Dr. Ralph Schroeder is a Professor and Director of the Master’s degree in Social Science of the Internet at the Oxford Internet Institute in the UK. His research interests lie in virtual environments, social aspects of e-Science, sociology of science, and technology.  Our PI, Dr. Kerk Kee, met Dr. Ralph Schroeder in 2007 at the Association of Internet Researchers (AOIR) in Vancouver.

They have remained in contact over the years as they both share a passion for the social science aspects of e-science.  Dr. Schroeder is currently a visiting professor in the Communication Studies Department at UCLA.  The two colleagues have had the opportunity to reconnect now that they are both in Southern California.

While in Los Angeles, Dr. Schroeder had a chance to tell Dr. Kee more about his latest book, Knowledge Machines: Digital Transformations of the Sciences and Humanities.  The book is co-authored by Dr. Schroeder and Dr. Eric Meyer.  In the novel, Dr. Schroeder and Dr. Meyer set forth that digital technologies have changed research practices in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities. This transition has not only affected the way we consume knowledge, but also the way we produce knowledge.  

Throughout the book, the authors discuss the progression of digital research and offer examples from a variety of disciplines.  In discussing the rise of digital research, these academics shed light on the challenges of this new method. These challenges include sharing research data, disciplinary differences, collaborations, and shifting boundaries.  All in all, Knowledge Machines: Digital Transformations of the Sciences and Humanities discusses how scholarly research is being transformed and the implications of this progression.

Be sure to check out Dr. Schroeder and Dr. Meyer’s new book, Knowledge Machines: Digital Transformations of the Sciences and Humanities to further understand the social science approach to understanding e-science.