Gwen Ottinger
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About Gwen
Ottinger's research focuses on the role that science, technology, and expertise play in ameliorating or exacerbating environmental injustice. They have studied in particular community-led air monitoring, resident-expert dynamics in communities adjacent to oil refineries, and environmental data infrastructures. Overarching themes in Ottinger's writings include epistemic justice and innovation, citizen science, public participation and procedural justice, and undone science. Ottinger has collaborated with non-profit and grassroots environmental justice organizations to make community-level environmental data more accessible and meaningful; refineryairwatch.org is one product of these efforts.
Contributions
Community Air Monitoring is a Portal to Bigger Environmental Stories
In the News
Publications
Argues that environmental justice (EJ) should be understood not only in terms of participation and recognition but also through the lens of epistemic justice. Demonstrates that frontline communities often face epistemic injustices, such as exclusion from judgment, inadequate epistemic resources, and denial of status as knowers.
Examines how datafication affects equity and democracy in social and environmental realms. Highlights how data practices create value regimes and foster both alienation and potential attunement to the environment.
Examines how fenceline communities use citizen air monitoring to expose regulators’ hermeneutic ignorance. Argues that acknowledging hermeneutic ignorance is key to reforming institutions and improving environmental protection.
Explores how Louisiana residents initially challenged an oil refinery over health concerns but eventually accepted the scientists’ claims. Argues that by presenting themselves as responsible experts, refinery scientists reinforced their authority, undermining grassroots activism and environmental justice efforts.