Astrosociology

Astrosociology, mainly developed by Jim Pass, Ph.D., is the study of astrosocial phenomena, the social and cultural patterns related to outer space. At its core, perhaps, it is the "sociology of outer space" though it is also regarded as a multidisciplinary field in development that includes all scientists interested in space, from sociologists to rocket scientists. It began as a proposed sociological subdiscipline due to the founder's background and the historical lack of interest within the sociological community since the dawn of the space age. Astrosociology is not explicitly linked to existing sociological and interdisciplinary subfields that address the same issues and concerns, such as Science Studies or Science and Technology Studies.

Specialties within astrosociology include, though are not limited to, NASA and other space programs and their effects on societies, the privatization of space, space commercialization, space law, space policy, space tourism, the effects of space sciences (e.g., astronomy, cosmology, astrobiology and SETI), the relationship between ancient astronomy and ancient cultures/societies, colonization and settlement (i.e., space societies), and futures studies including the transitional stages toward a spacefaring society. These examples represent forms of astrosocial phenomena.

Astrosociology studies the relationship between human societies and activities in space. It also focuses on how space scientists and engineers do their work, collaborate, and make discoveries. How their discoveries and research processes affect societies is important to understand because it contributes to social/cultural change. It is important to emphasize that astrosociological community does not operate as an advocacy group. Rather, it studies astrosocial phenomena as they occur whether the space of progress is slow or more rapid.

This field is a science based on the scientific method. Thus, topics such as UFOs (and alien abductions), astrology, crop circles, and other so-called "pseudosciences" do not fall under the purview of astrosociology. The purposeful decision to exclude these types of subjects demonstrates the focus on mainstream science. Such topics, by themselves, fail to meet the proper definition of astrosocial phenomena. However, such ideas exist as part of our cultures and have roots in previous ones, so this narrow aspect (and not the study of their truth/existence) may be acceptable under stringent conditions.

As a multidisciplinary field, the development of astrosociology requires acceptance and collaboration with space scientists and engineers with sociologists and other social scientists interested in space exploration and its social implications. This idea is central to the successful development of astrosociology as only the collaboration between the physical ("hard") sciences and the social ("soft") sciences can result in a full understanding of humanity's relationship to space and its activities within it. Collaboration with space advocacy groups continues as a way to expose astrosociology to various groups unfamiliar with this new field and its relationship to their activities and interests.

In May 2008, Jim Pass, Thomas Gangale, and Marilyn Dudley-Flores formed the Astrosociology Research Institute (ARI), a California nonprofit public benefit corporation, with a mission to (1) further the development of astrosociology as an academic field and (2) conduct astrosociological research and assist students, faculty, independent scholars, and other interested individuals and organizations to participate in doing so. ARI's website is at the following URL: http://www.astrosociology.org. ARI exists to assist others financially, through the provision of resources to conduct research, and the provision of other services to make the study/research of astrosociological issues possible in today's academic climate.

Further reading

Astrosociology Research Institute (ARI) Official website

ARI Calendar of Events

ARI Virtual Library

Astrosociology.com

Article in "Space Review"

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