Tokyo 2010: 35th 4S Annual Meeting

Held jointly with Japanese Society for Science and Technology Studies

August 25 – 29, 2010

Venue: Komaba I Campus, University of Tokyo
3-8-1, Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo, 153-8902
Access map / Campus map

"STS in Global Contexts"

Abstract submission has closed. Registration is now open.

The 2010 4S conference will be held with JSSTS (Japanese Society for Science and Technology Studies). This is the first 4S annual meeting in Asia. 4S members will have a chance to experience, interact with, and understand the cultural diversity of Asia. Furthermore, holding 4S in Asia opens the door to questions relating to universalities and cultural differences in STS concepts. This meeting will provide a good opportunity for reconsidering STS in global contexts as well as strengthening STS network worldwide.

Schedule of activities

25th (Wed) Registration, 4S Council Meeting, 4S Prize Committee, Welcome Reception
26th (Thu) 2 Sessions (a.m.) 3 Sessions (p.m.)
27th (Fri) 2 Sessions (a.m.) 1 Session (p.m.), Presidental Plenary, Reception (sponsored by Microsoft Research), 4S Banquet, Karaoke party
28th (Sat) 2 Sessions (a.m.) 3 Sessions (p.m.), JSSTS Banquet
29th (Sun) Japanese Sessions, JSSTS Council Meeting (Only Japanese sessions on Sunday)

Program

View the official draft program at http://convention2.allacademic.com/one/ssss/4s10/. Note this is an interactive program. You can search or view all authors, presentations, and sessions. You can also view sessions on a calendar grid. Log in and you can construct a personalized schedule.

Get to Know Tokyo

One Noodle at a Time in Tokyo
By Matt Gross (New York Times)
Ramen, a simple concoction of broth and noodles, has inspired passion among Japanese and foreigners alike, and allows for a deeper understanding of the city itself.

Tokyo Tourism Info

Japan National Tourism Organization

Lonely Planet

Frommer's on Japan

Tokyo Convention and Visitors' Bureau

Tokyo Colour Movie

Registration

Registration is now open.

Early member rates, in effect until June 1, are $200 for professionals and $100 for students. 4S and JSSTS members can log in and will be offered the member discount.

Not a member? Add a membership to your shopping cart and the discount will be calculated at Check Out.

Registration rates in US Dollars:

		Student	Professional
Member	Early	100	200
	Regular	150	300
	Late	200	400
Non-member	Early	150	275
	Regular	200	375
	Late	250	450

Contact info

For information about the program or Tokyo logistics, contact the , Minako Kusafuka.

If you have any questions or problems about registration, please contact: (Asia) or (US, et al).

Discussion

4S has a message board with a forum dedicated to discussing the Tokyo meeting. To date it has seen little activity, but it represents an opportunity to discuss travel plans, meetups, and anything to do with the event.

Accomodation

The program Committee has prepared a block of rooms in Shinagawa Prince Hotel at a reduced rate. A list of additional recommended hotels and their rooms is also posted.

Hotel booking can also be made on the website of Rakuten Travel in English. Read tips on using the Rakutan web site. Average rates (per person & per night) are as below:

Economy (USD60-100) Standard (USD 100-200) Deluxe (more than 200)

Mentorship Program

The Mentorship Program has become a popular part of the Annual Meeting. The goal of the project is to facilitate mentoring of individuals who are new to the conference and/or to the Society. A mentoring relationship assumes a minimum of one conversation at the Annual Meeting. We hope that mentoring relationships will also continue with at least two follow-up phone calls or emails during the following 12 months. Scholars willing to be mentors or who desire a mentor can fill out the interest form at the Mentorship Program Registration page.

Karaoke Party after the 4S Banquet

The Friday evening banquet ends promptly at 20:30. Join fellow 4S pop stars for authentic Japanese karaoke afterwards at Anthem’s Secret Lounge in Shibuya. 20:45~23:30. Directions here.

Students

See the Travel Grant info page.

Visa Information

INFORMATION ON VISAS TO JAPAN REQUIRED BEFORE 20 JUNE 2010

Those from China, Russia, and some other areas require a visa to enter Japan for the 4S conference.

The conference office has asked Prof. Dr. Togo Tsukahara, Kobe University in charge of International Relations and Visa for 4S Japan 2010. He will prepare and send the required documents for the applications for Japanese visas. All presenters are required to register and pay fees first.

We need the following information sent to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) BEFORE 20 JUNE 2010 in order to get the Visa:

Your detailed itinerary (required for the respective visa division at Embassy of Japan. In China, it is Beijing, Shanghai, Shangyang and Guandong, and in Russia, it is Moscow and Petersburg.)
Your name in alphabet, and Chinese Characters (Chinese only):
Date of birth:
Passport number and date of expire:
Residential Address (Domicile):
Professional (occupational) affiliation:
Flight numbers both arrival on and departure from Japan:
Duration of stay:
Place to stay:
Postal address (in alphabet):
Your session title and accepted title of your presentation
Proof that you have paid registration fee for 4S

If you wish to apply visa to Japan to participate 4S, please notice the above mentioned information to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Then, for Visa application, we will send you the following three necessary documents to you by postal mail, (1) a letter to clarify an acceptance of your presentation at 4S. (2) a letter to certify your status, with a document from Kobe University to authorize a person in charge (Prof. Dr. Togo Tsukahara) in Japanese side. (3) a list of applicants and their itinerary, submitting to respective Visa offices of your country.

We will send you those documents by 10 July, 2010.

In Japan we contact the respective visa office at Embassy of your country/region, but it does not automatically guarantee to issue your visa. With those letters and other papers specified by respective office, you have to apply your own visa you yourself, with other necessary documents.

For visa application, please write in English to contact address via e-mail is as follows: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

N.B. Sorry to write that we do not guarantee that every one of you are able to get your visa issued. As bureaucracy always seems "enigmatic" to us, even we are not sure what is the best way to break red-tapes of the tightest Japanese regulations. So, final decision is dependent on the judgment by the respective visa division at Japanese Embassy at your country. We do our best for all of you to come to Japan, and have scholarly exchange on our topic, but it is diplomatic consideration and administrative rigidness that regulates us beforehand. By all means, we really do our best, and hoping to meet all of you in Tokyo.

with our best regards,
Seigo Kayanoki, Ph.D. Student,
Special Assistant for Visa Issue (Chinese and Russian) for 4S.
Teaching Assistant of Tsukahara Laboratory.
Kobe University.