Wang Luhao's academic journey of technology and society

Editor's Note

For over a century, Tsinghua University has been a hub for cultivating exceptional talents, including those who have made significant contributions to various fields through their intellectual pursuits. Join us as we explore the stories of these outstanding young scholars in our new series, DocTalk. 

From innovative ideas to groundbreaking research, we will showcase the diverse range of achievements made by these young minds who are studying or have studied at Tsinghua University. This piece looks into the story of Dr. Wang Luhao, an alumnus of the School of Social Sciences.

Wang Luhao is an Associate Professor in the School of Public Administration at Southwest Jiaotong University. He enrolled in the Institute of Science, Technology and Society of the School of Social Sciences at Tsinghua University in 2010 and received his Ph.D. degree in 2014. 

With an extensive interdisciplinary background, his primary research areas include science and technology policy, urban governance, and policy discourse.

01

As a young scholar with a notable record of accomplishments, could you please share how your academic journey led you to study at the School of Social Sciences and sparked your interest in public administration, eventually influencing your career choice?

Back during my graduate study, I was exposed to topics related to technology and society, which intersect with various disciplines, including public policy and management. During my Ph.D. years, my focus shifted toward issues related to incubators, high-tech sectors, and their institutional transformations. It is worth mentioning that my interest was particularly sparked by a technology pilot project conducted by my senior colleague at that time.

Soon after that, I expanded my research to include urban-related studies but my theoretical foundation always drew from Science and Technology Studies (STS) and Organizational Institutionalism. Though technology and society are not mainstream in any field, it nevertheless encouraged researchers to explore beyond traditional boundaries, leading me to delve deeper into the field.

02

You visited the University of Tokyo twice, serving as a foreign researcher and visiting researcher. How did these experiences influence your subsequent career development?

My first visit was a six-month short-term research program. I had the chance to attend classes and conduct research, through which I had a look into the training strategy for doctoral students at the University of Tokyo. It was a far-reaching experience and I made acquaintance with many peers and professors, laying the foundation for future collaborations.

My second visit was in my professional career two years ago, at a time when my research progress encountered obstacles. This opportunity allowed me to reflect on myself and my own mistakes. It also prompted me to make adjustments to my research direction on time, which significantly benefited my career development afterward.

03

You have a unique insight into the “pilot programs” and advocated for “Knowledge Constructivism” instead of “Knowledge Realism”. How does this new research approach differ from traditional methods, and what unique significance does it hold?

This is actually a common path in qualitative research, as Goethe once said, “All theory is grey, but the golden tree of actual life springs ever green.” With this approach, I challenge the opinions of previous scholars and offer my own perspectives. This method helps to avoid the drawbacks of preconceived notions and breeds new thoughts.

Sometimes, I may discover that my questions are trivial in practice, which can trigger a sense of frustration and failure. However, the most inspiring aspect of research lies in finding the right theoretical and dialogical perspectives, which ultimately makes the work meaningful and all the efforts seem valuable.

04

STS theories have a crucial impact on your work, and the focus on new technologies is a prevalent trend in contemporary social sciences. As a public management scholar, what unique perspectives do you have when analysing the policy or confronting the revolution in new technologies?

STS serves as an umbrella that encompasses various disciplines. It excels in taking a multifaceted approach to analysing issues by learning from different fields. From my point of view, there are two unique aspects of public management:

Firstly, there is often an excessively positive expectation of technological dividends, even a kind of blind optimism. STS, on the other hand, is critical and reflective, since it not only recognizes progress but also identifies problems. Secondly, STS focuses on the co-constitutive relationship between technology and society, acknowledging a multitude of influencing factors and bidirectional interactions. This dynamic development can only be fully understood throughholistic comprehension.

05

From the perspective of discourse construction, what method will you propose to overcome the difficulty in the generalization of pilot experiences?

I believe the solution lies in using discourse analysis to uncover the sources of bias in the cognition of pilot experiences. My initial suggestion is that we should pay attention to the impact of top-down discourse orders and mechanisms. For instance, there may be a need to strengthen bottom-up discourse transmission and horizontal discourse diffusion. 

Additionally, the variability of discourse should play a more significant role. Independent academic discourse should serve as valuable texts for us to better understand the experiences and spirit of pilot projects, rather than merely being a language tool to explain the "discourse order". Throughout the years, I have noticed that China’s rapid development has led to the emergence of numerous new explanatory frameworks. How to disclose the underlying theoretical foundations behind these phenomena and provide meaningful insights is a problem worth considering.

Read more about THU

Seeing the benefits of the BRI with our own eyes in Hungary

Embracing the vibrant new beginnings

DocTalk | Wang Luhao's academic journey of technology and society

Writer: Hua Yusi

Editors: Gillian Tang, Liu Shutian

Designer: Hua Yusi