Professor Brian Rappert

My long term concern lies with the social and ethical dilemmas associated with scientific and technical expertise. In particular, I have been concerned with how data and information are managed in areas of public controversy. Much of my work in recent years has examined whether and how research and evidence inform professional practice.

Because much of my research takes place in police, security and diplomatic communities where questions of disclosure and concealment loom large, I have reflected on the methodological issues associated with investigating and writing about secrecy. This has led to attention to silences and absences: how some issues don’t get considered, how some concerns go unsaid, what grievances never get formed, and what paths in social and political are never pursued.

Biography:

Click here for my personal web page with more teaching and research material.

Research supervision:

• Sociology of science and technology
• Discourse analysis
• Criminology and policing
• War and conflict
• Secrecy
• Data, evidence and practice
• Magic
• Deception