6S Mission :

The student section exists within 4S to facilitate interactions among students and junior scholars of social aspects of science and technology, and to promote the interests of students within the 4S organization.

The student section aims to make 4S more relevant for students through representation on the 4S council and by organizing specific activities for students and junior scholars. The student section can make 4S more relevant and useful for students, and in doing so, the student section will contribute to the development of 4S as a whole.

Activities:

The student section will achieve its mission through activities designed to facilitate interaction among students and junior scholars of social aspects of science and technology.

Examples of current and prospective activities include:

Email (STSGRAD-L) listserv - a widely used means of exchanging news on conferences, workshop, jobs, fellowships, and the like.

Student section website that includes an archive of e-mails from the STSGRAD listserv, a link to other relevant STS discussion lists, contact information, and a database of students' research interests.

Student interest panels at 4S conferences - topics such as job searches and journal publication.

Organizing social gatherings at 4S conferences.

A mentoring program to help guide new students not only through the PhD, but also the career development process. The program will link new students with more experienced scholars (i.e. upper-level students and postdocs ).

Governance:

i) The 4S student section meets its objectives of developing student community within 4S through informal activities many of which do not require official organisation.

ii) Student representatives to the 4S Council are elected annually at the student section meeting held during 4S conference. Student representatives each serve a two year overlapping term so that at any time there are two student representatives. Written nominations for the post of student representative must be received by either of the current representatives before the annual meeting; election platforms will be distributed via STSGRAD-L in advance of the annual meeting. Elections will be held by single transferable vote open to any student member of 4S attending the meeting.

iii) A committee of student members of 4S will help develop activities of the student section. This committee shall be made up of the two student representatives and student members elected at the student business meeting. The student committee will not only help to plan activities, but also serve as a sounding board for the two 4S student representatives. Written nominations for the student committee members must be received by either of the current representatives before the annual meeting; election platforms will be distributed via STSGRAD-L in advance of the annual meeting. Elections will be held by single transferable vote open to any student member of 4S attending the meeting.

iv) This charter will be put to a vote, to be approved by a two thirds majority of the student section meeting 2003. Future changes to the student section charter require agreement of two thirds of the student section meeting.

Last Updated

12.11.02