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AnnouncementsA collection of STS news items, in the order submitted, including grants and awards, new books and other publications, and people news. Updated May 14, 2008 By Bart Jan Koning Announcing the Science Studies NetworkUpdated May 14, 2008
New Mailing List -- STS and the Built EnvironmentUpdated May 4, 2008 At the 4S conference in Montreal, many colleagues responded very positively to the idea to better network people with an interest at the intersection of STS and the built environment. Thus encouraged, we decided to give this network a more convenient and manageable platform. Its spine is a new mailing list called BESTS (Built Environment and STS). Its purpose is not narrowly defined but there is no dearth of ideas. It enables all subscribers to disseminate and receive information about new projects, publications, job adverts, events, guest lectures, conferences, workshops etc. to like-minded peers (currently 120+ people). BESTS is currently moderated by Ralf Brand and Liam Sharratt at the Manchester Architecture Research Centre at the University of Manchester, UK. There are three ways to subscribe to the BESTS mailing list: Once you have subscribed you can post a message to all subscribers by sending an email to <bests@jiscmail.ac.uk>. We look forward to welcoming new members; and please feel encouraged to spread the word to any one else who might want to join us. Happy communicating! Ralf Posthumanities Series, volume 4: BÍOS: Biopolitics and PhilosophUpdated April 30, 2008 A significant political theorist advances the discussion of biopolitics BÍOS: Biopolitics and Philosophy Bíos—significant political theorist Roberto Esposito’s first book to be translated into English—builds on two decades of highly regarded thought, including his thesis that the modern individual is an attempt to attain immunity from the contagion of the extraindividual, namely, the community. In Bíos, Esposito applies such a paradigm of immunization to the analysis of the radical transformation of the political into biopolitics. "With Bíos, we move well beyond the animal metaphor of Hobbesian origin, of the man who is a wolf to other men. Esposito leads us from there to ..."—Antonio Negri "Roberto Esposito is an important voice from Italy with an original contribution to contemporary debates about biopolitics. Timothy Campbell’s excellent introduction situates Esposito within the Italian context and highlights the alliances and challenges of his thought with respect to other figures on today’s theoretical scene."—Michael Hardt For more information, including the table of contents, visit the book’s webpage: For more information on the Posthumanities Series: Sign up to receive news on the latest releases from University of Minnesota Press: William T. Stearn Student Essay Prize 2008Updated April 15, 2008 Deadline for entries is June 30, 2008. The Society for the History of Natural History invites submissions to the William T. Stearn Student Essay Prize Competition. The prize will be awarded to the best original, unpublished essay in the history of natural history. It is named in honour of the late William T. Stearn, a scholar whose work contributed much to the field and to this Society. The competition is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students in full- or part-time education. Entries will be considered by a panel of three judges appointed by the Council of the Society. The winner will receive £300 and the winning essay will normally be published in the Society's journal, Archives of natural history. The rules of the competition and the entry form can be downloaded from the SHNH website (http://www.shnh.org), which also contains information about the Society, membership benefits and details of SHNH activities. The 2007 Stearn Prize Essay, 'Siren canora: The mermaid and the mythical in late-nineteenth-century science' by Heather Brink Roby, will appear in Archives of natural history Volume 35, Part 1. Simon Chaplin Address for correspondence:
WITH Travel Award 2008 - A Call for "New Voices" in Technological HistoryUpdated April 15, 2008 The SHOT Special Interest Group Women in Technological History [WITH] announces its travel grant for 2008. The purpose of the award is to encourage participation of "new voices" at the annual meeting of the Society for the History of Technology [SHOT]. The 2008 meeting will be held in Lisbon, Portugal, October 11-14, 2008 (See http://www.historyoftechnology.org/annualmtg.html) "New voices" seeks topics or perspectives underrepresented in SHOT, and invites scholars from underrepresented constituencies, geographic and cultural. Eligibility for the WITH Travel Award is open to individuals who are giving a paper at the SHOT annual meeting. Graduate students and other scholars new to SHOT are particularly encouraged to apply for the award. Seeking to foster exchange of ideas among cultures and to help broaden the intellectual scope of our field, the WITH Travel Award will support papers that especially consider questions of ethnicity, gender, and modes of difference in the history of technology, and scholars who come from non-US and non-Western venues. The award will include registration for the Lisbon meeting, a year's membership to SHOT and WITH, the WITH breakfast or lunch, the graduate student breakfast (if appropriate), and the awards banquet; the balance of funds will be allocated to travel expenses. Priorities for the WITH award will go to: (1) a scholar or graduate student new to SHOT belonging to a group underrepresented in SHOT, whose paper addresses issues of gender, race, ethnicity, and/or difference in the history of technology; (2) a non-US, non-Western graduate student or scholar new to SHOT presenting on any topic. The WITH award is to be granted to individuals who are giving a paper at the SHOT annual meeting. email: t7911ai@mail.lrz-muenchen.de. Dr. Martina Blum Announcing the website: Situating Science: Cluster for the Humanist and Social Studies of ScienceUpdated April 15, 2008 The websites goal is to bring together scholars from a range of disciplines who are involved in the social studies of science.
The 2006 General Social Survey (GSS) included a science and technology (S&T) module.Updated April 15, 2008 Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Science Resources Statistics (SRS), the module combined questions that have been asked on previous SRS surveys with new questions, many of which probe different aspects of the cultural authority of science. SRS is in the early stages of planning data collection for the 2010 GSS. As part of this process, we wish to learn more about how the research community used the 2006 module. We are interested in hearing from anyone (i.e., students as well as professors, casual users as well as authors of forthcoming articles and books) who has used these data for research or teaching. We would like to read manuscripts and know about research findings, of course. But we are especially interested in feedback that might lead to better and more useful survey items in our next S&T module: how well the survey data worked to address the research questions being asked, what additional measures would have added value, what conceptual distinctions we need to start making (or measure better), what items proved to be problematic on analysis, etc. For SRS, the primary purpose of the survey questions is to serve as "indicators"-- quantitative representations bearing on the scope, quality, and vitality of the science and engineering enterprise. These and other indicators are reported in the National Science Board's biennial report, Science and Engineering Indicators, which SRS prepares under guidance from the Board. (We would also welcome feedback on how well the chapter on public understanding and attitudes toward science (Chapter 7; http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind08/c7/c7h.htm) summarizes the major nationally representative quantitative data on the topic (i.e., does it satisfactorily cover the most important data sources, is the presentation appropriately balanced, is useful contextual information presented, etc.)). To provide feedback about the 2006 GSS module or chapter 7 of Science and Engineering Indicators 2008, please contact Robert Bell (rbell@nsf.gov; 703-292-4977). Dr. Bell would also be happy to answer questions and supply further information about the NSF data collection program on public attitudes toward and understanding of S&T.
New in the series "In Vivo: The Cultural Mediations of Biomedical Science"Updated March 30, 2008 LIFE AS SURPLUS From the development of recombinant DNA technology in the 1970s to the "A book of topical timeliness and conceptual and political importance. For more about the book, including the table of contents, please visit our http://www.washington.edu/uwpress/search/books/COOLIF.html Center for Ethics: Debating Science Program Opportunity for Grad StudentsUpdated February 12, 2008 To solve the toughest problems of the modern world we need to bring together people with all kinds of training and experience. It is clear, however, that experts, the public, and the policy-makers find it harder and harder to communicate effectively due to intellectual specialization. Debating Science seeks to remedy this by teaching us all the skills of cooperative deliberation over issues in science and technology, by sharing ideas and knowledge among scientists, philosophers, and humanists. This year, we will explore the ethical, scientific, and social dimensions of global climate change, biotechnology, and nanotechnology with an intensive summer workshop in Missoula, Montana and a semester-long online deliberation course in each of the three topic areas. The course is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and will cover the majority of the participants’ travel board, and lodging costs for the workshop. The workshop features keynote lectures by outstanding leaders in the fields of the philosophy of technology, environmental economics, environmental philosophy and ethics, the policy history of global climate, biotechnology, and nanotechnology. More information can be found here: http://www.umt.edu/ethics/programs/debatingscience.html Graduate Research Fellowships in the Theory of Interdisciplinarity at UNTUpdated January 30, 2008 The Department of Philosophy and Religion Studies at the University of North Texas announces the creation of a new Research Fellowship in the theory of interdisciplinarity, available for incoming graduate students for the fall of 2008. Students will work under the supervision of one of the Department’s professors on projects tied to the creation of UNT's new Center for the Study of Interdisciplinarity (CSID). Final salary and compensation have not been set, but for the fall of 2007 similar Research Fellowships paid 19.2k plus the costs of tuition. UNT Philosophy, the home of the nation's leading PhD program in environmental ethics/philosophy, is the home of UNT's new Center for the Study of Interdisciplinarity. The Center will focus on themes such as: * the relation between science, humanities, and policy concerns Applications for admission to the UNT graduate program in philosophy are due by February 1, 2008; but an extension will be granted who quickly contact the department announcing their intention to apply at philosophy@unt.edu. Details of the application procedure can be found at http://www.phil.unt.edu/programs/graduate/. Ethics Education in Science & Engineering (EESE) Invites ProposalsUpdated January 24, 2008 The Ethics Education in Science and Engineering Program (EESE) considers proposals on ethics education for graduate students in all fields supported by the NSF, including interdisciplinary contexts, social sciences and STS. The program solicitation for EESE (08-530) can be found at: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08530/nsf08530.htm. The program will entertain proposals in graduate ethics education in science and engineering generally, but is particularly interested in proposals addressing issues involving the international/global context and those addressing intellectual property issues. EESE supports three kinds of projects: * Education Projects Cognizant Program Director: Laurel Smith-Doerr, Program Director, Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences, Science, Technology and Society Program, (703) 292-8543, email: Lsmithdo@nsf.gov New ECHO Gateway for the History of Science, Technology, and IndustryUpdated January 15, 2007 The Center for History and New Media is pleased to announce the relaunching of the ECHO (Exploring and Collecting History Online) website at http://echo.gmu.edu. ECHO is a portal to over 5,000 websites concerning the history of science, technology, and industry. In addition to better helping researchers find the exact information they need and granting curious browsers a forum for exploration, the new site also provides access to the latest in blogging on the topics of digital history and histories of science, technology and industry. The project is based at the Center for History and New Media at George Mason University (http://chnm.gmu.edu). ECHO has been funded by two generous grants from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Enviromental Science & Forestry New Graduate ProgramsUpdated January 13, 2008 SYRACUSE — The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) has established two new graduate programs in environmental studies. These programs focus on the social and policy dimensions of environmental issues, and take an interdisciplinary approach to solving environmental problems. The new programs are a master of science (MS) and a master of professional studies (MPS), both in environmental studies. "The MS program is research-focused, offering students an interdisciplinary understanding of environmental issues, the problems that underlie them, and the paths that lead to sustainable communities," said Sonnenfeld. It is intended for students with a wide range of undergraduate degrees. The MPS program is a non-thesis degree aimed at professionals already working in various environmental fields and others seeking a graduate program with less emphasis on research. Those choosing the MPS track will find a more career-focused program, often including an internship that adds real-world applications to the curriculum. Both graduate programs offer unique blends of social science, humanities and physical science, and allow students to take a hands-on approach to developing their own personal curriculum. Students in the environmental studies graduate programs also will benefit from ESF's relationship with neighboring Syracuse University (SU). Students can take supplemental courses from SU in closely related social science areas, including energy and climate policy, environmental history, environmental and/or ecological economics, anthropology, religion, human ecology, management methods for public agencies and non-profits, and environmental law. In addition, environmental studies graduate students at ESF may work toward concurrent degrees at SU's Newhouse School of Public Communications, or the Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs. ESF's environmental studies programs identify several core areas. These include: sustainability, policy, governance, conflict resolution, advocacy, ethics, and perception and behavior. For further information about the environmental studies graduate programs, visit http://www.esf.edu/es/graduate.htm. Public Understanding of Science: Online Submission SystemUpdated January 13, 2008 Public Understanding of Science (http://pus.sagepub.com) has switched to an online submission system. Please direct all your submissions to http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/pscience The journal is welcoming essays, commentaries and research studies that
demonstrate new theoretical directions, policy considerations, and
practical perspectives that illustrate how our thinking has evolved on
topics related to the inter-relationships between science and the public.
Possible topics include (but are not limited to): Please send your manuscripts (5,000 words for research notes, essays and
commentaries, and 9,000 words for theoretical essays and empirical studies
including abstract and endnotes) in APA style to pscience@ucalgary.ca. New Book: Genetics from Laboratory to SocietyUpdated December 18, 2007 Edited by Gerard de Vries and Klasien Horstman, Palgrave Macmillan Genetics from Laboratory to Society illuminates the ethical and political issues related to genetic testing. De Vries and Horstman and the other contributors demonstrate how a process of collective learning can be developed in order to help societies deal with the emerging practices of genetic testing. The volume includes discussions of prenatal diagnostics, breast cancer and hypercholesterolomia. These examples of genetic testing are discussed from the perspectives of patients, their families, medical professionals, insurance companies, employers, unions and governments. This multi-actor perspective enables an analysis of genetic testing as a social process rather than as a series of individual choices and dilemmas. This book is part of the Health, Technology & Society series, edited by Andrew Webster and Sally Wyatt, published by Palgrave Macmillan, available from all good online booksellers, as well as direct from Palgrave http://www.palgrave.com/products/title.aspx?PID=275990 ISSTI at Edinburgh: David Edge studentship 2008/09Updated December 14, 2007 The Institute for the Study of Science, Technology & Innovation (ISSTI) at the University of Edinburgh announces a new studentship for its MSc Science and Technology Policy and Management programme. The studentship honours the life and achievements of David Edge, and will provide support for a full-time student for the academic year 2008/09. David Edge (1932-2003) was founder of the Science Studies Unit, a central figure in the development of the field of STS, and a valued colleague and mentor over many years to people now working in the field at Edinburgh and beyond. The studentship covers the costs of the University UK/EU fees for the one-year full-time course – £4600 – plus £420 research expenses. ISSTI invites applications from within or outside the European Union, but the studentship does not cover the full costs of fees for non-EU students. The MSc Science and Technology Policy and Management programme currently offers specialist strands in Information and Communication Technologies and in Life Sciences and Biotechnology. ISSTI plans to add a further specialism in Energy and Environment from 2008/09. More information on the studentship, including details of the application procedure and criteria for selection, and details of the MSc Science and Technology Policy and Management programme, can be found at http://www.issti.ed.ac.uk/study New Book: When Species MeetUpdated December 8, 2007 By Donna J. Haraway,
University of Minnesota Press | 440 pages | 2007
Donna J. Haraway contemplates the interactions of humans with many kinds of critters, especially with those called domestic. From designer pets to lab animals to trained therapy dogs, she deftly explores philosophical, cultural, and biological aspects of animal–human encounters. In this deeply personal yet intellectually groundbreaking work, Haraway develops the idea of companion species, those who meet and break bread together but not without some indigestion. “When Species Meet is a breathtaking meditation on the intersection between humankind and dog, philosophy and science, and macro and micro cultures.” —Cameron Woo, publisher of Bark magazine For more information, including the table of contents, visit the book’s webpage: New Book: Marking Time, On the Anthroplogy of the ContemporaryUpdated December 8, 2007 By Paul Rabinow To read the entire book description or the introduction, please visit: In Marking Time, Paul Rabinow presents his most recent reflections on the anthropology of the contemporary. Drawing richly on the work of Michel Foucault, John Dewey, Niklas Luhmann, and, most interestingly, German painter Gerhard Richter, Rabinow offers a set of conceptual tools for scholars examining cutting-edge practices in the life sciences, security, new media and art practices, and other emergent phenomena. Taking up topics that include bioethics, anger and competition among molecular biologists, the lessons of the Drosophila genome, the nature of ethnographic observation in radically new settings, and the moral landscape shared by scientists and anthropologists, Rabinow shows how anthropology remains relevant to contemporary debates. By turning abstract philosophical problems into real-world explorations and offering original insights, Marking Time is a landmark contribution to the continuing re-invention of anthropology and the human sciences. New Book: Trafficking Materials and Gendered Experimental Practices: Radium Research in Early 20th Century ViennaUpdated December 8, 2007 By Maria Rentetzi, Columbia University Press "Trafficking Materials and Gendered Experimental Practices: Radium Research in Early 20th Century Vienna is "a complex, creative, and fascinating study" of women in Vienna working as independent researchers. She includes documentary research, material culture and built environment analysis, and oral histories to examine the culture of women in the unique positions of radioactivity researchers during the early twentieth century." Research Development Funding Program for Technology and Innovation Research ProjectsUpdated December 5, 2007 The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Technology Innovation Program* and the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago are pleased to announce a Research Development Funding Program for social science scholars interested in technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship research using a unique new source of firm level data available through the NORC data enclave (http://dataenclave.norc.org). Research funding will be awarded in amounts up to $25,000 for the 2008-2009 program. There are three types of funding categories: 1. Dissertations: for junior scholars wishing to use NIST innovation
datasets through the enclave to write dissertations Researchers will be required to report on research progress and to share preliminary findings that may be of interest to the program. They will present a final paper at NORC-sponsored conference in Fall 2009 to present their findings. Papers will be published as ATP working papers, which does not preclude publication in journals. The deadline to apply for research funding to use ATP data through the data enclave is December 31, 2007 . More information about the data enclave is available at http://dataenclave.norc.org/. You may also contact Tim Mulcahy, the Program Manager, at 202-223-3789. To get on the mailing list for updates about the data enclave or on scholarship availability, please register at dataenclave@NORC.org. * In August 2007, the American Competes Act (PUBLIC LAW 110–69) created a new
Technology Innovation Program (TIP). The purpose of the Technology Innovation New Science Studies Research Network established in CanadaNovember 12, 2007 The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada has awarded a $2.1 million Strategic Knowledge Cluster grant to “Situating Science: Cluster for the Humanist and Social Studies of Science.” The seven year “Situating Science” project will bring together philosophers, historians, sociologists and anthropologists along with scientists, journalists, museologists, and others, to study the influences that have shaped the field of science, and the influence that science has on our lives. Four broad themes will be supported through local, national and international workshops, conferences, and other venues: 1. the historically evolving methodologies, authorities and objects of the sciences and technology 2. the status of scientific practices and skills as well as the material cultures of science and technology 3. scientific communication, both within science and between science and the larger society, 4. the geographical aspects of science and technology “Situating Science” will also fund graduate and post-doctoral graduate research and scholar exchange related to the themes. The Cluster will be constructed around six regional nodes, centred at the University of British Columbia, Université du Québec à Montréal, the University of Saskatchewan, York University, McGill University, the University of Alberta, and the University of King's College, which will administer the grant; and will be led by a management team of Alan Richardson (University of British Columbia), Yves Gingras (Université du Québec à Montréal), Larry Stewart (University of Saskatchewan), Bernard Lightman (York University), James Delbourgo/Nick Dew (McGill University), Robert Smith (University of Alberta), Gordon McOuat (University of King's College), and Lesley Cormack (Simon Fraser University). The Cluster will be supported by $1.8 million from the partnering institutions. More information on the Situating Science Cluster can be found at: www.situsci.ca or by contacting Greta Regan, Cluster Manager: gregan@dal.ca Gordon McOuat (Cluster Director): gmcouat@dal.ca |
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