Life on the Stargazing Hill: Belgrade Astronomical Observatory at the Intersection of Gender, Science and Culture in Post-Socialist Serbia by Mirjana Uzelac A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Anthropology University of Alberta © Mirjana Uzelac, 2020 Abstract This thesis is a result of ethnographic research conducted at the Belgrade Astronomical Observatory in 2015-2018 period, among Serbian astronomers and astrophysicists. The thesis is threefold: it focuses on the intersection of knowledge production, post-socialism and gender issues in today’s Serbia. These three topics were used as anchors for examining the realities of work and life of Serbian scientists. The research is grounded in concepts of epistemic cultures and knowledge cultures used for analyzing scientific practice and scientists’ work at the Belgrade Astronomical Observatory. Epistemic culture(s) present at the AOB are shaped by two factors: the demands of the discipline (epistemic cultures of international astrophysics communities) and the realities of post-socialism. In this thesis, I describe the main practices, attitudes and relationships that exist in Serbian astrophysics. I treat “epistemic culture” of the Belgrade Astronomical Observatory in terms of performing science in the specific historical and political circumstances: the realities of post-socialist Serbia and the legacy of socialist Yugoslavia. Special attention is given to the issue of gender and women in science, and a seeming paradox of having a gender balance but still experiencing a strong “glass ceiling” effect at the Observatory. In this thesis, I argue that the Observatory serves as a protective bubble that shields researchers from the chaotic socio-political circumstances of contemporary Serbia. Despite modest funds and other hardships, scientists at the Observatory enjoy a relative security in terms of employment and social benefits, which can be attributed to the legacy of socialism. This is particularly important for female researchers, who can realize themselves as both mothers and ii scientists. Furthermore, the lack of government’s care for sciences enables researchers to pursue topics and questions they find important, without any control from the government or funding agencies. This freedom results in a community that enjoys many of Polanyi’s ideals of the republic of science: the Observatory is a place where researchers can focus on their intellectual pursuits and perform “pure science for science’s sake”. iii Preface This thesis is an original work by Mirjana Uzelac. The research project, of which this thesis is a part, received research ethics approval from the University of Alberta Research Ethics Board, Project Name “Physical Sciences in Post-Socialist Serbia”, study ID: Pro00064368, approved on 27 April 2016. No part of this thesis has been previously published. iv Dedication For my husband v Acknowledgements This dissertation would not have been possible without the help, support and encouragement of numerous people. I wish to thank my supervisor and mentor, Dr Marko Zivkovic, for guidance, dedication and help during all stages of my journey. Thank you for your guidance during my first days in Canada, and for your critical comments and ideas during my fieldwork. My special gratitude is for the opportunities you provided during the Fieldshcool for Ethnographic Sensitivity. The Fieldschool has largely informed my approach to this thesis, particularly in terms of language, the look and feel of the place, and sensory experiences described in the dissertation. I also wish to express my gratitude to the other members of my supervisory committee: first and foremost, Dr Kathleen Lowrey, who was always there for my questions. Thank you for welcoming me and helping me figure things out, and thank you for all your support and guidance during these five years. I would also like to thank Dr Robert Smith, for his support and help with historical side of space exploration, particularly in terms of cold war and the space race. I also thank Dr Joan Greer and Dr Andrew Ede for their valuable comments and suggestions on my thesis prospectus. My doctoral studies were made possible by the financial support from the University of Alberta, including FGSR Doctoral Recruitment Scholarship, and the Department of Anthropology and FGSR travel awards. I would also like to express my gratitude to the lovely people at the Department of Anthropology, for their support and encouragement, particularly Dr Pamela Willoughby, Heather Cook, and Dr Kate Kingsbury (for being the best officemate anyone could wish for). I would also like to thank Dr Dale Pesmen, for her incredible workshops and writing exercises. You have helped me navigate my way through the thesis, and you inspired and encouraged me to do vignettes, which ended up being some of the most rewarding parts to write. I also owe gratitude to researchers and other employees at the Belgrade Astronomical Observatory, for welcoming me and answering my questions so enthusiastically. You made me vi feel both like a guest and a friend. I enjoyed our discussions, time spent together and kafenisanje. Special thanks to Dr Jelena Kovačević-Dojčinović and Dr Milan Dimitrijević, who were my guides through the Observatory. Finally, I wish to thank my friends and family, for being there for me in different ways, and for inspiring me and helping me achieve my goals: my husband Vladimir, who not only supported me and encouraged me throughout the years, but who also introduced me to socio-cultural anthropology. This thesis is dedicated to you. My friend Jelena, with whom I share a storytelling and science spark, not to mention a gold medal from a republic astronomy competition in 1996. I thank my mother for her strength in raising me during the chaos of embargo and transition the 1990s, and my late father for providing a role model on how a person with a PhD should behave. vii Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................... ii Preface ..................................................................................................................... iv Dedication ................................................................................................................ v Acknowledgements ................................................................................................. vi Table of Contents ................................................................................................. viii List of Illustrations .................................................................................................. xi List of Symbols ..................................................................................................... xii 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1 Research Questions ............................................................................................... 2 The Importance of Research ................................................................................ 5 2. Theory and Methodology .................................................................................. 8 2a Theoretical Concepts ..................................................................................... 8 Post-socialism and Serbia ................................................................................ 12 2b Methodology ................................................................................................. 16 Ethics ............................................................................................................... 20 2c Access to Field Site ....................................................................................... 23 What Was Expected of Me .............................................................................. 25 Previous Researcher ........................................................................................ 30 Communication Problems ............................................................................... 33 Vignette: “What Do You Do?” ....................................................................... 37 3. The Observatory .............................................................................................. 40 Getting There ................................................................................................... 40 Observatory Grounds ....................................................................................... 47 Interiors ............................................................................................................ 51 Vignette: Coffee ............................................................................................... 56 viii 4. Performing Science .......................................................................................... 59 4a Scientific Practice ......................................................................................... 59 Projects at the AOB ........................................................................................ 59 Scientific Work ............................................................................................... 68 Vignette – No Observations at the Observatory .............................................. 73 Production of Papers ......................................................................................