Abstract
In Unfinished Nature: Particle Physics at CERN, Arpita Roy embarks on a journey into the heart of one of the most prestigious scientific institutions in the world: CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. The book is not just an ethnographic deep dive into the world of particle physics but also an insightful philosophical investigation into the very nature of scientific knowledge production. Through two and a half years of fieldwork among CERN’s research community, Roy presents a thought-provoking perspective on the intricacies of how science is pursued and how knowledge is made.
Roy’s choice of CERN as a case study is both strategic and revealing. CERN holds a unique position in the scientific community, making it an ideal site for examining the complexities of contemporary particle physics. However, this uniqueness is also a limitation. The internal practices, organizational structures, and governance of CERN are distinct and often incomparable to other scientific institutions, which could make some of Roy’s insights less applicable to a broader scholarly landscape.
One of the standout strengths of Unfinished Nature is its thoroughness and the quality of the research. Roy’s meticulous approach, rooted in extensive ethnographic fieldwork, has produced a rich tapestry of in-depth conversations with CERN researchers. These discussions provide a vivid snapshot of how science is conducted at CERN, particularly during the critical period when the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) was constructed and the long-sought Higgs Boson was finally within reach during the late 2000s and early 2010s. Roy captures the excitement and uncertainty of these moments, offering readers a front-row seat to the debates and dilemmas that have shaped modern particle physics.
However, the book’s thoroughness might also be seen as a double-edged sword. The extended time taken to produce the book—spanning more than a decade from the start of Roy’s fieldwork—could lead some to question its timeliness. This seems particularly relevant as CERN, after the discovery of the Higgs Boson in 2012, transitioned from building the world’s largest accelerator to a period focused on updates and solving emerging puzzles with the existing infrastructure.
Roy’s ability to distill complex topics into accessible language is commendable. The writing is both engaging and clear, making complex concepts in particle physics understandable even to those outside the field. This accessibility is a significant achievement, given the often dense and technical nature of the subject matter.
In terms of scholarly contribution, Unfinished Nature aligns with a rich tradition of ethnographies and philosophical inquiries into science, particularly within the realms of particle physics and CERN. Roy draws critically on the legacies of thinkers like Andrew Pickering, Ian Hacking, Karin Knorr Cetina, Sharon Traweek, and Bruno Latour, while also carving out new territory. Instead of relying on established concepts, Roy places the conceptual lens of presuppositions at the forefront of her inquiry. Through this approach, Roy sincerely seeks to challenge the notion of scientific objectivity while reconceptualizing traditional binaries like subject/object and value/fact. This methodology is aptly encapsulated in the introduction, where Roy asks: “is there no language of relations with wider and deeper scope than assemblages or hybrids, to which our current texts have accustomed us, to challenge the dualistic contentions of modern science?” (p. 15).
With this approach, Roy seeks to illuminate the underlying presuppositions of the physicists she studies. This is particularly evident in Chapter One, where Roy reflects on the conversations during a picnic of the Theory Division in October 2007: “Physics, however, is fairly certain about the demarcation of physical reality from mental activity even as it cross-fertilizes with human agency, in the realm of technology, to produce novel artifacts” (p. 50). Yet this approach also compels Roy—and by extension, the reader—to confront the ethnographer’s own biases and assumptions.
Roy openly grapples with these methodological challenges throughout the book, acknowledging that they are not easily resolved. This self-reflective stance reaches its apex in the Epilogue, where Roy brings together the book’s case studies, ethnographic insights, and methodological challenges. Here, Roy reflects on the inherent tensions between understanding the positions of CERN’s scientists and articulating her own, particularly in relation to the presuppositions that guide both her subjects and herself. As she writes: “I was able to understand their position but found no means to explain mine. I was troubled by their presuppositions and at the same time brooded whether it was an illusion to think that what has been historically achieved could be undone by arguing for a mere reversal of assumptions” (p. 189).
The book’s structure effectively supports the overarching narrative. Chapter One contextualizes the hunt for the Higgs Boson within both historical and conceptual/philosophical frameworks. It is here that Roy introduces her central concept of presuppositions (p. 43ff.). Along with Chapter Two, it engages with major topics in the philosophy of science, including unity, symmetry, error, truth, subject/object, and fact/value. Chapter Three delves into the themes of orientation and handedness, exploring their implications in the scientific process. Chapter Four captures a critical moment in the pursuit of the Higgs Boson, focusing on the explosion in the LHC tunnel in 2008. Chapter Five shifts to CERN’s cultural policy and its artists-in-residence program. While differing in tone and scope, each chapter contributes to a deeper understanding of the scientific process at CERN. The Epilogue ties these threads together, providing a cohesive and reflective conclusion. It is in this final section that the true charm of Unfinished Nature emerges, as Roy’s empirical observations and conceptual challenges meld into a unified exploration of the nature of scientific discovery.
Ultimately, I do not see Unfinished Nature as a radical manifesto or a departure from established concepts and frameworks in the philosophical and social study of particle physics. Rather, I view Roy’s work as an open-ended exploration—an unfinished ethnographic adventure that invites readers to contemplate new avenues for understanding and language in the realm of scientific knowledge production. Roy’s work is an important contribution to the fields of science and technology studies, anthropology, and the philosophy of science, paving the way for further inquiry and discovery.