálculo, sino que también suponen una metodología de investigación en sí misma. A través de ellas se pueden recrear tecnomundos virtuales que sustituyen como objeto de estudio a sistemas naturales experimentalmente inaccesibles, como el cambio climático o fenómenos astrofísicos. Este artículo analiza la posibilidad de considerar este tipo de simulaciones como objetos de controversia superpuestos al debate del realismo científico. Para ello, se parte de la caracterización de Hacking, adoptando una perspectiva praxeológica y focalizándose en aquellas con potencial explicativo causal. Finalmente, se analiza la aplicabilidad de los argumentos de la intervención y la correspondencia múltiple de representaciones, analizando las diferencias y analogías entre la práctica de observar con microscopios y la práctica de simular con tecnología computacional.Computer simulations are currently the main virtual testing field within several scientific disciplines. It's a distinctive practice with respect to the Representing and Intervening proposed by Hacking in 1983. For, a computer simulation isn't solely a calculation tool; it also acts as a research methodology in itself. Through them, virtual technoworlds and their objects of study can be recreated—thereby granting access to experimentally inaccessible natural systems (i.e., climate change or astrophysical phenomena). This article analyzes the tenability of considering these simulations as objects of dispute, superimposed on the debate of scientific realism. To this end, we start with the characterization of Hacking by adopting a praxeological perspective, and then focusing on simulations with causal explanatory potential. Following this, the applicability of the arguments of intervention, as well as the multiple correspondence of representations, are evaluated. From this data, the article concludes with an analysis of the analogies and differences between the practice of observing by means of a microscope and simulating by means of computational technology

El antropoceno como concepto científico: un enfoque integrativo de su historia y axiología

267 p.The Anthropocene is a polyvocal term referring to a wide range of concepts, some of which remain under construction. This dissertation does not refer to the usual meaning of the word, as adopted by the academic circles of social sciences and humanities, but rather focuses on its original signification within natural sciences, namely: (i) as a change of state in the Earth System and (ii) as a potentially new Geological Time Unit. In contrast to the ideal of value-free objectivity implied by the dominant scientific discourse, the aim of this research is to comprehend how both conceptions are underpinned by a multitude of values, both explicitly and subtly.A central theme of the text is an examination of the Anthropocene Working Group (AWG), which, as of 2009, has been responsible for gathering empirical evidence in support of an eventual formalization of the Anthropocene in the International Chronostratigraphic Chart. First, it is shown that the conformation of the group was explicitly guided by ¿utility¿, a common epistemic value in the stratigraphic community. In this case, however, it has since been transmuted into a social, ecological and legal value. This axiological shift is discernible after revealing the sociohistorical linkage between the group and the recently constituted Earth System Science (ESS), wherein the term was first conceptualized and popularized from 2000 onwards.Understanding the underlying axiology of the Anthropocene, therefore, requires a reconstruction of its intellectual history. Second, alternative to the internalist, teleological and positivist historiography prevailing in scientific literature, it is demonstrated how the Anthropocene was an instance conditioned by the historical context of the second half of the 20th century, where the dangers of global change, modern ecologism, the internationalization of science, space exploration and advancements in computational technologies gave rise to a new object of study and intervention: the Earth System.The history of the Anthropocene conceptualization is then contrasted with a historical alternative derived from the 19th century. In 1873, the Italian geologist Antonio Stoppani first conceived of a geological era he denominated as ¿Anthropozoic¿¿this proposal subsequently being forgotten in the mid-twentieth century. The comparative reconsideration of his work reveals the implicit role of contextual values in both scientific formulations, entailing a set of background assumptions which need to be foreseen and taken into account. The entire process carried out in this dissertation can thus be understood through the framework I have formulated herein of ¿Historical Axiology¿: an integrative approach between philosophy and history of science, where the former provides the abstract vehicle of the historical narrative, while the latter allows for a situated reflection on the values present in our contemporary concerns

CIBERER : Spanish national network for research on rare diseases: A highly productive collaborative initiative

Altres ajuts: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII); Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación.CIBER (Center for Biomedical Network Research; Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red) is a public national consortium created in 2006 under the umbrella of the Spanish National Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII). This innovative research structure comprises 11 different specific areas dedicated to the main public health priorities in the National Health System. CIBERER, the thematic area of CIBER focused on rare diseases (RDs) currently consists of 75 research groups belonging to universities, research centers, and hospitals of the entire country. CIBERER's mission is to be a center prioritizing and favoring collaboration and cooperation between biomedical and clinical research groups, with special emphasis on the aspects of genetic, molecular, biochemical, and cellular research of RDs. This research is the basis for providing new tools for the diagnosis and therapy of low-prevalence diseases, in line with the International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC) objectives, thus favoring translational research between the scientific environment of the laboratory and the clinical setting of health centers. In this article, we intend to review CIBERER's 15-year journey and summarize the main results obtained in terms of internationalization, scientific production, contributions toward the discovery of new therapies and novel genes associated to diseases, cooperation with patients' associations and many other topics related to RD research

Futuros tecnocientíficos: nuevos desafíos en torno a la geoingeniería solar

The emergence and proliferation of techno-sciences since the mid-20th century has rapidly accelerated the transformation of natural spheres. The technosphere is a new interconnected system that has superimposed itself upon the biosphere. It consists of multiple artificial objects and their various interrelationships, accounting for a considerable amount of the environmental risks of our time. This article explores its expansion during the Great Acceleration of the 20th century from two practices within techno-scientific activity: the use of computer simulations and meteorological intervention. Both of them currently converge in the recent proposals for solar radiation management (SRM), which aims to transform and regulate atmospheric conditions in order to reduce global warming. The current climate crisis and the advancements in geoengineering suggest that there are certain elements that may give rise to the appearance of future climate techno-sciences, based on private initiatives and research platforms such as Future Earth. The prediction and prevalence of underlying risks are matters to be anticipated by STS studies. Together, they form an agenda of issues centered on the Technocene: the era of techno-sciences as the main altering force of the Earth System.A emergência e propagação das tecnociências desde meados do século XX acelerou a transformação das esferas naturais, com um novo sistema interligado sobreposto a elas: a tecnosfera, formada por múltiplos objetos artificiais e suas diversas inter-relações, que representam uma grande parte dos riscos ambientais do nosso tempo. Este artigo explora sua expansão durante a Grande Aceleração socioeconômica do século XX a partir de dois aspectos da atividade tecnocientífica: o uso de simulações e a intervenção meteorológica. Ambas as práticas estão atualmente convergindo nas propostas de gestão da radiação solar (SRM), cujas pretensões são a modificação e regulação das condições atmosféricas a fim de reduzir o aquecimento global. Dada a atual crise climática e os avanços desta geoengenharia, afirmamos que existem fatores que dão origem ao possível aparecimento de futuras tecnociências climáticas, baseadas em iniciativas privadas e plataformas de pesquisa como a Future Earth. A previsão e a pré-avaliação dos riscos subjacentes são questões que devem ser antecipadas a partir dos estudos CTS e que, juntamente com outros desafios, compõem uma agenda de problemas em torno do Tecnoceno: a era do impacto global das tecnociências sobre o Sistema Terra.Desde mediados del siglo XX, la emergencia y la propagación de las tecnociencias ha acelerado vertiginosamente la transformación de las esferas naturales, habiéndose superpuesto a ellas un nuevo sistema interconectado: la tecnosfera, formada por múltiples objetos artificiales y sus diversas interrelaciones, las cuales suponen buena parte de los riesgos medioambientales de nuestro tiempo. Este artículo explora su expansión durante la Gran Aceleración socioeconómica del siglo XX a partir de dos rasgos característicos de la actividad tecnocientífica: el uso de simulaciones y la intervención meteorológica. Ambas prácticas confluyen actualmente en las propuestas de gestión de la radiación solar (GRS), cuyas pretensiones son la modificación y la regulación de las condiciones atmosféricas en aras de reducir el calentamiento global. Dada la actual crisis climática y los avances en esta geoingeniería, afirmamos que hay factores que suscitan la posible aparición de unas futuras tecnociencias del clima, en base a iniciativas privadas y plataformas de investigación como Future Earth. La previsión y prevaloración de los riesgos subyacentes son cuestiones a las que conviene anticiparse desde los estudios CTS y que, junto con otros desafíos, componen una agenda de problemas en torno al Tecnoceno: la época del impacto global de las tecnociencias en el Sistema Tierra

Mundo(s) en desajuste

Reseña de: Amin Maalouf, El desajuste del mundo. Cuando nuestras civilizaciones se agota

Naturaleza urbana. Plataforma de experiencias

Naturaleza Urbana presenta experiencias autogestionadas que, con el tiempo, se han posicionado como ejercicios alternativos de identificación, monitoreo y recuperación de la biodiversidad urbana. En otros casos, el modelo comunidad-gobierno ha permitido desarrollar diagnósticos y propuestas de gestión corresponsables y sistémicas, entendiendo por esto último iniciativas que nacen desde los valores mismos que cada comunidad le atribuye a su biodiversidad. Del mismo modo, se presentan esfuerzos gubernamentales que han enriquecido la visión ambiental de los principales instrumentos de planificación urbana, por ejemplo, integrando la condición propiamente urbana como oportunidad para aumentar la oferta ambiental de la ciudad, fortaleciendo las funciones y procesos de la biodiversidad y revitalizando, con ello, la calidad de vida del entorno urbano. Por su parte, las universidades y los centros de investigación se han sumado a la ola emergente de generación de conocimiento en biodiversidad urbana (fenómeno nacional e internacional), han brindado evidencia científica de su valor para el bienestar humano y han propuesto reflexiones y lineamientos cualitativos de biodiversidad, con miras a hacer del ordenamiento un ejercicio más coherente con cada contexto territorial en particular.Bogotá, D. C., ColombiaInstituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humbold