This month we talked to Sergio Fernández Bravo, who is a fellow doctoral researcher from Global Development Studies at University of Helsinki. Sergio is interested in the relationship between natural sciences and politics, specifically in the Global South. His current research focuses on synthetic pesticides and how they are used as devices of power and influence the epistemic arrangements within the Mexican Green Revolution. Sergio gives insight into the history of pesticide use in Mexico and the various ways that they have influenced the trajectory of the region. Even though we are not directly invoking the term extractivism very often, there are so many connections and cross-fertilizations with extractivisms. For example, we discuss the role of terra nullius and wasteland in creating imaginaries about how land can and should be used (and what humans can do with it!) Join us for this wide ranging and intensely interesting conversation!

If you are interested to learn more about Sergio’s work, please visit his academic profile. https://researchportal.helsinki.fi/en/persons/sergio-fernandez-bravo 

If you would like to contact Sergio for any further discussion of what you heard in this episode, please feel welcome and encouraged to drop him a line (sergio.fernandezbravo (at) helsinki.fi). He is up for making connections and having conversations about pesticides and the broader topics of his research.

Sergio Fernández Bravo - How do pesticides exemplify the intersection of science and power?

In this episode hosts Sophia Hagolani-Albov and Christopher Chagnon introduce themselves, the Extractivisms and Alternatives (EXALT) Initiative, and where the podcast is going to go in upcoming episodes.

Introduction

Resource extraction impacts our daily lives and has helped push the climate to the brink, but there are people around the world living and fighting for alternative ways forward. Join hosts Christopher Chagnon and Sophia Hagolani-Albov and their guests on the last Friday of each month for a discussion of the impacts of extractivisms, alternative ways forward, and stories from people living the struggle every day. If you are someone who is interested in how our environment and societies have come to their current state, or learning about different ways we can move forward, this is the podcast for you.

Sergio Fernández Bravo - How do pesticides exemplify the intersection of science and power?

EXALT Podcast

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