Professor of Anthropology, Science, Technology and Society Marianne De Laet lectured us on the fascinating Anthropological look at the Giant Telescope Building project on Wednesday, November 22, 2006. Her research focuses on the interaction between technological tool of building a giant telescope and people surrounding the project. Her approach definitely resembles Tracy Kidder’s The Soul of A New Machine that we have read in our class. Instead of starting to lecture on her project, she started asking about our own interest which she diligently took notes. After the introduction of everyone in the classroom, she had commented on how it is interesting to see how each person responds and what kind of things each person includes in their own introduction.
She have started the discussion of her research that looks at the process of how one giant telescope project is coming together. She started with a project start of having an idea of what the scientists and engineers are wanting to make, “Giant Telescope.” She at first started to wonder why anyone would want a huge telescope. She was thinking it was just one of the American tendency to think that everything big is great or something. It is also true that there are those who are technocrats who would want any technological advancement in the US that after completing of the world adventure of discovery, it will sound a great idea for them to further expand its domain into the outer space. Who knows what the scientists will make a new discovery that can lead to advancement of the study of astronomy. On the other hand, there are also people who may see such advancement and using the government budgets and resources obsolete and waste of money.
So the main objective of these scientists and engineers is to create the “giant telescope.” After deciding their main goal, the scientists and engineers had discussed what they need to build such a “giant telescope.” They came up with a budget and plan for the building of such telescope and observatory that came out as a green book. She sees this budget-planning book as a cultural product of these scientists and engineers. Somehow, Prof. De Laet was skeptical of such project existing which she at first wondered who the hell would want such thing as giant telescope. However, after a while being with these enthusiastic scientists and engineers, she became more enthusiastic about such a project to build what they have been dreaming of.
However, the planned budget came out as billion dollars. She was wondering why anyone would want to spend such astronomically impossible to perceive kind of budget for a giant telescope. Some of our students also asked question of what kind of things would cost that much. However, it also includes the research fees by the scientists and the engineers other than getting such space, building materials and so on to make it possible to build such a thing. The Observatory can also the latest available cutting-edge equipments with computers and astronomical research equipments that can enable various researches and intellectual advancements.
Prof. De Laet also talked about local resistance to build them either in Hawaiian or Chilean mountain areas. The local resistances are especially large in Hawaii. The US-Chilean relation with the CIA involvement in the coup instigation attempt and assassination of Salvatore Allende during the 70s is also famous (“CIA acknowledges involvement in Allende's overthrow, Pinochet's rise.” Available at http://archives.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/americas/09/19/us.cia.chile.ap/, “CHILE: 16,000 SECRET U.S. DOCUMENTS DECLASSIFIED.” Available at http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/news/20001113/). Prof. De Laet suggests that it is usual to have such political issues come up anyways in terms of such projects. Some students asked her what to do in terms of such situation arises. She have told us that she cannot be too political or too extreme in terms of as a observer, it is important to stick to the primary focus of her own research topic which is looking at the interaction between the scientists and engineers and the project. Still it is good to be aware that there are some issues that can come up as obstacles on the way to accomplish such project since it will be dangerous to build important facilities in dangerous or difficult areas for the scientists to work on major discoveries.
It can get overwhelming when I also notice the cost of such technological products. Last year, I went to see an air show in Pt. Mugu that its theme was on Naval Aviation. I was amazed by the fast moving newly revised aircraft Super Hornet F-18 which each of them costs $60 million dollars (“F/A-18 Hornet-Military Aircraft.” Available at http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/f-18.htm. B-2 Spirit Bomber that I witnessed couple of years ago (before even September 11th Attack occurred) costs $2.1 billion each (“B-2 Spirit-United States Nuclear Forces.” Available at http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/bomber/b-2.htm). I always get a mixed feeling of how I am amazed to see such high tech innovative weapons that is fascinating while I am also aware that there will be environmental consequences, the health issues of service personnel, as well as local resistances.