Research Profile
Dr Robert Evans
Career Profile
- 1998 to date: Lecturer then (from 2003) Senior Lecturer in Sociology, Cardiff School of Social Sciences
- 1996 – 1998: Research Associate, Centre for Urban Technology, Department of Town and Country Planning, University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Biography
After a false start as an electrical and electronic engineering student at Bath University I belatedly discovered the social sciences and have been hooked ever since. Given this background it is perhaps unsurprising that I have come to specialise in the sociology of science and technology, though my interests remain in the public participation part of the STS agenda rather than the laboratory case studies that characterise its early work. To some extent this is reflected in my research work, which has moved from macroeconomic forcasting (my PhD) to environmental modelling (my first job) to genomics (CESAGen) and now the nature of expertise. My current work tries to bring the different strands together, focussing mainly on the nature and development of expertise and how its different kinds and types can (and should) be used. Details of current research interests and publications are available in the other sections of this page or from my personal website.
Awards and Prizes
- Key Note Speaker, ‘Talking Biotechnology’ Conference, Wellington, New Zealand;
- Book Reviews Editor, Social Studies of Science;
- Organiser, with Professor Simon Marvin (SURF Centre), of the ‘Urban Science: Re-Negotiating the Boundaries between Science, Technology and Society?’ workshop in Jan 2005 and funded by the European Science Foundation as part of their ‘Forward Look’;
- Organiser, with Professor Harry Collins, of the Demarcation Socialised Conference held at Cardiff University in August 2000 and funded by the European Union.
Memberships / External Activities
- Editorial Board Member and Book Reviews Editor, Social Studies of Science
- Member of: Society for Social Studies of Science (4S), European Association for the Study of Science and Technology (EASST), Social Research Association Cymru, Science Alliance Wales.
- Fellow of ILT, now Higher Education Academy, since 2003
Teaching Profile
Teaching Topics:
- Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods at undergraduate (years one and two) and postgraduate levels
- Research Design for Masters and Professional Doctorate schemes
- Science and Technology Studies at undergraduate and postgraduate levels
Graduate Supervision
- Sociology of Scientific Knowledge
- Science and Technology Studies
- Public Understanding of Science
- Science and/or technology in policy
Administrative Roles
- Chair, SOCSI Technical Resources Committee
- Scheme Convenor, MSc Science Media and Communication
- Scheme Convenor, MSc Social Science Research Methods (Science Studies pathway)
- International Student Exchange Co-ordinator