Rosalind Franklin & the Value of Knowledge Saloni More - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Rosalind Franklin & the Value of Knowledge

Saloni More

Real-Life Situation

Rosalind Franklin x-ray diffraction pattern Watson and Crick

Knowledge question

To what extent is the value of knowledge in the natural sciences linked to its constructor?

• Importance
• Rank in scientific

community

• Amount of credit

given

Two arguments

FOR: The value of knowledge depends more on who constructed it rather than its function. AGAINST: The value of knowledge is influenced by the functional purpose

• f that knowledge than by its

constructor.

The value of knowledge depends more on who constructed it rather than its function.

• Produced knowledge that

chromosomes determine sex.

• Knowledge attributed to Thomas

Hunt Morgan (who later won the Nobel Prize).

Example #1: Nettie Stevens

The value of knowledge depends more on who constructed it rather than its function.

vs.

Example #2: Big-name Institutes

The value of knowledge is influenced by the functional purpose of that knowledge than by its constructor.

• Did research about radioactivity

○ Uses include treatment for cancer ○ Rutherford used radiation to propose theory of atom

• Received two Nobel Prizes
• Lots of recognition

Example #1: Marie Curie

The value of knowledge is influenced by the functional purpose of that knowledge than by its constructor.

• Ebola pandemic of

2014-16 in West Africa

• Before outbreak: $440

million spent on research

• After outbreak: more than

$1 billion

Example #2: Ebola funding

Conclusion

Value placed in knowledge is influenced by its constructor.

• We have biases
• Social hierarchy
• The “mad scramble”
• The RLS: Rosalind Franklin

Questions?

Works Cited

“Argument[1].” Slayerment, 26 June 2012, www.slayerment.com/poking-holes-arguments. “Francis Crick (R) with James D. Watson, Co-Discoverers of the Structure and Function of DNA, Are Shown in This Image Taken circa 1953.” Reuters, Reuters, 27

• Feb. 2013, www.reuters.com/article/us-science-auction-letter/cricks-letter-about-dna-discovery-to-be-sold-at-auction-idUSBRE91P13X20130226

Girish, St, et al. “O61 Ayurvedic Variables and Drug Response in Osteoarthritis Clinical Trial: Modern Medicine—Ayurveda Interface.” Indian Journal of Rheumatology, vol. 3, no. 3, 2008, doi:10.1016/s0973-3698(10)60435-9. “harvard_shield_wreath.” Harvard University, Harvard University, www.harvard.edu/about-harvard/harvard-glance/history. “His 1925 File Photo Shows Professor Marie Curie Working in Her Laboratory at the University of Paris.” Biography.com, A&E Television Networks, LLC., 6

• Nov. 2015, www.biography.com/news/marie-curie-biography-facts.

Mosser, Jean-Louis. “Increased Efforts Are Needed to Prevent the Spread of This Biggest Ebola Outbreak Ever Recorded.” Lutheran World Federation, Lutheran World Federation, 5 Aug. 2014, www.lutheranworld.org/news/lwf-expresses-deep-appreciation-efforts-churches-medical-staff-fight-ebola-west-africa. “Nettie-Stevens.” Ladyclever, Ladyclever, 7 July 2016, ladyclever.com/potd/shout-out-to-nettie-stevens-an-american-geneticist-who-discovered-and-described-sex-differences-in-chromosomes/. “Photo 51.” Medical Research Council, Medical Research Council, 25 Apr. 2013, www.insight.mrc.ac.uk/2013/04/25/behind-the-picture-photo-51/. “Photograph or Image of Rosalind Franklin (25 July 1920 – 16 April 1958).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., , 9 Nov. 2017, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosalind_Franklin#/media/File:Rosalind_Franklin_(1920-1958).jpg.

• Tzhao1023. “Mt. Sierra Embelm.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 9 Dec. 2015, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mt_Sierra_College#/media/File:Mt_Sierra_Emblem.png.