Deborah is an anthropologist with a background close to science.
Transitioned from Natural Sciences to anthropology.
Over 40 years, noticed art moving closer to her work, while science moved further away.
Main Theme
Art has taken over the role of radical ecological awareness from science.
Importance of observing and understanding human evolution and relations with the environment.
Concept of Data
Original meaning: Datum means "a thing given" (from Latin 'datare' - to give).
Anthropology and social life involve the give and take of gifts (reciprocity).
Contemporary science sees data as something to be extracted, not given (data mining).
Science and Objectivity
Science views data quantitatively; often seen as mining and extracting information (breaking data off from processes of life).
Anthropologists talk about qualitative data as well. Deborah argues that qualitative data is contradictory and can be unethical (turning back on the subject when converting perceptions into data).
Big Data and Neoliberal Economy
Big data proliferates alongside a neoliberal economy where knowledge becomes a disposable commodity.
Truth in data economics shifts towards impact and utility rather than actual truth.