Sushant Kumar
PhD in Public Policy
Sushant is a PhD Candidate in Public Policy and a Harvard STS Fellow. He is broadly interested in the history and politics of science and technology related policy issues and their implications for society. His doctoral research examines why the idea of small family/ two-child norm persists in India despite its numerous proven societal ill effects by examining the historical construction of the norm and politics of knowledge-making process behind it. He uses a constructivist approach in his research to understand how ideas come to be, the role science plays in legitimizing policy ideas, and how scientific evidence itself is socio-politically situated. He deploys interdisciplinary analytical frameworks from policy studies, STS and political communication to understand discursive contestations and formation of the dominant ideas. He has conducted archival research across the U.S and India, semi-structured interviews with stakeholders, and content analysis of media narrative to answer his research questions. He can be reached at sushant_kumar@hks.harvard.edu or kumar.su@northeastern.edu
Sushant is a PhD Candidate in Public Policy and a Harvard STS Fellow. He is broadly interested in the history and politics of science and technology related policy issues and their implications for society. His doctoral research examines why the idea of small family/ two-child norm persists in India despite its numerous proven societal ill effects by examining the historical construction of the norm and politics of knowledge-making process behind it. He uses a constructivist approach in his research to understand how ideas come to be, the role science plays in legitimizing policy ideas, and how scientific evidence itself is socio-politically situated. He deploys interdisciplinary analytical frameworks from policy studies, STS and political communication to understand discursive contestations and formation of the dominant ideas. He has conducted archival research across the U.S and India, semi-structured interviews with stakeholders, and content analysis of media narrative to answer his research questions.
