#15 Gemma Milne on SMOKE AND MIRRORS in conversation with Jack Stilgoe | WeAreSTS

Will robots steal my job? Will gene editing cure my cancer? HYPE is a fundamental part of science communication, the development of new technologies, and the crucially important interface between business, investment, and new technology. How does HYPE work? Can it be used for good?

In this conversation at the 2022 STS1Book celebration at University College London, Gemma Milne discusses her book, SMOKE AND MIRRORS, with Jack Stilgoe. They discuss her interest in HYPE as an ever-present phenomenon in our society, and how it affects thinking about technology today. Gemma and Jack reflect on the importance of hype-awareness in society. It’s not always a bad thing, Gemma says, but we need to be alert to how hype skews the conversation.

Gemma Milne. 2020. Smoke and Mirrors. How Hype Obscures the Future and How to See Past It (London: Robinson). ISBN: 9781472143662.

SMOKE AND MIRRORS was the STS1Book for 2021-22. Each year, the Department asks all staff and students to read one book in common during the summer, then arrive for the new session ready to discuss both its substance and its broader value. Incoming students should read this prescribed book. It will be the subject of activities during induction week and will be used in Year 1 courses. Titles are selected for inclusion by the STS Undergraduate Programme Tutor from suggested offered by students and staff. For more information:

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/about-sts/sts1book-programme

Want more?

Gemma talks about SMOKE AND MIRRORS in WeAreSTS episode #8.

Also

Gemma Milne also is co-host of the fabulous “Radical Science” podcast.

https://radicalsciencepodcast.com

She creates a newsletter, “Brain Reel”: https://brainreel.substack.com

Website: https://gemmamilne.co.uk

Twitter: @gemmamilne

Professor Jack Stilgoe is co-host of the podcast, “The Received Wisdom,” with Shobita Parthasarathy

https://shobitap.org/the-received-wisdom

Featuring

Interviewee:

Gemma Milne, Science and Technology Writer

https://gemmamilne.co.uk

Interviewer: Professor Jack Stilgoe, UCL Professor of Science and Technology Studies

https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/stilgoe

Music credits

“Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeod

https://filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Production information

Yue Zhu recorded this episode live at the STS1Book celebration in May 2022.

Editing and post-production by Professor Joe Cain.

Podcast information

“WeAreSTS” is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, and to leave feedback about the show, visit us online:

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast

STS Students and staff also can find on the website information about how to get involved with our programme.

“WeAreSTS” producer is Professor Joe Cain.

Twitter: @stsucl #WeAreSTS