Dependent or not? From a daily practice of Earth observation research in the Global South to promoting adequate developmental spaces in science and technology studies

<p>Ever since the operation of the first civilian Earth observation (EO) satellites gained momentum in the 1970s, potential benefits and disadvantages of transferring space science and technologies, such as remote sensing techniques, have also been discussed in relation to developing countries...

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Main Author: D. Thorpe
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Copernicus Publications 2023-02-01
Series:Geographica Helvetica
Online Access:https://gh.copernicus.org/articles/78/105/2023/gh-78-105-2023.pdf
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author D. Thorpe
author_facet D. Thorpe
author_sort D. Thorpe
collection DOAJ
description <p>Ever since the operation of the first civilian Earth observation (EO) satellites gained momentum in the 1970s, potential benefits and disadvantages of transferring space science and technologies, such as remote sensing techniques, have also been discussed in relation to developing countries. However, this debate has so far largely taken place at a macro-comparative level. This paper presents results from moving to the ethnographic micro level in southwest Nigeria. It sets the experiences of researchers from the Global South, who use remote sensing data, in relation to a critical review of (post-)development theory perspectives and corresponding discourses in postcolonial science and technology studies (STS). The paper discusses how researchers construct collective agency towards capacity building as a shared liberatory language in relation to an amalgam of experienced and contested places in the EO community. At the intersection of STS, geography and the arena of development policies, these experiences create their own spatial references to a developing niche that invites scholars and development practitioners to rethink and reorganise knowledge production and technologies in a postcolonial world.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-48d5daaecbcc4819b918812f186de9e72023-02-28T07:43:08ZdeuCopernicus PublicationsGeographica Helvetica0016-73122194-87982023-02-017810513010.5194/gh-78-105-2023Dependent or not? From a daily practice of Earth observation research in the Global South to promoting adequate developmental spaces in science and technology studiesD. Thorpe<p>Ever since the operation of the first civilian Earth observation (EO) satellites gained momentum in the 1970s, potential benefits and disadvantages of transferring space science and technologies, such as remote sensing techniques, have also been discussed in relation to developing countries. However, this debate has so far largely taken place at a macro-comparative level. This paper presents results from moving to the ethnographic micro level in southwest Nigeria. It sets the experiences of researchers from the Global South, who use remote sensing data, in relation to a critical review of (post-)development theory perspectives and corresponding discourses in postcolonial science and technology studies (STS). The paper discusses how researchers construct collective agency towards capacity building as a shared liberatory language in relation to an amalgam of experienced and contested places in the EO community. At the intersection of STS, geography and the arena of development policies, these experiences create their own spatial references to a developing niche that invites scholars and development practitioners to rethink and reorganise knowledge production and technologies in a postcolonial world.</p>https://gh.copernicus.org/articles/78/105/2023/gh-78-105-2023.pdf
spellingShingle D. Thorpe
Dependent or not? From a daily practice of Earth observation research in the Global South to promoting adequate developmental spaces in science and technology studies
Geographica Helvetica
title Dependent or not? From a daily practice of Earth observation research in the Global South to promoting adequate developmental spaces in science and technology studies
title_full Dependent or not? From a daily practice of Earth observation research in the Global South to promoting adequate developmental spaces in science and technology studies
title_fullStr Dependent or not? From a daily practice of Earth observation research in the Global South to promoting adequate developmental spaces in science and technology studies
title_full_unstemmed Dependent or not? From a daily practice of Earth observation research in the Global South to promoting adequate developmental spaces in science and technology studies
title_short Dependent or not? From a daily practice of Earth observation research in the Global South to promoting adequate developmental spaces in science and technology studies
title_sort dependent or not from a daily practice of earth observation research in the global south to promoting adequate developmental spaces in science and technology studies
url https://gh.copernicus.org/articles/78/105/2023/gh-78-105-2023.pdf
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