Sean Lawson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Communication
Assistant Professor, Middle East Center
Communication
Languages & Communication Bldg
255 South Central Campus Dr RM 2400
Salt Lake City, Ut 84112-0491
Office: 2519 LNCO
Office Hours: By appointment or via e-mail
Office Phone: (801) 585-7127
Email:
My Website: seanlawson.rhetorical-devices.net
Degrees:
2008 Ph.D. Science and Technology Studies Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
2002 MA Arab Studies Georgetown University
2000 BA History California State University Stanislaus
I received my Ph.D. from the Department of Science and Technology Studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2008 with a dissertation titled, “Info@war.mil: Nonlinear Science and the Emergence of Information Age Warfare in the United States Military.” Before beginning my Ph.D. work at RPI, I worked as an Associate National Security Analyst with DynCorp Systems & Solutions, LLC (now Computer Sciences Corporation) in Alexandria, VA. I have an MA in Arab Studies from Georgetown University (2002) and a BA in History from California State University, Stanislaus (2000). I interned in the Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Project at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies (1999) in Monterey CA. I have also taught the course, “Science and Technology in Western Culture,” for the State University of New York’s Empire State College.
Research Statement
In general, my research focuses on the relationship between the histories of science, technology and the development of military theories, doctrines, and strategies. I currently have two general project areas. One area explores the way that the U.S. military has enlisted the help of concepts and metaphors from nonlinear sciences like chaos and complexity theories in their attempts to make sense of the Information Age. The other explores the growing use of new media technologies like blogging and social networking by the U.S. defense establishment, including military and intelligence agencies.
Research Keywords, Regions of Interest and Languages:
Keywords:
Chaos Theory; Communications Technology; Communications Warfare; Complexity Theory; Defense Technology; Discourse Analysis (3); History of Science and Technology (2); Information Technology (4); Information Warfare; Military Discourse; Military History; Military Sciences and Technology; Military Theory; National Security (2); Network Society; Network-Centric Warfare; New Media Studies (4); Nonlinear Systems (2); Rhetoric (9); Science and Society; Science Communication (2); Technology Studies; Warfare Technologies
Regions:
International Affairs (2)
Languages:
Arabic (23)
Current Courses
COMM 3510-3 Intro to Web Design
COMM 5610-1 IT & Global Conflict
COMM 6610-1 IT & Global Conflict
Courses I Teach
COMM 3490 Comm & Pub Issues: Spec Tpcs
COMM 3510 Intro to Web Design
COMM 5610 IT & Global Conflict
COMM 5640 Comm Tech & Culture
COMM 5690 Topics in New Media Studies
COMM 6610 IT & Global Conflict
COMM 6640 Comm Tech & Culture
COMM 6690 Topics in New Media Studies
COMM 7640 Seminar: New Media