Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
artifacts as actors in heterogeneous engineering. My previous work and that
of others has paid attention to the importance of visual representations and
tacit knowledge in the heterogeneous engineering of technology.
4
Since
the richest form of knowledge is that situated in practice,
5
sketching, draw-
ing, and building are often the loci of technical knowledge.
“Tacit knowledge”
6
is an important concern in science and technology
studies. This kind of knowing is action that requires skill such as that held
by a carpenter who knows just how a certain kind of wood must be han-
dled, or what type of joint will serve best, but could not put that knowl-
edge into words. I am using the term here to signify knowledge that is not
verbalized, in some cases because it cannot be but in other cases because it
may be taken for granted or regarded as too trivial to warrant verbalization.
The generation and/or elicitation of all types of tacit knowledge is intrin-
sically linked to practice. Collins states that “all types of knowledge, how-
ever pure consist in part of tacit rules which may be impossible to formulate
in principle.”
7
His study of newcomers' attempts to build lasers using doc-
umentary information reveal that even with access to accurate diagrams and
blueprints these scientists could not build lasers without having participated
in real laser building.This is the kind of knowledge that is being transferred
in workshops on straw-bale building.While visual and textual documenta-
tion of straw-bale-building design and technique are widely available, par-
ticipation is still crucial for acquiring thorough understanding, just as in the
case of Collins's laser builders. In order to get at this kind of knowledge, I
joined the straw-bale network.
METHODS
I conducted extensive ethnographic field work with the straw-bale-
building community in central Texas, an area enjoying significant growth in
ecology-oriented building innovation. I attended meetings of the Straw
Bale Association in Texas and Green Building and Natural Building con-
ferences and symposia in Texas and Maryland. I participated in wall raisings
and finishings. I interviewed homeowners, contractors, designers, architects,
and Department of Energy evaluators. I surfed the Internet. I conversed
with members of the movement from all over the United States (in person
and by electronic means) in order to find out how one becomes an
“expert” straw-bale builder. Participating in hands-on building as a mem-
ber of a local straw-bale community allowed me to observe firsthand how
