RN24 - Science and Technology
European Sociological Association 11th Conference
TORINO, 28-31 August 2013
Call for Papers
Instructions
Authors are invited to submit their abstract either to the general session (open) or any specific session. Please submit each abstract only to one session. After abstract evaluation, coordinators will have the chance to transfer papers between sessions where applicable.
Abstracts should not exceed 1750 characters (including spaces, approximately 250 words). Each paper session will have the duration of 1.5 hours. Normally sessions will include 4 papers.
Abstracts can only be submitted online no later than 1st of February 2013 to the submission platform at: www.esa11thconference.eu. Abstracts sent by email cannot be accepted.
The information requested during abstract submission include: 1) name(s), affiliation(s) and email of all the author(s); 2) contact details of presenting author (postal address, and telephone in addition to email); 3) title of proposed presentation; 4) up to 4 keywords (optional).
Submitting authors will receive an email of acknowledgement of successful submission receipt. Abstracts will be peer-reviewed and selected for presentation by the relevant Research Network or Research Stream; the letter of notification will be sent by the conference software system in early April 2013. Each author cannot submit more than two abstracts (as first author).
Abstract submission deadline: 1st February 2013
Abstract submission platform: http://www.esa11thconference.eu
If you have further questions on the conference, please visit the conference website.
For information on the Research Networks, visit: http://www.europeansociology.org/
RN24 - Science and Technology
Coordinators Katarina Prpić < This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. >
Institute for Social Research, Zagreb, Croatia
Harald Rohracher < This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. >
Department of Technology and Social Change, Linköping University, Sweden
Public Science, Corporate Science and Technology in Times of Crisis
The multi-faceted character of the present crisis means that its economic as well as social and political dimensions are felt in everyday life all over the world. At the same time, the crisis has been reflected in social discontent and protest, but also in intellectual critique. The traditional image of science and technology as the salutary tools of social and human progress and welfare has been fading in the public perception and in critical S&T studies.
In contrast to this social and scientific controversy or ambivalence, transnational (EU) and national science, technology and innovation policies are often perceived by power, political and business elites as the agents for crisis overcoming. Therefore (participatory) science governance models have become a crucial issue at the (trans)national level, not only politically but also socially and economically.
There is also a traditional dichotomy between non-profit (public) and for-profit (corporate) science, with potentially different impacts on European societies. This applies in particular to the gap between techno-economically developed countries and less developed post-socialist countries with predominant public sectors, or the turbulent southern (European) economies. On the other hand, the opposite social roles of the public and private sectors of S&T have been argued about. Some models and authors imply or claim that the relationship between these sectors is changing and that the private sector has become socially more open, accountable and transparent.
Thus the public - private sector issue is a techno-scientific as well as an economic and social question of the utmost importance, especially in crisis times. It includes the general and specific differences and similarities between the sectors in their knowledge production and evaluation, in their societal role, social organization and power distribution, in socio-cultural milieus, in research personnel composition and recruiting, motivating and rewarding, in career development etc.
The Sociology of Science and Technology Network (SSTNET) invites papers to its sessions which deal with the topics of the public and private S&T sectors, techno-economic and techno-scientific development, science and society relationships and (participatory) governance in crisis. Papers may also touch on any of the following general issues raising conceptual and/or empirical questions:
• the role of (public) science in a multi-faceted crisis
• knowledge production and social organization in public and/or private S&T sectors
• socio-technical change and development and the present crisis
• new trends and rhetoric in science and technology policies
• innovation agendas in the context of global economic competitiveness
• new and emerging techno-sciences
• the future of public science, university and academy
• intellectual property and other rights, S&T and social tension
• international cooperation in S&T and the crisis
• the scientific labour market, international mobility and gender issues
• resource allocation in crisis
Papers addressing these and other topics from a sociological, other social or interdisciplinary perspectives, are welcomed. PhD students’ submissions are especially encouraged. Authors are invited to submit their abstracts to the general session. Specific sessions will be created a posteriori.
01RN24. Science and Technology (open)
General information on the Research Network
The Sociology of Science and Technology Research Network (SSTNET) held its inaugural meeting at the ESA's 4th Conference, August 19, 1999.
More than in other areas, scholars in the field of science and technology studies have made multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary efforts to blend theory construction on changing relations between science, technology and economic and political systems, descriptive case studies, historical analysis, technology assessment, and self-reflective methodological arguing. Academic associations have evolved in the USA and Europe which reinforce this development. The field provides a stimulating and challenging environment for sociologists to bring in their disciplinary profile. In this context the Research Network will offer a European platform for the sociologists to meet, exchange ideas and strengthen their specific profile for the interdisciplinary collaboration.
The network aims at:
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providing a European forum for the development, discussion and dissemination of research on all social aspects of science and technology
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ensuring an organizational frame for the organization of workshops at the bi-annual ESA general conferences
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organizing focused research meetings and conferences between the ESA conferences
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setting up links to other academic and professional associations in the field of science and technology studies (national, European and international)
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facilitating research collaboration, joint research projects and publication among European scholars
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providing a platform for the dissemination of research reports, conference papers and conventional publications via the world wide web and electronic mail
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creating and maintaining a www data base of the members of the network and the network’s activities (http://sstnet.iscte.pt/)
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promoting the exchange of young scholars of science and technology between European countries
Coordinators
Chair
Katarina Prpic, Croatia
E-mail
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Co-chair:
Harald Rohracher, Austria
E-mail:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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