About Jessica

Hello everyone!

My name is Jessica and I am a current ESST student at Maastricht University. I received my Bachelor degree in Arts and Culture with the specialization in ‘Cultures of Knowledge and Technology’ (CKT) at Maastricht University in 2010. Therefore, it seemed logical to me to continue with the ESST Master program ( Master in European Studies of Science, Society and Technology) in order to deepen my knowledge in the interdisciplinary field of politics, history, economics and the dynamic relationship between science, technology and society as well as its arising challenges.

During the CKT specialization, I had a growing interest in neuroscience, nanotechnology and medical technologies. Future scenarios, such as the possibility to erase a trauma patient’ s memory or enhancing memory in Alzheimer’s patient’s has been a scientific breakthrough in the last 2 years and developing even further. Scientific journals address the advantages of science mainly, but neglect the implications and ethical dilemmas that emerge with this kind of technology. Choosing ESST offered many opportunities to focus on the questions that arise when talking about implementing brain chips, enhancing brain activity and memories or just heart pace maker from an interdisciplinary field and thus also including politics and economics, e.g. what are regulations and policies for medical technologies and nanotechnologies when implanting them in a human body? How are commercialization of science and technologies related?

With those questions in the back of my head, I decided to choose Aarhus University for my specialization in “Analyzing IT, organization and agency” for the second semester. Living abroad and studying at another University holds the challenge of adapting to a new culture, costums and new ways of thinking. I am sure that this experience will broaden my horizon and make me more critical of what I have learned before since STS in Maastricht has its own focus. I am excitied and curious what kind of perspective the STS group in Aarhus has and this affects my way of thinking.