Season 1, Episode 6: Towards an African Technological & Scientific Imaginary
Season 1, Episode 6: Towards an African Technological & Scientific Imaginary
In this episode, edna bonhomme and Professor Chakanetsa Mavhunga discuss the history of the African continent with relation to scientific, technological, and medical innovations. A central element of this conversation is the role that philosophical traditions and space have in shaping the epistemology of knowledge. They also examine Africa's colonial history, the power of historical narrative, African women scientists, and the future of innovation on the African continent.
Transcriptions for all episodes are available upon request.
biography
Dr. Clapperton Chakanetsa Mavhunga
Links: Website
DR. CLAPPERTON CHAKANETSA MAVHUNGA
Chakanetsa self-identifies as a critical thinker-doer, who deploys historical research in service of problem-solving. Chakanetsa is a tenured associate professor of science, technology, and society (STS) at MIT and the founder of Research || Design || Build, a village-based institute in rural Zimbabwe dedicated to promoting interdisciplinary problem-solving, innovation, and entrepreneurship among Africa’s rural poor. He is the author of three books on science, technology, and innovation in Africa, viz.: Transient Workspaces: Technologies of Everyday Innovation in Zimbabwe (2014); What Do Science, Technology, and Innovation Mean from Africa? (2017, editor); and The Mobile Workshop: The Tsetse Fly and African Knowledge Production (2018), and is working on the fourth, titled African Chemistry: Science with an African Totem. He has given numerous talks, including at TED and Google.
bibliography
The Mobile Workshop: The Tsetse Fly and African Knowledge Production (MIT Press, 2018)
What Do Science, Technology, and Innovation Mean from Africa? (MIT Press, 2017)
Transient Workspaces: Technologies of Everyday Innovation in Zimbabwe (MIT Press, 2014)
show credits
Interview and post-production
edna bonhomme
Cover Image
"Technician in biotech laboratory" by IITA Image Library is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Music
ispeakwaves (384935, Attribution License, Creative Commons), pryght one (27130, Sampling+ License), scotcampbell (263709, Creative Commons 0 License), X3nus (450539, Attribution License, Creative Commons)
Thank you
A special thanks to Dr. Clapperton Chakanetsa Mavhunga.