Accelerating Innovation: Assessing Nanotechnologies, Prototypes and Research Teams

Shaler, Lisa Marie

Accelerating Innovation: Assessing Nanotechnologies, Prototypes and Research Teams

dc.contributor.author	Shaler, Lisa Marie	en
dc.contributor.committeechair	Schmid, Sonja	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	Hester, Rebecca	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	Abbate, Janet E.	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	Tomblin, David Christian	en
dc.contributor.department	Science and Technology Studies	en
dc.date.accessioned	2019-04-30T08:00:33Z	en
dc.date.available	2019-04-30T08:00:33Z	en
dc.date.issued	2019-04-29	en
dc.description.abstract	The Army-sponsored Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (ISN) was an entrepreneurial research institute established at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2002. Using Science and Technology Studies (STS) concepts from Actor-Network Theory, I study the founding era of this twenty-first century laboratory-based community, from 2002-2007. Actor-Network concepts of enrollment and translation, described by Bruno Latour, and heterogeneous engineering, described by John Law, are used as I 'follow the actors' founding this emergent institution. The operationalization of translation is traced through four case studies, structured around Defense funding constructs and Science and Technology communities: 6.0 Founding the Institute; 6.1 Building Basic Research Networks; 6.2 Shaping Applied Research for Cancer Research and Science Education to include non-users; and 6.3 Student Prototyping Teams Accelerating ISN Research for Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). Scientists, engineers, and transitioners partnered in new ways to transition innovative technologies to improve human protection, with soldiers as the first of many users. Using public information, I used qualitative and quantitative methodologies to assess the actor networks and research portfolio changes. These historical case studies extend STS with operationalization of translation and a new dynamic of bi-directional actor enrollment, as research teams transitioned nanotechnologies and prototypes.	en
dc.description.abstractgeneral	The Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (ISN) was an Army-sponsored entrepreneurial research institute established at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2002. This historical study examines the founding era, rarely described for start-up organizations. Science and Technology Studies (STS) concepts of Actor-Network Theory enrollment and translation are traced through four case studies: Founding the Institute; Building Basic Research Networks; Shaping Applied Research for Cancer Research and Science Education to include non-users; and Student Prototyping Teams Accelerating Research for Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). The scientists, engineers, and transitioners partnered in new ways to transition technologies to improve human protection, with soldiers as the first of many users. Using public information, I provide qualitative and quantitative methodologies to assess the social networks of actors, as well as the composition and changes in the research portfolio. These case studies show what the ISN members did and how the small teams innovated, operationalizing translation through enrollment, and transitioning nanotechnologies and other prototypes.	en
dc.description.degree	Doctor of Philosophy	en
dc.format.medium	ETD	en
dc.identifier.other	vt_gsexam:20179	en
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10919/89251	en
dc.publisher	Virginia Tech	en
dc.rights	In Copyright	en
dc.rights.uri	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/	en
dc.subject	accelerating technology	en
dc.subject	Actor-Network Theory	en
dc.subject	bi-directional enrollment	en
dc.subject	prototyping competition	en
dc.subject	nanotechnology research	en
dc.title	Accelerating Innovation: Assessing Nanotechnologies, Prototypes and Research Teams	en
dc.type	Dissertation	en
thesis.degree.discipline	Science and Technology Studies	en
thesis.degree.grantor	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	en
thesis.degree.level	doctoral	en
thesis.degree.name	Doctor of Philosophy	en