At the trailing edge of a long career in science and governmental policy, I encountered Japanese anime. Anime is fascinating because it comes from a non-Western perspective and reflects the unique history of Japan. At the same time the stories have a universal appeal because the impacts of technology (internet, globalization, automation, challenges of urban life, fragmentation of the family, and etc.) that are affecting Japan are affecting every country.
My training is in engineering, science, and science policy. I have spent my career investigating the risks posed by technology. A link to my resume is here. I have a page at Google Scholar and one of my lectures on ecological risks from pesticides is available on YouTube. In the talks and papers at this site I attempt to investigate how studies of anime can be informed by a consideration of the effects that science and technology have on society.
Studying Anime 