Social studies of science and technology and engagement: new trends

Social studies of science and technology (Estudos Sociais da Ciência e Tecnologia - ESCT), particularly discussions about public participation and the democratization of science, are the focus of this work. The study’s motivation was the perception of a trend within the field to abandon a strictly investigative position and to assume externality with respect to the processes studied. ESCT’s recent production is evidence of not only a concern about informing the public of the negotiations and uncertainties that characterize the scientific process but also an effort to contribute to the discussion of practical issues, of how technologies should be constructed and of how scientific controversies must be resolved. Such an effort may represent a connection between the field of ESCT, the political layer and social movements.