Japanese Science : From the Inside

ISBN-13: 9780415201698 / Angielski / Twarda / 1999 / 232 str.

Samuel J. Coleman

Opis

Japan's performance in the field of scientific research has been less than might be expected. There has been a curious dichotomy between what has gone on in the laboratory and the country's outstanding technical sophistication and economic success. However, this may be about to change. This new ethnograpic study of Japan's scientists looks firsthand at the career structures and organizational issues that have hampered their advancement. It provides an analysis of the problem of career mobility in science, the status quo in university and government laboratories, relations between scientists and lay administrators and the problems encountered by women scientists. The book contests the view that Japan's relatively poor scientific record has been the product of cultural factors and instead demonstrates the importance of moribund policy decisions in holding back dynamic and ambitious scientists.

Recenzje

'Samuel Coleman provides a profound and insightful critique of scientific organizations in Japan. The book is based on extensive fieldwork in a number of bioscience-related laboratories and research institutes. And, most importantly, rather than rushing towards his own judgements, Coleman provides ample space for the views and voices of Japanese researchers themselves.' - Robert Triendl, Nature

'The writer's combination of anthropological background, understanding of scientific issues and Japanese skills combine to ensure it is an approachable and comprehensive work.' - The Japan Society

Spis treści

Foreword by Arthur Kornberg. Acknowledgments. Conventions and Abbreviations. Chapter One: Introduction. Chapter Two: The University Status Quo. Chapter Three: A Government Research Institute. Chapter Four: The Protein Engineering Research Institute. Chapter Five: The Osaka Bioscience Institute and New Career Patterns. Chapter Six: OBI as Window on the Scientist-Government Relationship. Chapter Seven: Gender. Chapter Eight: The Obstacles to Change. Chapter Nine: The Unique and the Particular. Bibliography of Sources in English. Bibliography of Sources in Japanese. Appendix One: Brief Description of Research Methods and Conditions. Appendix Two: PERI Departmental Structure, and List of Corporate Participants in PERI, 1986-1996, and BERI, 1996-

O autorze

Samuel Coleman