Prof.dr.ir. Wiebe E. Bijker

Professor of Technology & Society

Wiebe E. Bijker is professor of Technology & Society at the University of Maastricht. He was trained as an engineer in applied physics (Technical University of Delft), studied philosophy (University of Groningen), and holds a PhD in the sociology and history of technology (University of Twente). Bijker is Director of Studies of the research master MPhil-degree programme Cultures of Arts, Science, and Technology (CAST).

Bijker was President of the Society for Social Studies of Science (4S), and was director and chairman of the board of the Netherlands Research School on Science, Technology and Modern Culture (WTMC). Currently he is member of the Executive Council of the Society for the History of Technology (SHOT). He is founding co-editor of the monograph series Inside Technology of MIT Press. Bijker helped to create, and was the first scientific coordinator of, the European master’s degree program on Society, Science and Technology (ESST), carried out by some 18 universities in 10 European countries. Bijker is member of the Executive Committee of the EU Network of Excellence PRIME.

Bijker’s research focuses on the relation between technology, society, and science. Since the 1990’s political and normative issues have been central in Bijker’s research. These are being studied in a variety of empirical domains: nanotechnologies, biotechnologies, ICT, gender and technology, public health policies, science & technology for developing nations, sustainable agriculture, public participation experiments, architecture and planning. His most recent work relates to issues of vulnerability in a technological culture — including the fundamental need for some vulnerability in an innovating society. Bijker chaired the Health Council’s committee on risks and benefits of nanotechnologies; this advice was adopted by the Dutch government and forms the core of the Dutch government’s vision on nanotechnologies.

On 8th January 2009 Bijker delivered the keynote address at the occasion of the Diës Natalis (anniversary) of Maastricht University: can be downloaded from Research page.

Keywords

science and technology studies, SCOT: social construction of technology, science and technology policy, research and technology for development, gender & technlogy, history of technology