Psychedelic Speaker Series

Whose Knowledge?: Cyberbotany & the Quest for Epistemic Justice in Psychedelic Research

Speaker:
Joanna Kempner, PhD
Department of Sociology
Rutgers University

The re-emergence of psychedelic research in universities often comes with robust historical narratives blaming politicians for the rise and fall in scientific interest in these substances. While public policies made it difficult to study psychedelics in an institutionalized setting, prohibition only drove experimentation underground. This resulted in the emergence of, what Kempner coins, “cyberbotany.” This digital ethnobotanical study leverages online communities’ data to understand psychedelic use, circumventing legal and logistical research barriers. While cyberbotany recognizes diverse knowledge systems’ value, it’s crucial to prioritize epistemic justice in psychedelic studies, valuing knowledge from non-traditional settings for a more equitable and comprehensive understanding of psychedelics’ role in medicine and society.

Please register in advance for this virtual event.

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Questions? Contact Liz.birkhauser@wisc.edu