Trading zones

The metaphor of a trading zone is being applied to collaborations in science and technology. The basis of the metaphor is anthropological studies of how different cultures are able to exchange goods, despite differences in language and culture. The metaphor of a trading zone is being applied to collaborations in science and technology. The basis of the metaphor is anthropological studies of how different cultures are able to exchange goods, despite differences in language and culture. Peter Galison produced the 'trading zone' metaphor in order to explain how physicists from different paradigms went about collaborating with each other and with engineers to develop particle detectors and radar.