What department are you a graduate student in? 

My name is Kyle Rose. I am a graduate student in the Sociology department here at Florida State University.

Why did you decide to go to graduate school?

I decided to go to graduate school when I was completing my undergraduate and read my professor’s book on the philosophy of climate science. A whole chapter was devoted to an argument of why the lay person should trust climate scientists. I thought the chapter was detached; the most important question is not why lay folk should trust scientists, but why lay folk do not trust scientists. This problem of distrust in the institution of science has driven my interest in the sociology of science and sociology of knowledge which have brought me to graduate school.

Did your interests change throughout your program?

While my overarching research agenda has not changed, I have grown an interest in new media. I have begun researching the construction of science in online communities, specifically Twitter. The massive scope of social media, the prevalence of conspiracy theories, and the opportunities provided me by the faculty of my sociology department have all fostered my interest in social media and the construction of science.

What do you want to do with your advanced degree?

My career interests are guided by my goal to improve trust and engagement with scientific issues. I have a passionate interest in teaching for this reason, as well as an interest in policy evaluation and other non-profit work. Really, my career interests are to work somewhere that makes me feel good about how I use my labor and improve the relationship between people and social institutions.