Annual Meeting of the Society for Social Studies of Science (4S)
2012: Copenhagen
October 17-20, 2012, Copenhagen Business School, Frederiksberg, Denmark
Held jointly with European Association for the Study of Science and Technology (EASST)
(View the 2011, Cleveland meeting page).
“Design and displacement – social studies of science and technology”
For the Joint 4S/EASST conference 2012 we broadly invite papers that address the dynamics and interrelationships between science, technology and society. Papers which address the meeting’s theme ‘Design and Displacement’ are especially relevant, but papers on any topic in STS are welcome.
‘Design’ has become a key concept across a multitude of disciplinary domains and social spheres. In addition to its traditional ‘aesthetic’ associations, it is now a key term in multiple scientific domains and in diverse technological practices. One can even think of societies and social arrangements being ‘designed’. In science and technology, ‘design’ implies the re-arrangement of materials and ideas for innovative purposes. When newly designed scientific and technical objects enter the world, however, their initial purposes are often displaced.
For decades, STS researchers have been following the practical and political dimensions of science and technology. By focusing on concepts and practices of scientific and technological design at their sites of construction and on their multiple displacements the 2012 conference continues this tradition. By bringing together ‘design’ and ‘displacement’ we want to highlight how scientific and technological design engages with existing socio-technical arrangements in both planned and unplanned ways, facilitating both collaborations and contestations, and generating both order and disorder.
The conference encourages analytic, critical and practical engagement with design and displacement in several ways. First, it points to the need for investigating the relation between design intentions and their displacements, for example as catalysts for change and conflict. It also highlights the importance of investigating design controversies. It locates design practices in broader political contexts, and focuses attention on how design facilitates or hinders social inclusion, locally and globally. The theme ‘Design and Displacement’ invites careful analyses of the way design practices take part in shaping worlds. However, ‘Design and Displacement’ also raises questions around STS as design work and practice-based interventions. In this sense design becomes simultaneously topic and outcome, a situation that raises new questions concerning the role of STS research.
New! Call for Open Panels
As a new initiative, proposals for ‘open panels’ at the 2012 Joint Conference 4S/EASST can now be submitted. The selected open panels will then be included as part of the formal call for papers.
A ‘panel’ is a collection of papers that address a shared theme. Panels are normally submitted at the call for papers as a ‘closed package’ of papers and presentations. The 2012 conference hereby calls for open panels, i.e. panels that have a theme and a responsible anchor-person(s), but which are not already filled up with papers. The purpose of calling for open panels is to stimulate the formation of new networks around topics of interest to the 4S/EASST community and may take inspiration from the conference theme “Design and Displacement”. The selected open panels will be announced as part of the ordinary call for papers to come.
Submit your name, institutional affiliation and a short (maximum 300 words) description of the open panel theme along with a title. Deadline is January 4, 2012. Submit an Open Panel Now.
Proposers of open panels must be prepared to be in contact with the scientific program committee about the final composition of their panels and they must be prepared to chair the panel.
The selected open panels will be included in the call for papers opening January 11, 2012 and thereby allow direct submission of papers to a selected panel.
Exhibitors
The 4S is the oldest and largest scholarly association devoted to studying science, technology and society. The annual meeting attracts over 1,000 scholars. Many attendees look forward to the book exhibit for finding new books for class, for their research, and for staying current in the field. Visit the Exhibitors page for information on how to participate.http://www.4sonline.org/meeting/exhibitors
Mentorship Program
The Mentorship Program has become a popular part of the 4S conference. The goal of the program is to facilitate mentoring of individuals who are new to the conference and/or to 4S. A mentoring relationship assumes a minimum of one conversation at the 4S conference. It is hoped that mentoring relationships will also continue with at least two follow-up phone calls or emails during the following 12 months. We will match new scholars with more experienced scholars and make an effort to assign mentors outside of one's university. We hope that the mentoring project will allow new scholars to feel more at home in the STS community.
Travel Support for Students
Please consult the travel grants page for more information.
http://www.4sonline.org/meeting/travel_grants
Contact Info
For general meeting information and any questions about the program, contact the Scientific Program Chair, Signe Vikkelsø at meeting@4sonline.org.
For technical assistance with the submission or registration process, contact the 4S Webmaster.
Important Dates
- January 4, 2012: Deadline for submitting open panels
- January 11, 2012: Abstract submissions open: The deadline for abstract submission I suggest should be: March 11, 2012
- March 11, 2012: Deadline for submissions of individual papers and session proposals.
- May 1, 2012: Acceptance notification.
Opslag
