In the second episode of the “SKEPSIS” series, lecturer Ștefania Matei, PhD, teaching staff at The Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, and Dragoș Obreja, doctoral student at The Doctoral School of Sociology at The University of Bucharest, propose a dynamic discussion “On the posthumous presence of scientists in public space”, in a society inclined to remember men more than women.
What is in the power of women and what is in the power of men?
At a first glance of the most important European capitals, we will see that memorial ensembles are comprised, to a great extent, from statues of men. As such, we ask ourselves what differences are there in what concerns the manner in which we, as society, remember the lives of women and the lives of men. Moreover, why is this aspect important?
Also, places and cultural or educational institutions are named, in their vast majority, after men. At the same time, a strong masculine presence characterizes the way in which museums, memorial houses, historical monuments are organized, but also the manner in which history handbooks or other places of memory are conceived.
As such, we could say that contemporary society looks at things from a patriarchal perspective, even when it comes to remembering scientists. What can we do in this situation and what should we take into consideration when we navigate this commemorative space?
What can we do to avoid contributing unintentionally in making women vulnerable in the field of science?
There are many ways through which a scientific contribution can be valorised, and lecturer Ștefania Matei, PhD, proposes the discovery of the multiple manners by which women come to matter in the scientific world, accentuating their experiences and accomplishments, but also the impact they had in a specific field. The author claims that we must be aware of our own responsibility towards the memory frames we produce. Thus, what should we take into consideration the moment we navigate this commemorative space?
The second episode of “SKEPSIS” offers answers to questions such as these and many more. You can find out more here:
Launched in October 2023, the “SKEPSIS” series is a project addressed to the large audience, through which UB researchers analyse, from a sociology viewpoint, the scientific truth and public scepticism concerning some of the most controversial topics of the moment. The series will explore the profound structures which influence our ways of perceiving and acting, when our health, identity or future are in stake.
The guests of this series, meant to explain the evolution of trust and skepticism regarding current subjects, are professors, doctoral students and researchers belonging to the academic community of The University of Bucharest.
The format of the episodes includes the presentation of the theme, followed by a dialogue between a moderator and a guest.
The video content in this section is produced by the Communication and Public Relation Department of The University of Bucharest, and research results are part of the program “SKEPSIS – Fabricating uncertainties regarding vaccination and climate change. Comparative study of legitimacy in two counter-science narratives”, implemented by The University of Bucharest and financed by The Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalisation, Romania, PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2020-1589.
The video content “On the posthumous presence of scientists in public space” was filmed at The Learning Centre of the University of Bucharest.
