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Analysing the construct ‘ geoengineering on Wikipedia’

This study by Nils Markusson examines how the concept of 'geoengineering' is constructed on Wikipedia, highlighting the fluidity and contestation of definitions. Utilizing a tripartite dataset of articles related to geoengineering and climate change, including historical analysis and network topology, the research identifies cores of knowledge and land-based strategies amid competing contexts. By leveraging collaboration with researchers in Paris and Barcelona, the study illustrates the potential of Wikipedia as a tool for analyzing public discourse around controversial scientific topics, revealing insights into classification and the informal practices in this field.

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Analysing the construct ‘ geoengineering on Wikipedia’

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  1. Analysing the construct ‘geoengineering on Wikipedia’ Nils Markusson CEC14, Berlin, Aug 2014

  2. intro • Definitions and classifications are fluid and contested • How to study their construction in public discourse? • Wikipedia offers an opportunity • Highly public (few-to-many) • Topology (linked labels) ideal for this question • Heterogeneous, contextualised, longitudinal

  3. methods • Collaboration with researchers in Paris and Barcelona • Dataset 1: geoengineering in climate change network • Dataset 2: context and structure • Selected 34 start articles, followed in and out links, resulted in a set of 1155 articles • Dataset 3: history • Manually looked into history of the 34 geoengineering related Wikipedia pages, including both content and links • Data collected June 2013

  4. >> CC network

  5. (25% of current g.e. articles initiated after 2010) 2010 2009 (40% of current g.e. articles initiated Dec 2008-2009) 2008 Geoengineering 2007 Biochar; iron fertilisation 2006 2005 Afforestation Planetary engineering Geoengineering; space sunshade; cloud seeding 2004 2003 Terraforming 2002 Reforestation Initiation of relevant articles Article with main GE topic

  6. results two groups: ‘core’ and ‘land-based’ • ‘Core’: main article, SRM, OF, WM… • ‘Land-based’: BECCS, biochar… (varies by resolution) • Weakly connected, competing different contexts • Core ↔ science; Land-based ↔ technology • Core far from climate policy • A few military categories roots include terraforming and planetary engineering

  7. resistance of the medium • resists the seductive simplicity of stated definitions and classifications and makes visible informal aspects of discursive practice • resists tendencies towards decontextualized and ahistorical presentation in the discourse on geoengineering • can usefully be contrasted with the de facto definitions and classifications

  8. visualisation • Lists, diagrams, networks • Network graphs (gephi) crucial • Analysis and interpretation • Overview, complexity, zooming • Fits with the fluidity of de facto definitions

  9. thank you! See also: “Bounding boundaries: The construction of geoengineering on Wikipedia”, N. Markusson, A. Kaltenbrunner, D. Laniado, T. Venturini http://www.geoengineering-governance-research.org/cgg-working-papers.php

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