*STS Circle at Harvard * [image: samuelevansresear/7D21F2C9.gif] * *
*Rajeswari Raina* *National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies**, India* * * on *Norms of expertise–agricultural production and the environment in India * Monday, September 19 12:15-2:00 p.m. 124 Mt. Auburn Street, Suite 100, Room 106 [image: samuelevansresear/7D21F2C9.gif] Lunch is provided if you RSVP. Please RSVP to sts <[email protected]>@hks.harvard.edu<[email protected]>by 5pm Thursday, September 15. * * *Abstract:* Policy concerns in Indian agriculture are no longer confined to increasing productivity. Political leaders and policy makers demand that scientists pay more attention to environmental degradation and limited incremental response to production technologies. But there is little discussion on the content of these technologies and the ways in which they are generated. An analysis of the evolution of public sector agricultural R&D, especially the ways in which credentials for selection and authorisation of expertise as well as the autonomy granted to experts are formulated and practiced, reveals how the distance between production and the environment is institutionalized. Despite voicing concern about the environment, policy instruments repeatedly reinforce expertise that pitches agricultural technologies against the environment. Drawing upon the example of diverse rainfed cropping systems, and the case of pest management in particular, the paper elaborates on different dimensions of expertise. It argues for a different understanding of expertise, within a framework of agriculture *in* the environment. *Biography*: Rajeswari S. Raina* *(Ph.D. Economics – Centre for Development Studies)* *is a* *Scientist with the National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies (NISTADS), CSIR, New Delhi. She has a background in the sciences and economics, and is a keen student of the interface between development policy and scientific knowledge. Current research focuses on policy and institutional reform, as well as capacities for (a) innovation for inclusive development in India and China, (b) bio-innovation systems, and (c) changes in agriculture-environment policies, knowledge and practice. A complete list of STS Circle at Harvard events can be found on our website: http://www.hks.harvard.edu/sts/events/sts_circle/ Follow us on Facebook: STS@Harvard <http://www.facebook.com/HarvardSTS> You are currently subscribed to the Harvard STS Circle mailing list. [email protected] To unsubscribe, please click here: http://lists.ksg.harvard.edu/u?id=75176.c8dba4a21e684a2e8e9efff24641 0b59&o=57801&n=T&c=F&l=harvard-sts
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