China's Social Drives of Environmental Technology Introduction: A Case Study of UASB in Beer Industry

• In Event: Environmental Risks in Transnational Contexts I

Abstract

The deepening of the reforms and opening-up of China in the 1980s witnessed a rapid increase of China’s industries and environmental problems following it. Voices for environment protection from society made enterprises take their impact on environment into significant account. Introduction and R & D of UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) technology in China discussed in this article derived from the needs for of wastewater treatment of industries like beer whose activities became a severe threat of surrounding residents. Game playing between Tsinghua University and Beijing Brewery in the development of UASB reflected their different views of technological path. China’s government had to mediate in this game to push the application of environmental technologies. The application of UASB not only solved environmental problem but also made this technology integrated by production system being an important part of green beer industry. Game playing between industry and school was the inevitable result of more social engaging. The history of China’s technology could be assumed as a process of industry technology transforming into ecological technology. The introduction of UASB stood on the starting point of this transformation. Analysis of social dynamics of this process could be helpful to the understanding of evolution technology in an era of ecological civilization.

Authors

• Guo Qinshuo, Institute of STS, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

• Yang Jian, Institution of STS, Tsinghua University, Beijing, PRC