In our modern knowledge economy, the life sciences constitute a major driver of innovation, involving many people and huge capital investment. Frank Miedema discusses how external forces changed the life sciences and how this affected the lives and careers of scientists. He argues that the romantic view of science as a consensus machine with scientists acting as altruistic truth seekers does not hold and is in need of revision. He is looking at the status of the products of the life sciences and at the ways scientists try to improve the impact of science in public debate and policy making. Despite the disenchantment that we are witnessing, he argues that science is a powerful tool in producing invaluable knowledge, needed to address the challenges of our time.

About the Author
Frank Miedema is professor of immunology and since 2009 dean of the Medical Faculty of Utrecht University and vice chairman of the board of the University Medical Center Utrecht. Before he joined UMC Utrecht in 2004, he was professor of immunology at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam and Director of Research of Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation. He has published widely on the pathogenesis of HIV/AIDS.


Book Information
ISBN 9789089644374
Author Frank Miedema
Format Paperback
Page Count 168
Imprint AUP Popular Science
Publisher Amsterdam University Press
Weight(grams) 200g