The Tensions of Four Scientific Imaginaries in Science Policy Reforms

In this presentation, I will introduce a concept of four imaginaries of science inspired by Charles Taylor's theory. These imaginaries are: the imaginary of the pursuit of truth, the imaginary of the game of the scientific community, the imaginary of the evaluative game, and the institutional imaginary. Each imaginary has distinct approaches to valuing, justifying claims, and assessing the worth of scientific work. My doctoral research demonstrated that these imaginaries serve as universal reservoirs of ideas influencing evaluative processes, such as promotion reviews. Notably, broad terms like "scientific value" and "excellence" are subject to reinterpretation by different imaginaries.

I will connect this theory to science policy, highlighting how evolving research assessment policies create tensions among these four imaginaries. By examining Polish science reforms from 2011 and 2018, I will illustrate how the understanding of "scientific value" and "excellence" has shifted from being grounded in the pursuit of truth and the dynamics of the scientific community to being increasingly shaped by evaluative processes and institutional frameworks.