Using the example of climate research, this project analyzes the dynamic relationship of a scientific discipline with interdisciplinary research from the perspective of the "politicization of science". In the course of the research on the depletion of the ozone layer by man, the emergence of atmospheric chemistry can be seen as one of the important precursors and subdisciplines of climate research. In an empirical study this project examines the hypothesis that it is precisely this problem and the politically motivated demand for scientific knowledge regarding it which has provided the opportunity for the institutionalization of a new discipline – climate research.

1.  The theoretical goal is an examination of the discussion regarding the relationship of disciplinarity, inter- and trans-disciplinarity with respect to the expectations from areas external to science regarding usefulness of such research. A theoretical framework will be drawn up which will allow a description of problem-oriented research in the general dynamics of science.

2.  An empirical test of the theoretical model is carried out using the example of atmospheric chemistry as a subdiscipline of the emerging climate research. In order to do this, the following is necessary: a) the history of atmospheric chemistry has to be reconstructed in such a way that the relevant controversies and their solutions are brought into relationship with the cognitive and organizational development of the subject; b) to prove that atmospheric chemistry can be seen as a subdiscipline of climate research. In addition to the investigation of organizational structures and the identification of scientific communities using the analysis of documents and internet sources, an online-questionaire will be used. The results will be checked using intensive interviews with individual scientists and in a discussion of experts.

3.  The methodological goal is the discussion of this empirical approach (especially questionaire techniques, online-questionaire) for science studies. We assume that the use of the internet as an important medium of scientific communication makes contact with a large number of scientists possible.

 

Duration: 1.06.2004 – 30.09.2007