[ANU Pacific.Institute] Lecture: Science, objectivity, and political responsibility in the litigation of two oil spills, Tuesday 18 September @ 2pm

[Yanhong Ouyang]

Public Lecture
Science, objectivity, and political responsibility in the litigation of two oil spills

Stuart Kirsch
Professor of Anthropology, University of Michigan

Tuesday, 18 September 2018
2:00 - 4:00 pm
Weston Theatre, JG Crawford Building

This presentation examines the role of scientific experts and expertise in legal proceedings. It compares the decisions made by two scientists contributing to litigation concerning the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska in 1989 and petroleum contamination in the Ecuadorian Amazon by ChevronTexaco from the mid-1960s through the early 1990s. In the first example, a prominent environmental sociologist was asked to conduct research intended to reduce the punitive damages award against the oil company. In the second case, a geochemist with expertise on groundwater pollution was implicated in federal racketeering and corruption charges filed against the lawyer representing the plaintiffs in the case. The presentation draws on court transcripts and 'life writing' associated with the two contrasting examples to ask questions about science, objectivity, and political responsibility.

Sponsored by
Climate Change Institute
Pacific Institute
Anthropology Program, CHL/CAP
Australian National Centre for Latin American Studies

Inquiries: matt.tomlinson at anu.edu.au<mailto:matt.tomlinson at anu.edu.au>


--
Matt Tomlinson
Associate Professor of Anthropology
College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University

Links: ANU Anthropology<http://anuanthropology.weblogs.anu.edu.au/>  My research<https://researchers.anu.edu.au/researchers/tomlinson-ma> MAPS Program<http://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/program/MANPS> ANU Press Monographs in Anthropology<http://press.anu.edu.au/publications/series/monographs-anthropology> New Mana<https://press.anu.edu.au/publications/series/monographs-anthropology/new-mana> Monologue<https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-monologic-imagination-9780190652814?cc=au&lang=en&>
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