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Artwork for New Books in Science, Technology, and Society

New Books in Science, Technology, and Society

New Books Network
Technology
Climate Change
Complex Technologies
Mundania
Engineering Ethics
Digital Cultures
Transparency
Wicked Problems
User Experience
Systems Engineering
Artificial Intelligence
Social Change
Science Communication
NASA
Space Shuttle
Infrastructure
Gravity
Human Behavior
Complexity In Engineering
Fossil Fuels

Interviews with Scholars of Science, Technology, and Society about their New Books Support our show by becoming a premium member! newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science-technology-and-society

PublishesDailyEpisodes2748Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceSocial Sciences

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Artwork for New Books in Science, Technology, and Society

Latest Episodes

In the 1970s, the invention of the home pregnancy test changed what it means to be pregnant. For the first time, women could use a technology in the privacy of their own homes that gave them a yes or no answer. That answer had the power to change the... more

Plastic is ubiquitous. It is in the Arctic, in the depths of the Mariana Trench, and in the high mountaintops of the Pyrenees. It is in the air we breathe and the water we drink. Nanoplastics penetrate our cell walls. Plastic is not just any material... more

Once used extensively in schools, hospitals, and housing, asbestos has taken the lives of millions. Bad Dust: A History of the Asbestos Disaster (Repeater, 2025) by Tom White traces the international history of the asbestos disaster — from mining ope... more

Over the span of a single decade, VHS technology changed the relationship between privacy and entertainment, pried open the closed societies behind the Iron Curtain, and then sank back into oblivion. Its meteoric rise and fall encapsulated the dynami... more

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Recent Guests

Tom White
Author of 'Bad Dust: A History of the Asbestos Disaster'
Repeater
Episode: Tom White, "Bad Dust: A History of the Asbestos Disaster" (Repeater, 2025)
Dr. Oana Godeanu-Kenworthy
Author and academic specializing in Global Intercultural Studies
Miami University, Ohio
Episode: Oana Godeanu-Kenworthy, "Videotape" (Bloomsbury, 2025)
Dana Boyd
Author and researcher focusing on social implications of technology
Cornell University
Episode: Cory Doctorow on Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It
Cory Doctorow
Writer, activist, and author known for his work on digital rights
Electronic Frontier Foundation
Episode: Cory Doctorow on Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It
Hilary Allen
Law professor at the American University, Washington College of Law
American University, Washington College of Law
Episode: Hilary Allen, "Fintech Dystopia: A Summer Beach Read about Silicon Valley Ruining Things" (2025)
Dr. Christopher Ali
Associate Professor at University of Virginia in the Department of Media Studies
University of Virginia
Episode: Christopher Ali, "Farm Fresh Broadband: The Politics of Rural Connectivity" (MIT, 2021)
Alex Priou
Professor of Political Philosophy at the University of Boston, author focusing on technology and ideology.
Boston University
Episode: The Technological Soul: Alex Priou on Modernity, Ideology, and the Limits of Reason
Liam Graham
Author of Physics Fixes All the Facts. Background in theoretical physics and economics.
Springer
Episode: Liam Graham, "Physics Fixes All the Facts" (Springer Nature, 2025)
James Elwick
Scholar in Science, Technology and Society
York University
Episode: James Elwick, "Making a Grade: Victorian Examinations and the Rise of Standardized Testing" (U Toronto Press, 2025)

Host

Dr. Miranda Melcher
Host of New Books Network

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 75 ratings
  • Excellent, but please fix the audio

    Excellent content, but the audio of the introductory part is disturbed by static noise. Thankfully the introduction is pretty short. The audio of the interview is much better. I think it would be wise to get a new microphone.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Em1975
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the insightful content and the depth of interviews with scholars and authors in the fields of science and technology. However, there are some concerns about audio quality, particularly during introductions, suggesting that technical improvements could enhance the experience.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Oana Godeanu-Kenworthy, "Videotape" (Bloomsbury, 2025)
Q: Could you start us off, please, by introducing yourself a little bit and tell us why you decided to write an Object Lessons book and one about videotapes?
I'm an academic in Global Intercultural Studies, interested in popular culture and media. My personal connection to videotapes from my childhood in Romania during their restrictive era and a workshop ignited the idea for my book on the subject.
Heather Davis, "Plastic Matter" (Duke UP, 2022)
Q: What is plastic matter?
Davis explains that plastic matter describes the recursive relationship between the desire for matter to be plastic and the broader implications of how such materials have emerged and influenced our lives.
Heather Davis, "Plastic Matter" (Duke UP, 2022)
Q: Could you talk about your personal relationship to plastic?
Davis relates her personal background, detailing how her grandfather worked at DuPont and contributed to the development of plastic products, which made her reflect deeply on the impact of plastic in modern life.
Tom White, "Bad Dust: A History of the Asbestos Disaster" (Repeater, 2025)
Q: At what point then does it start to become apparent that there are some health problems with all of this?
Tom points out that health issues related to asbestos were evident from the 1880s, with identifiable diseases emerging by the 1920s.
Tom White, "Bad Dust: A History of the Asbestos Disaster" (Repeater, 2025)
Q: When, why, and how do we get kind of a big, modern industrial scale industry going?
Tom outlines how the industrial revolution and the discovery of chrysotile deposits in Quebec led to the expansion of the asbestos industry.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The focus is on in-depth discussions with scholars in the fields of science, technology, and society, showcasing their recent publications. Topics frequently include the historical and cultural implications of scientific advancements, environmental issues, technology's role in society, and the intersections of various disciplines such as literature, ethics, and politics. The conversations tend to emphasize critical analysis and exploration of contemporary challenges and innovative ideas surrounding science and technology, making it a valuable resource for listeners interested in current academic discourse and socio-political discussions.

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. New Books in Critical Theory
2. The LRB Podcast
3. Science Magazine Podcast
4. Intelligence Squared
5. In Our Time

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 14 years ago and published 2748 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Tom White
2. Dr. Oana Godeanu-Kenworthy
3. Dana Boyd
4. Cory Doctorow
5. Hilary Allen
6. Dr. Christopher Ali
7. Alex Priou
8. Liam Graham

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