OBJECT CONSTRUCTION AND NETWORKS IN RESEARCH WORK - THE CASE OF RESEARCH ON CELLULOSE-DEGRADING ENZYMES

This paper discusses how a research community constructs a research ob ject and agenda for itself. It analyzes object construction as the com plex and continuous efforts of a research community to create and main tain the social meaning and motive of its research activity. It conclu des that the object of research work is dual: it comprises the researc h object proper, and 'application objects'. The latter are objects con structed by innovation networks comprised of researchers, producers an d users, at the same time as the research is being undertaken. The pap er analyzes the use of cultural artifacts, including models and repres entations, as tools of object construction. It proposes that the analy sis of future-oriented, 'where-to' artifacts is a key to understanding intentionality in research work in a non-dualist way.