Tittel: Forsker (PhD)
Telefon: +47 77 62 31 37
Fax: +47 77 64 61 00
E-post: fern.wickson@uit.no

Research Interests
Fern has research interests in environmental philosophy and ethics, the politics of risk and uncertainty, the governance of emerging technologies (e.g. biotechnology and nanotechnology), and the theory and practice of cross-disciplinary research.

Education
Fern completed a cross-disciplinary PhD (2002-2006) with the Schools of Biological Sciences and Science, Technology and Society at the University of Wollongong in Australia.

Her dissertation was entitled “From Risk to Uncertainty: Australia’s Environmental Regulation of Genetically Modified Crops”. Fern undertook a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science double degree at the Australian National University from 1995-1999 and attained a first class Honours degree in Environmental Politics from the University of Tasmania in 2001.

Current Research Project
“Integrating Ecotoxicology & Ethics for Responsible Ecological Governance: The Case of Nanoparticles for Environmental Remediation” 
http://www.forskningsradet.no/servlet/Satellite?c=Prosjekt&cid=1253960222152&pagename=elsa/Hovedsidemal&p=1224698247079
Funded by the ELSA Programme of the Norwegian Research Council: Start Date 2010.
 

Selected Publications

Books
Kjølberg, K. & Wickson, F. (in press) Nano meets Macro: Social Perspectives on Nanoscale Sciences and Technologies (Pan Stanford Publishing: Singapore). 

For more information and to purchase go to: http://www.panstanford.com/books/nanosci/v081.html

or at

www.amazon.com

Book Chapters
Wickson, F. (2009) “NanoVisions: An Experiment with NanoScientists” in Gammel, S. & Ferrari, A. (eds) Visions of Nanotechnology (AKA Verlag: Berlin) pp. 165-183.

Wickson, F., Gillund, F., & Myhr, A.I. (2010) “Treating Nanoparticles with Precaution: Recognising Qualitative Uncertainty in Scientific Risk Assessment” in Kjølberg, K. & Wickson, F. (eds) Nano meets Macro: Social Perspectives on Nanoscale Sciences and Technologies (Pan Stanford Publishing: Singapore).

Policy Briefs
Wickson, F. (2009) What you should know about nano The Australia Institute, Policy Brief 8 ISSN 1836-9014 https://www.tai.org.au/index.php?q=node%2F19&pubid=703&act=display

Contributions in Peer Reviewed Journals
Wickson, F., Grieger, K., & Baun, A. (2010) “Nature and Nanotechnology: Science, Ideology & Policy” International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Society 8(1): 5-23 http://www.swinburne.edu.au/hosting/ijets/journal/V8N1/pdf/Article1Wicksonetal.pdf

Delgado, A., Kjølberg, K.L. & Wickson, F. (2010) “Public engagement coming of age: From theory to practice in STS encounters with nanotechnology” Public Understanding of Science (online first) http://pus.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/0963662510363054v1

Carew, A. & Wickson, F. (2010) “The TD Wheel: A heuristic to shape, support and evaluate transdisciplinary research” Futures (online first)

Wickson, F. (2009) "Activists should be consulted in animal testing decisions" Nature 463, p.293 http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v463/n7279/full/463293b.html

Wickson, Fern (2009) “Extended Review of Risk Assessment: A Case Study in Reliability Rating and Reflective Questioning” Journal of Risk Research 12(6), pp.749-770. http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/routledg/rjrr/2009/00000012/00000006/art00002

Wickson, F. (2008) “What is nature, if it’s more than just a place without people?” Nature 456, p.29. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v456/n7218/full/456029b.html

Wickson, F. (2008) “Narratives of Nature and Nanotechnology” Nature Nanotechnology 3(6), pp.313-315. http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/v3/n6/full/nnano.2008.140.html

Kjølberg, K., Strand, R., Delgado, G.C., Wickson, F. (2008) “Models of Governance for Converging Technologies” Technology Assessment and Strategic Management 20(1), pp. 83-97. http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a789342064~db=all~jumptype=rss

Wickson, F., Nepstad, R., Am, T. & Winkler, M. (2008) “Reflections on Philosophy of Nanoscience from Nanoscience Practitioners” Nordic Journal of Applied Ethics (Etikk i Praksis) 2(2), pp.73-92. http://www.tapirforlag.no/content.ap?thisId=37383

Russell, A.W., Wickson, F., and Carew, A.L. (2008) “Transdisciplinary research: context, contradictions and capacity” Futures 40(5), pp. 460-472.

Wickson, F. (2007) “Public engagement means listening as well as talking” Nature 448/9, p.644. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v448/n7154/full/448644a.html

Kjølberg, K. and Wickson, F. (2007) ‘Social and Ethical Interactions with Nano: Mapping the early literature’ NanoEthics 1:2, p.89-104. http://www.springerlink.com/content/c460x2626452k006/?p=ba6522fe97fa41749894e9bd400ae08d&pi=1

Wickson, F. (2007) “From Risk to Uncertainty in the Regulation of GMOs: Social Theory and Australian Practice” New Genetics and Society 26(3), pp. 325-339. http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a789342635~db=all~jumptype=rss

Wickson, F. (2007) “Talking about ‘Nanotalk: Conversations with scientists and engineers about ethics, meaning and belief in the development of nanotechnology’” NanoEthics 1:1 http://www.springerlink.com/content/120571/?Content+Status=Accepted

Wickson, F., Carew, A.L. and Russell, A.W. (2006) “Transdisciplinary research: characteristics, quandaries and quality” Futures 38:9, pp.1046-1059.

Wickson, Fern (2005) “Australia’s Environmental Regulation of Genetically Modified Organisms: risk and uncertainty, science and precaution” Griffith Journal of the Environment Issue 1, June. Online athttp://www.griffith.edu.au/faculty/ens/gje/

Wickson, Fern (2005) “Environmental Decision Making: Emerging Conceptualisations of Uncertainty and Precaution” Rhizome volume 1, issue 1, pg. 147-162.

Wickson, Fern (2004) “Australia’s Regulation of Genetically Modified Crops: Are We Risking Sustainability?” Australian Journal of Emerging Technologies and Society Issue 2, Autumn. Online at http://www.swin.edu.au/sbs/ajets/journal/issue2/abstract_gmcrops.htm