There is no individual mastermind in highly complex, contemporary experimental research. Faced with this insight, Susann Wagenknecht investigated the collaborative practices of scientific knowledge creation. She studied two research groups in experimental science and discusses her empirical insights prior to describing the background to social epistemology and philosophy of science.

Susann Wagenknecht’s work focuses on the division of labour among research group members. The expertise of collaborating group members may be distinct, and their individual knowledge is limited. As research is divided, collaborating scientists therefore engage in relations of mutual dependence. These dependence relations are facilitated by trust. Susann Wagenknecht analyses the role of dependence and trust in research group collaboration and elaborates on how scientific knowledge is created in highly complex contemporary research that no single scientist could conduct on his or her own.

The PhD project was conducted at the Centre for Science Studies, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Science and Technology, Aarhus University.

Time: Monday 3 March 2014 at 13.15.
Place: Lecture Theatre D3, building 1531, room 215, Aarhus University
Title of dissertation: Collaboration in scientific practice. A social epistemology of research groups
Contact information: Susann Wagenknecht, su.wagen@ivs.au.dk

Members of the assessment committee
Dr Kristina Rolin, Helsinki School of Economics and Business Administration, University of Helsinki, Finland
Professor Peter Sandøe, Department of Large Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen
Associate Professor Henrik Kragh Sørensen (chair), Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University
Main Supervisor
Centre Director Hanne Andersen, Centre for Science Studies, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University
Language: The dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The dissertation is available for reading at the Graduate School of Science and Technology/GSST, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, room 112, 8000 Aarhus C.