Bio-sociotechnical Systems: integrating sociotechnical and biological systems in policy
Authors: André de Campos, Janaina Pamplona da Costa, Renan Leonel
Keywords: STI policies, bio-sociotechnical systems, systemic change
Abstract:
Recently there have been calls to integrate approaches based on Innovation Studies with Science and Technology Studies to analyse and evaluate the impact of allocation of resources on Science, Technology and Innovation. We propose to integrate analysis on sociotechnical systems, biosocial systems and policy evaluation.
As a series of emergent diseases, namely Ebola Virus Disease, Zika virus and Covid-19 have overwhelmed health services and resulted in international emergencies, new Science, Technology and Innovation policy approaches are badly needed. The response to these diseases has shown that past policy approaches are not adequate to respond to emergent societal challenges. Consequently, the policy and the scientific arenas should look for new conceptual and theoretical approaches to underpin new policy formulation and implementation (e.g. W. E. Steinmueller 2013). In the wake of these developments, novel interpretations of the connection between biological, technical and social systems are required.
Based on the proposition of Fox, Griffy-Brown & Dabic (2020) and de Campos et al. (2024) to analyse how biological systems influence applications of Science, Technology and Innovation in society, and on existing biosocial and sociotechnical concepts; this track wishes to explore the concept of Bio-Sociotechnical Systems and how it could contribute to novel policy approaches. The purpose of this track is to contribute to the development of a framework to allow the understanding of how systemic changes in biological components, inter-relate to changes in social and technical components and with Science, Technology and Innovation policy formulation and implementation.
The track aims at extending the traditional sociotechnical perspective, which contends technological artefacts shape society, and that such artifacts are, at the same time, shaped by societal elements. Besides factors such as regulations, infra-structure, social norms and values; the Bio-Sociotechnical Systems approach contends that biological systems are central in the response of future Science, Technology and Innovation policy challenges.
We welcome submissions to analyse this issue from the perspective of knowledge production in health and any other bio-dimension related to societal problems and their interconnection to Science, Technology and Innovation policy formulation. We are particularly interested in knowledge co-production and participatory approaches in Bio-Sociotechnical systems. Topics of interest include and are not limited to:
• The role of infrastructures in health services and science in Bio-sociotechnical policy analysis;
• Integration of science, public health and public opinion in Science, Technology and Innovation social acceptance;
• Bio-sociotechnically shaped infrastructures for Science, Technology and Innovation;
• Bio-sociotechnical systems and Science, Technology and Innovation policy for vaccines;
• Bio-sociotechnical systems for Science, Technology and Innovation policy in relation to biofuels, food and water.