Infrascientific Literacy

The ability to understand the infrastructure that underlies scientific work—laboratories, equipment, databases, funding systems, institutional policies, and communication networks. Infrascientific literacy recognizes that science does not happen in a vacuum; it depends on material and social supports that shape what research is possible, who gets to do it, and what findings emerge. It is essential for science policy, research ethics, and navigating the practical realities of scientific careers.

Example: “His infrascientific literacy helped him explain why some fields advanced faster than others: not because of intellectual merit, but because particle physics had massive infrastructure while marine biology relied on patchy funding.”

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal March 24, 2026