ENROLLING THE CORE SET - THE CASE OF THE ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION CONTROVERSY

The notion of the 'core set' usually refers to that group of scientist s involved in the eventual resolution of a given technical controversy . Drawing upon actor-network theory, we suggest that such core sets, e specially at science/public interfaces, are, in fact, constituted from generalized agonistic sets which entail 'non-technical' issues - poli tical, ethical, economic. Interview material with scientists who use a nimals in their research showed how they attempted to demarcate such a core set with their public critics. We consider how they constricted the core set by discursively demarcating the criteria for membership. These included 'rationality' and 'emotional authenticity'. Elaborating an Collins' use of 'core set', we suggest that these discourses indic ate that scientists are potentially engaged in actively constituting a core set by setting out cultural criteria for membership. Contrary to the focus of actor-network theory upon 'definitive' enrolment, we fou nd that scientists can also engage in characterizing suitable antagoni sts. As a supplement to both core set and enrolment, we suggest the co ncept of 'envelopment'.