I am reviewing Nima Madjzubi's response to Sketch 6: STS Beyond Academia. I think Nima's response corresponds to how I think about my research. Nima points out a contention I sensed when also trying to think of my research "beyond academia," i.e. what is "beyond" when we study academicians who do research and practice and theory all at once. This relates to my research interests because it is also true for me that in working with dermatologists, the lines between academia and its beyond are blurry. I do think, however, that there may be a way to reconcile this discomfort and push oneself to think past deconstruction toward an answer. In Nima's work on primatologists, as in my own, scientists exist beyond science. I do think there might be a way to engage primatologists' practitioner side. For instance, if they do advocacy or other work for primates outside of their academic work, is there a way for our work to aid in how they do or think about that work?
Reading the contribution from Cheri Johnson,
Indigenous knowledge is often characterized as if it is automatically positive
I found in my research in a global community the same idealization of "global south" people or in general "poor people". I find it's particularly hurtful when this conceptualization of under-represented groups leads to overlook how many heterogeneous positions exist within them and how power structures come into play. In the communities I study people try to overcome this by building internal governance structures that are as plural and diverse as possible, and guarantee the less powerful members can also say what they want to say. But of course the community you mention must have a governance already defined.
Could there be a way to calibrate the knowledge production system to the ends that are desired by the Native communities?
You may find of interest the work of GOSH community-- basically people building tools for producing scientific knowledge they need. The manifesto is pretty explicit and points to exactly this idea of empowering communities so they can also influence the scientific agenda. A reference here is Max Liboiron and the CLEAR lab.