School of Social and Political Science

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School of Social and Political Science (SPS) academic John Nott has won a prestigious award from the European Association for the Study of Science and Technology (EASST) for a book he edited about the materiality of medical knowledge reproduction.

John, a Research Fellow in the Science Technology and Innovation Studies subject area, and co-editor Anna Harris of Maastricht University won the 2024 Amsterdamska Award for their edited collection Making Sense of Medicine: Material Culture and the Reproduction of Medical Knowledge, which was published in 2022.

The Amsterdamska Award is given annually for 'a significant creative collaboration in an edited book or special issue in the broad field of science and technology studies'.

The awards panel said: "The outstanding edited collection is an original exploration into the materiality of medical knowledge reproduction. This book, structured around diverse themes such as art, labour, and place, stands out as a vital contribution to the field.

"The book’s creative structure, with interconnected nodes that bear links to multiple topics and concepts surfacing in different materials and chapters, sets it apart from more traditional edited collections. Nott and Harris’ decision to forgo chapter summaries to emphasise interconnections showcases their commitment to giving readers a thoughtful and critical understanding of the subject matter.

"The book goes beyond what is expected from good-quality edited volumes in that it brings together various perspectives and uses various illustrations, all in a productive manner. It promises to be useful for a large public in STS and beyond."

Congratulations, John!