Prof. (Dr.) Shiv Visvanathan

Prof. (Dr.) Shiv Visvanathan

Professor and Vice Dean (Institution Building) and Executive Director, Centre for the sudy of Knowledge Systems

M.A.; Ph.D. (University of Delhi)

: svisvanathan@jgu.edu.in : ++91 1303057877

Prof. (Dr.) Shiv Visvanathan is currently Professor at Jindal Global Law School, Sonipat and Director, Centre for the Study of Knowledge Systems, O.P Jindal Global University. He is a trained social anthropologist with a PhD from the University of Delhi. He is an Indian public intellectual and social scientist best known for his contributions to Science and Technology Studies, and for the concept of cognitive justice a term he coined. He holds an Adjunct Professorship at Raman Research Institute, Bangalore. He was Professor at Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology (DA-IICT), Gandhinagar. He was Henry Luce Professor at Smith College Massachusetts. He was also Visiting Professor at Stanford University and Center for Cultural Studies, Goldsmiths College, University of London; Center for Science Policy, Arizona State University; University of Maastricht, Holland; National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras and Mudra Institute of Communication (MICA), Ahmedabad. He has also taught at the Delhi School of Economics and was Senior Fellow at Centre for Study of Developing Societies.

An interdisciplinary thinker, prolific writer and delightfully bold and eloquent orator, Professor Visvanathan’s articles and writings reflect his dissection of diverse issues with a sharp and critical wit. His wide interests range from cognitive justice, urban studies, the sociology of corruption and ethics, the sociology and philosophy of science, history of technology and traditional knowledge, social movements, globalization to the culture and politics of ecology which feature in leading newspapers and publications such as the Seminar magazine, Economic and Political Weekly, The Hindu, and Scroll.in

He is author of Organizing for Science (OUP, Delhi, 1985), A Carnival for Science (OUP, Delhi, 1997), Theatres of Democracy (OUP, Delhi 2016) and has co-edited Foulplay: Chronicles of Corruption (Banyan Books, Delhi, 1999).

Membership /Other activities :

Chairman, LOKAYAN, 1988-90; Editor, IUMDA Newsletter, 1990-93; Member, Editorial Board, Lokayan Bulletin, 1992-95; Member, Editorial Board, Alternatives, Delhi and Colorado, till 1997; Member, Advisory board, Studies in Science Technology and Society, Sage, Delhi (till 2004), Member, Advisory Board, Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Simla,( till 1994) Member of Board of Management of [Center for Environmental Planning and Technology]

Forthcoming Books

  • Remains of the Text
  • Loneliness of a Long Distance Scientist, Orient Black Swan

Published Books

  • Organizing for Science 1984, Oxford University Press, Delhi
  • A Carnival for Science, 1997, Oxford University Press, Delhi
  • (With Harsh Sethi) Ed. Foul Play: Chronicles of Corruption, 1998, Banyan books.
  • Cultures of knowledge,
  • Cognitive justice,
  • Urban studies,
  • The sociology of corruption,Sociology and philosophy of science,
  • History of technology,
  • Social movements,
  • Globalization,
  • Culture and the politics of environmentalism,
  • Disaster management and futures.