Nominations open: 15 January
Deadline: 29 February
4S will hold its annual election in May, seeking to fill seats for President-Elect and Secretary, as well as three seats for Council members and one seat for a 6S (Student Section) representative, all of whom will serve from late 2024 through to the annual meeting in 2026. For more information on the terms of service click here.
Please submit nominations by 29 February
Self-nominations are encouraged, or nominations can be made by another 4S member. Forms are available here:
Please send any questions by email
Please address your questions for any of the above roles to the following email address: info@4sonline.org
Emails can be titled: "Nominations Query" then add the role—"President," "Secretary," "Council member," or "6S Representative."
Your query will then be directed to Anne Pollock (4S President), Vivian Choi (Secretary), Canay Özden-Schilling (4S Council Elections Committee), Barkha Kagliwal (6S Rep), or Amanda Windle (Managing Director) for a reply.
4S President is elected by the membership from a roster of candidates in annual elections, serving a one-year term as President-Elect followed by a two-year term as President. The one-year term as President-Elect begins immediately after the annual 4S meeting in the year they are elected. All 4S members are eligible for nomination for the 4S President position.
With assistance from the Society’s Secretary, Treasurer, Managing Director, and Council, the President ensures that regular activities of the Society are planned and in good order, while also leading efforts to improve the Society’s operations and envision future directions. Presidents are expected to chair approximately four meetings during the calendar year, with one face-to-face meeting at the annual meeting (generally on the day before the conference starts). All other meetings are held virtually.
The President shall have general charge of the affairs of the Society. The President of the Society (or a member of the Council designated by the President) presides over all meetings of the Society and of the Council. The President establishes committees to plan the Society’s annual conference, to oversee the Society website and publishing program, and to run elections, for example. The President may appoint ad hoc committees as circumstances dictate or the Council recommends. The President-Elect assists the President of the Society in management of the Society.
The President serves as an ex-officio member of all Society committees, is a voting member of Council, and represents 4S in dealings with other organizations. The President organizes and presides over Council meetings and the open business meeting at the annual conference. The President also helps identify and contract for future meeting venues with the Future Meetings Committee. The President also organizes a Presidential Plenary or delivers a Presidential Address at each annual meeting and communicates monthly with 4S members through a President’s message in Technoscience.
The retiring President serve for two years as an ex-officio Council member, but is otherwise ineligible for election in that period. Former Presidents serve as ex-officio members of the Council, without voting rights.
4S Council members are elected by the membership in annual elections, serving a three-year term beginning immediately after the annual 4S meeting in the year they are elected. Three or four members are elected annually from a roster of candidates. Council members are expected to participate in approximately four meetings during the calendar year, with one face-to-face meeting at the annual meeting (generally on the day before the conference starts). All other meetings are held virtually.
Throughout the year, Council members serve on prize committees, standing committees and ad hoc committees, overseeing the core activities of the Society (its publishing program and website, for example). Standing and ad hoc committees produce reports that are discussed by Council and with 4S membership. Council members help sustain the regular activities of the Society and help envision new activities and directions.
All 4S members are eligible for nomination for 4S Council positions. A final roster of candidates is selected by the 4S Election Committee and approved by council.
4S Secretary is a Council member who holds custody for communicating the agenda of Council meetings and for transmitting committee reports to members of the Council, and the safe-keeping of its records. The Secretary is elected from a roster of candidates and serves a three-year term beginning immediately after the annual 4S meeting in the year they are elected.
The Secretary is responsible for the conduct of elections and reporting to Council and the President on election matters facing the Society. All other Council duties and eligibilities specified above apply to the secretary, including Council meeting attendance and service on prize committees, standing committees, and ad hoc committees.
4S Treasurer is a Council member who holds custody of the funds of the Society. The treasurer is elected from a roster of candidates and serves a three-year term beginning immediately after the annual 4S meeting in the year they are elected. The Treasurer serves as the Chair of Finance Committee responsible for seeking financing options for the Society and reporting to Council and the President on financial matters facing the Society. As 4S finances are held in U.S. institutions, and the President, President-Elect and Managing Director are all based outside the U.S. the incoming 4S Treasurer must be based in the U.S. Elections for the next 4S Treasurer will take place in 2026.
All other Council duties and eligibilities specified above apply to the Treasurer, including Council meeting attendance and service on prize committees, standing committees, and ad hoc committees.
Elected representatives of 6S (the Student Section of the 4S) serve a three-year term beginning immediately after the annual 4S meeting in the year they are elected. One representative is elected annually from approximately three candidates. Working together, (three) 6S representatives are responsible for maintaining open communication with graduate students and junior scholars in 4S, representing their interests and concerns to the 4S Council. 6S representatives are members of the 4S Council and are voting members in the 2nd and 3rd year of their term. 6S representatives help attune the Society to the needs of graduate students and junior scholars while also helping plan the Society’s future.
All 4S members who are graduate students (at the time of the election) are eligible for nomination for a 6S representative seat. A final roster of candidates is selected by the Council’s Election Committee, whose membership includes 6S representatives.