Introduction
Associate Professor, Department of Sociology
Associate Director, Center for Science, Technology & Society
Education
Ph.D., Sociology, 2007, University of Illinois at Chicago
M.A., Sociology, 1999, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
B.S., Physics, 1996, Nanjing University
Areas of Interest
Science, Technology and Society（STS）
Sociology of Science
Sustainable Transformations and Everyday Life
Laboratory Studies
My earlier work focuses on people and organizations that produce scientific knowledge, analyzing Chinese scientists from the perspectives of scientific field, social networks, gender and technology transfer. Relevant papers appear in Social Studies of Science，Science Technology & Human Values，Research Policy, Minerva, and EASTS. My work experience in the STS institute at Tsinghua University transforms me from an external to an internal sociologist of science and technology. Sustainable Transformations and Everyday Life is one major research area of my group.
Work Experience
August 2018--: Associate Professor (tenured)
Department of Sociology, Tsinghua University
August 2018-June 2019: Visiting Scholar, Harvard-Yenching Institute
December 2010—July 2018: Associate Professor
Institute of Science, Technology& Society, Tsinghua University
March 2010-- December 2010: Lecturer
Institute of Science, Technology& Society, Tsinghua University
Apr. 2008—March 2010: Post-Doc
Institute of Science, Technology& Society, Tsinghua University
Selected Publications
1.Yusong Guo and Wei Hong*, 2024, Domesticating Clean Technologies: User-Adaptive Trials in the Model of Interessement, Chinese Journal of Sociology 44 (1) : 32-60.
2.Can Xu and Wei Hong (2024).The construction of objectivity in scientific measurement ——A case study of aqueous fingerprint traceability. Studies in Science of Science (04), 683-690+703.
3.Siyi Chen, Yimeng Wei, Wei Hong*，2023, COVID-19 Making “Idols”: The Birth of Celebrity Scientists in China, East Asian Science, Technology and Society: An International Journal.
4.Rongzhu Ke, Wei Hong, and Enying Zheng, 2023, An Institutional Trilemma of “Meritocracy”: Evidence from Civil Service Examinations in the Ming Dynasty, Sociological Studies (in Chinese).
5.Wei Hong, Yimeng Wei, Shuyan Wang，“Left behind in perception of air pollution? A hidden form of spatial injustice in China”, Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space, July 29, 2022, 40(3), 666-684.
6.Chen, Jing, Wei Hong, 2020, “Trial or Experiment? Comparing China’s Pilot Project with Experimentalist Governance of EU”, Studies in Science of Science (in Chinese) 38(8): 1-9.
7.Zeng, Dian, Wei Hong, 2017, “Landscape and prospect of STS: interviewing Michael Lynch”, Studies in Science of Science (in Chinese) 35(9)：1281-1288.
8.Tao, Yu, Wei Hong and Ying Ma, 2017, “Gender Differences in Publication Productivity among Scientists and Engineers in the U.S. and China: Similarities and Differences”, Minerva 55 (4), 459-484.
9.Hong, Wei and Yandong Zhao, 2016, “How Social Networks Affect Scientific Performance： Evidence from a National Survey of Chinese Scientists”, Science Technology & Human Values 41(2) 243-273.
10.Zhao, Yandong and Wei Hong, 2015, “The impact of industry funding on scientific activities”, Science Research Management (in Chinese) 36(12)：19-28.
11.Lu, Xiao, Wei Hong, Guangxi, He, 2014, “The Academic and Innovation Productivity of Overseas Returnees: An Analysis Based on the National Survey of Science and Technology Personnels”, Fudan Public Administration Review (in Chinese) 12: 7:25.
12.Wang, Zengpeng, Wei Hong, 2014, “The transfer of tacit knowledge from the perspective of sociology of science: an analysis of Collins’theory of tacit knowledge transfer”, Studies in Science of Science (in Chinese), 32(5）: 641-649.
13.Hong, Wei and Yu-Sung Su, 2013, “The Effect of Institutional Proximity in Non-Local University-Industry Collaborations: An Analysis Based on Chinese Patent Data”, Research Policy 42(2): 454–464.
14.Hong, Wei, 2012, “A Review on Post-Merton Sociology of Science”, Impact of Science on Society (in Chinese) 2 (3): 37-59.
15.Hong, Wei, Kazuyuki Motohashi, Guoping Zeng, 2012, “Intellectual Property Strategies of High-Tech Enterprises: A Study on the SMEs at the Tsinghua Science Park”, Science & Technology Progress and Policy (in Chinese), 29(1): 79-82.
16.Hong, Wei and John P. Walsh. 2009. “For money or glory?: secrecy, competition and commercialization in the entrepreneurial university.” The Sociological Quarterly 50: 145-171.
17.Hong, Wei. 2008. “Domination of a scientific field: capital struggle in a Chinese isotope lab.” Social Studies of Science 38: 543-570.
18.Hong, Wei. 2008. “Decline of the center: the decentralizing process of knowledge transfer of Chinese universities from 1985-2004.” Research Policy 37(4):580-595.
19.Hong, Wei. 2006. “Technology transfer in Chinese universities: is mode 2 sufficient for a developing country?” Pp. 21-50 (Chapter 2) in Pui-lam Law, Leopoldina Fortunati, and Shanghua Yang (eds.), New Technologies in Global Societies. New Jersey: World Scientific Publishers.
20.Walsh, John P. and Wei Hong. 2003. "Secrecy is increasing in step with competition." Nature 422: 801-802.
21.Chen, Wuming, Wei Hong, J.F. Geng, X.S.Wu, W. Ji, X. Jin, L. Qui, and L.Y. Li. 1996. “Iodometric titration for determining the oxygen content of samples doped with Fe and Co.” Physica C 270: 349-353.
Courses
Undergraduate： Gender and Science, Fundamentals of STS, Social Studies of Air Pollution
Graduate：Social Studies of Science and Technology, Sociology of Science
Activities
2023-2028: Project partner of Sociomaterial transformations in Norway and East Asia
2024: Organizer of a Harvard Yenching-Tsinghua Training Program on Science, Technology, and Society (STS) in Asia: Tackling Socio-Technical Challenges from An Interdisciplinary Perspective
2020: Guest Editor for a special STS issue of Tsinghua Sociological Review
2020: Guest Editor for a special issue of Dialectics of Nature “Bruno Latour in China: Questions and Challenges.”
2019: Organizer of a Harvard Yenching Workshop “Sensation, Perception, and Policy Intervention：Air Pollution in China and Beyond”
2017-：Editor for the STS section of Dialectics of Nature
2016：Organized the 12th EASTS Network Conference in Beijing
2015-: Secretary for the Sociology of Science Committee, Chinese Sociological Association.
2013- : Associate Secretary for the Sociology of Science Committee, Society for Science of Science and Science Policy.
2013-: Steering Committee Member of Beijing Society for History and Sociology of Science.
2012-2014：Steering Committee Member of APSTSN (Asia-Pacific Science, Technology and Society (STS) Network)
2013- : EASTS（East Asian Science, Technology and Society）Editorial Board
Reviewer for Social Studies of Science, Research Policy, Journal of Economic Geography, Journal of Technology Transfer，Minerva, East Asian Science, Technology, and Society, Journal of Science and Technology Policy in China，Journal of Business Research
Awards and Honors
2017 and 2018: Excellent paper awards from the Chinese Sociological Association
2013: Outstanding Young Scholar at Tsinghua University
2012: Excellent Research Award from the Ministry of Education
