Shobita Parthasarathy, a professor of public policy and director of the Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program at the University of Michigan, has been elected president-elect of the Society for Social Studies of Science.
The global nonprofit association, known as 4S, promotes interdisciplinary research examining the social, political, and ethical dimensions of science, technology, and medicine.
Parthasarathy will begin a three-year leadership term in October 2026, serving one year as president-elect followed by a two-year presidency from 2027 to 2029, according to a university release.
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Her term arrives at a time when humanities and social science disciplines face increased institutional pressures worldwide. In her upcoming position, Parthasarathy plans to focus on connecting research directly with policymaking and public discourse on emerging issues, including artificial intelligence governance, healthcare access, and public trust in expert authority.
“It’s important for STS to inform the most serious questions of our time, from how to manage AI and other emerging technologies to why there is declining trust in expertise,” Parthasarathy stated .
Parthasarathy, an Indian American scholar, brings an extensive academic background to the role. She earned an undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Chicago, where she also completed degree requirements in public policy. She went on to receive her master’s degree and PhD in science and technology studies from Cornell University, with a minor in government.
Her scholarship frequently bridges global technology governance with her Indian roots. Her current book research investigates the politics of inclusive innovation and “tech for good” initiatives in India, with a focus on sanitation and menstruation solutions in South Asian communities. Her broader research focuses on equity in technology policy and the politics of evidence in public interest decision-making.
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She is the author of two books: “Building Genetic Medicine: Breast Cancer, Technology, and the Comparative Politics of Health Care,” which influenced a 2013 U.S. Supreme Court decision on gene patentability, and “Patent Politics: Life Forms, Markets, and the Public Interest in the United States and Europe,” which received the American Sociological Association’s Robert K. Merton Prize.
Parthasarathy has been affiliated with 4S throughout her career, previously serving as a student representative to the 4S Council, where she helped establish the STSGRAD listserv and student section.
She later served on the organization’s council from 2014 to 2017 and held editorial positions with journals including Engaging Science, Technology, and Society and Science, Technology, & Human Values.