Science in action : how to follow scientists and engineers through society

The conventional perception of science in Western societies has been modified in recent years by the work of philosophers, sociologists and historians of science. This book brings together these different approaches to provide an analysis of science, demonstrating how social context and technical content are both essential to a proper understanding of scientific activity. Emphasizing that science can only be understood through its practice, the author examines science and technology in action, the role of scientific literature, the activities of laboratories, the institutional context of science in the modern world, and the means by which inventions and discoveries become accepted. From the study of scientific practice he develops an analysis of science as the building of networks.