Call for Papers 
ICOHTEC Symposium 2008

Crossing Borders in the History of Technology

The International Committee for the History of Technology’s 
35th Symposium in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada,
 5-10 August 2008 

Deadline for Early Decision for Proposals is 14 January 2008

Final Deadline for Proposals is 3 March 2008



This conference’s primary theme is the examination of how technology
influences and is influenced by the interaction over various types of
boundaries. These boundaries include the interaction between disciplines,
theory and practice, scholarly schools, trades and professions, geographical
areas, periods of time, cultures, technological and political systems,
ethnic groups, and nations. 

While open to all proposals dealing with the history of technology, the
program committee suggests the following sub-themes for the consideration of
session organizers and contributors: 
The exchange of ideas and transfer of technology in history

The spread of technological theories over national borders
The impact of international trade on technological development
Globalization of technology
Osmosis between science and technology
Interaction between culture and technology
Technologies of social mobility and gender 
Migration and social mobility in the history of technology
Loyalty to traditions and the frenzy of novelties 
Technology and the zeitgeist 
Unrealized, utopian and science fiction technology
Crossing the border between nature and technology

These sub-themes can easily be seen in a variety of topics, including
technological systems, social construction of technology, cultural interface
in the engineering profession, environmental awareness, design and aesthetic
values in technology.
	
We urge contributors to consider organizing a full session of three or more
papers.  Individual paper submissions will, of course, be considered. It is
also possible to propose papers unrelated to the general theme. They can be
presented in a "Special Topics" sessions.
 
Note: Membership in ICOHTEC is not required to participate in the symposium.

Special features of the Symposium include the annual Mel Kranzberg Lecture
by a distinguished historian of technology, the annual Jazz Night, banquet,
receptions, a special plenary “Victoria Session on Technology and
Colonialism” with leading international scholars, and several excursions
from the British Columbia Forestry Discovery Centre to whale watching. For
further information please, visit the conference website at:
http://icohtec.uvic.ca/ 

  
INDIVIDUAL PAPER proposals must include: (1) a 250-word (maximum) abstract
in English; and (2) a one-page CV. Abstracts should include the author’s
name and email address, a short descriptive title, a concise statement of
the thesis, a brief discussion of the sources, and a summary of the major
conclusions. Please indicate if you intend your paper for one of the
specified subthemes. In preparing your paper, remember that presentations
are not full-length articles. You will have no more than 20 minutes to
speak, which is roughly equivalent to 8 double-spaced typed pages.
Contributors are encouraged to submit full-length versions of their papers
after the conference for consideration by ICOHTEC’s journal ICON. If you are
submitting a paper proposal dealing with a particular subtheme, please
indicate this in your proposal. For more suggestions about preparing your
symposium presentation, please consult the guidelines at the symposium web
site: http://icohtec.uvic.ca/

SESSION proposals must include: (1) an abstract of the session (250 words
maximum), listing the proposed papers and a session chairperson; (2)
abstracts for each paper (250 words maximum); (3) a one-page CV for each
contributor and chairperson.  Sessions should consist of at least three
speakers, and may include several sections of three speakers each, which
might extend over more than one day.

Proposal submissions

Those who desire a quick response are requested to submit their paper /
session proposals as soon as possible, but no later than Monday 14 January
2008. This option is meant especially for young scholars who need an early
decision in order to apply for travel grants.

The final deadline for all submissions is Monday 3 March 2008. 

Please, submit proposals for papers and sessions via the website of the
Victoria symposium at http://icohtec.uvic.ca/proposals.php
 
If web access is unavailable, proposals may be sent by fax to ICOHTEC 2008
at: (1] 250-721-8772.  Otherwise they may be sent via regular mail or
courier, postmarked not later than 4 January  2008 for the first deadline or
22 February 2008 for the final deadline. 

The mail address is: 
ICOHTEC2008
Department of History
University of Victoria 
P.O. Box 3045 STN CSC
Victoria, B.C. V8W 3P4

Courier packages should be addressed:
Department of History
University of Victoria
3800 Finnerty Rd.
Clearihue Building Room B245
Victoria, B.C V8W 3P4 
All questions about the programme proposals should be submitted to the chair
of the programme committee, Mats Fridlund at [log in to unmask]  . Queries about the
conference venue should be made to [log in to unmask]

Graduate students members of the Society for the History of Technology
(SHOT) are eligible for travel support.  Go to:
http://www.historyoftechnology.org/awards/icohtec_tg.html