Protected Spaces of Science: Their Emergence and Further Evolution in a Changing World

Abstract

Long-term epistemic and institutional developments are essential to understand present changes (and their discussion) of science in society. Particularly important are the emergence and stabilization of protected spaces. At the micro-level, as laboratories where experimental conditions can be controlled. At the macro-level, as a social contract where science would be neutral but also contribute to progress. And eventually, also at the meso-level, where universities and funding agencies functioned in terms of self-organized disciplines. The alignment of these levels in the regime of “Science, The Endless Frontier” is now opening up. One can trace how universities and funding agencies are responding to the new situation. The challenge for scientists and science institutions is how to live in “unprotected” spaces.