S4 Ep 4 - Darrin Durant on 'Expertise'

The HPS Podcast - Conversations from History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Science

Today Carmelina is joined by Dr Darrin Durant a Senior Lecturer in HPS at the University of Melbourne specialising in Science and Technology studies. Darrin's research covers two seemingly distinct areas: nuclear energy and expertise. Yet nuclear energy and other contested public policy issues are informed by experts on both sides of the debate. As Darrin explains in today’s episode, there are different types of expertise and we must learn to better judge who is, and who isn’t an expert.

Using real-world case studies, Darrin discusses the problems around creating public policy where conflicting scientific evidence or scientific uncertainty exists. By understanding how conflicting positions are treated when differing expert opinions arise and by understanding the different types of expertise at play, Darrin argues that policymakers and the public are better equipped to make active judgements about the experts involved and the contentious issues under discussion.
Transcript available here (links to an external site)
Relevant Links:
Profile:

• Darrin Durant | HPS | University of Melbourne

Books:

• Experts and the Will of the People | Collins, Evans, Durant & Weinel
• The Crisis of Expertise | Eyal
• Merchants of Doubt | Oreskes & Conway
• Impure Science | Epstein
• Vanishing Bees | Suryanarayanan & Kleinman

Book Chapters:

• The Undead Linear Model of Expertise | Durant
• Misunderstood Misunderstandings | Wynne

Thanks for listening to The HPS Podcast. You can find more about us on our website, Bluesky, Instagram and Facebook feeds.
This podcast would not be possible without the support of School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne and the Hansen Little Public Humanities Grant scheme.

Music by ComaStudio.
Website HPS Podcast | hpsunimelb.org