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Documenting the doable and doing the documented: Bridging strategies at the UK Stem Cell Bank.

Authors :
Stephens, Neil
Atkinson, Paul
Glasner, Peter
Source :
Social Studies of Science (Sage Publications, Ltd.); Dec2011, Vol. 41 Issue 6, p791-813, 23p
Publication Year :
2011

Abstract

We explore the local negotiation of regulatory practice at the UK Stem Cell Bank, the first Bank of its type in the world. Basing our empirical work on a detailed analysis of one aspect of the Bank’s regulatory commitment – the completion of the Cell Line Information form – we make visible the necessary judgements and labour involved in interpreting and operationalizing externally imposed regulation. The discussion opens by detailing the problems encountered when the Bank completes the form: reconciling a bureaucratic system of accountability with craft-like laboratory skills involving multiple kinds of tacit knowledge. We follow this by explicating the emergent ‘bridging strategies’ pursued by the Bank to address these issues, highlighting their reliance upon the formation of trust and social networks. The closing discussion emphasizes the contingent assembly of regulatory practices that emerge in the local setting. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
03063127
Volume :
41
Issue :
6
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Social Studies of Science (Sage Publications, Ltd.)
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
67261311
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1177/0306312711423306