Michael Bouchey

Background

About Michael Bouchey

My doctoral research uses the privatization of spaceflight in the U.S. as a case for better understanding how to steer complex sociotechnical systems more intelligently. I seek to understand how undesirable results of technological development can occur too late to mitigate against the consequences or after decision to develop such technologies have become too solidified to alter. Technological decision, events, and feature often accumulate, locking in a particular trajectory of development and gaining momentum such that selecting alternative pathways of development are impractical. My research focuses on developing a theory and a method for maintaining flexibility in technological development and decision-making in order to enable better learning so that technological civilization may proceed more intelligently. In addition to preparations to publish my graduate research in the form of a book and several articles, I am now pursuing several additional research areas. Other projects include development of new engineering ethics curriculum designed to meet learning goals more specifically tailored to the ethical challenges faced by engineers. I am also working on a proposal to bring funding for starting a research center at New Mexico Tech for studying United States military space policy and space doctrines. Finally, am co-authoring an article suggesting a more democratic approach to restarting nuclear power development in order to avoid past mistakes of the industry. You can read more about these projects and see some of my past public-oriented writing at my website or the RPI STS Graduate Student blog.