Knowledge machine or cloak of (in)visibility? The -ism in the room

Just follow the science (it’s not rocket science!) because by now we have it down to a science and that’s scientific because we got it from the scientists who are - after all - the experts we should be deferring to when it comes to the science. What does this barrage of honorifics have to do with science? Beyond playing dress up and using almost every variation of the s-word to heap generic, epistemic praise - precious little. Drawing on the speaker’s experience of navigating the necessary limitations of the social sciences, this talk explores a few of the pitfalls (and attractions) of scientism - an inappropriately deferential attitude to scientific inquiry and findings that employs the prestige of science for disguise and/or protection. Acknowledging the unfortunate misuse of this -ism in blanket attacks on the scientific process, the talk also makes a case for championing the systematic pursuit of knowledge of the natural and social world based on evidence - a tradition which has had significant and wide-reaching positive impacts on life as we know it.

About the speaker:

Magriet Cruywagen is a Glasgow-based social researcher and systemic coach working at the intersection of education, health and social policy and practice, with a central interest in the design and implementation of research-practice collaborations and other collaborative research strategies. She is the Lead for Research-Practice Collaboration for the Health Determinants Research Collaboration Glasgow, which is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research. Her doctoral research at the University of Glasgow explored the potential of research-practice collaborations in schools in the South African context. In parallel she designed and led an embedded research-practice collaboration as part of the Glasgow Child Poverty Pathfinder, an initiative of the Glasgow City Council and Scottish Government. When she’s not facilitating, thinking, or writing about collaboration, Magriet spends a good chunk of her time developing resources to support social scientists in training to grapple with, and clarify, the philosophical foundations of their work.

Attendance is free. No ticket is required. We operate on a first come first served basis. It's relatively rare that we fill up the function room, but please be aware that if things are looking busy, the earlier you get there the less chance there is of not getting in.

Although the event is free, we will be asking for donations at the end of the talk. Participants are under no obligation whatsoever to donate, however please rest assured that the money we collect doesn't end up in anyone's pocket - it is used to fund our overhead costs, and travel/accommodation for our speakers who come from further afield.

Accessibility: The Admiral Woods Bar now has a functioning lift which can take wheelchair users (or others who are unable to manage stairs) down to the function room. There is also a disabled toilet in the function room area.