Virtually Expert: Modes of Environmental Computer Simulation Modeling

This paper challenges three assumptions common in the literature on expertise: that expertise is linearly derived from scientific knowledge; that experts always align with the established institutional order; and that expertise is a property acquired by individuals. We criticize these ideas by juxta...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science in context 2014-12, Vol.27 (4), p.579-603
Main Authors: Landström, Catharina, Whatmore, Sarah J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Community-Based Participatory Research
Computer Simulation
England
Environmental risk
Expert Systems
Experts
Floods
History of medicine and histology
Interdisciplinary Communication
Local communities
Models, Theoretical
Professional Competence
Research projects
Risk management
Risk Management - methods
Topical Section: Models at Work – Models in Decision Making
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Summary:This paper challenges three assumptions common in the literature on expertise: that expertise is linearly derived from scientific knowledge; that experts always align with the established institutional order; and that expertise is a property acquired by individuals. We criticize these ideas by juxtaposing three distinct expert practices involved with flood risk management in England. Virtual engineering is associated with commercial consultancy and relies on standardized software packages to assess local flood inundation. Mathematical experimentation refers to academic scientists creating new digital renderings of the physical dynamics of flooding. Participatory modeling denotes research projects that aim to transform the relationships between experts and local communities. Focusing on different modes of modeling we contribute an analysis of how particular models articulate with specific politics of knowledge as experts form relationships with flood risk management actors. Our empirical study also shows how models can contribute to re-distribution of expertise in local flood risk management.
ISSN:0269-8897
1474-0664
DOI:10.1017/S0269889714000210