apologies for cross posting
International Conference
Social Aspects of Energetic Issues
Sustainable Development, social organization and acceptance of alternative energetic sources
Chieti (Italy), 26th, 27th May 2011
1. Presentation
Although its centrality in society, the energy problem has always occupied a relatively marginal place within the sociological studies, becoming a theme for reflection and research only in the recent decades, with a predominant reference to issues such as environmental conflicts related to the construction of infrastructures or opinions and attitudes related to different energy sources. A proper appreciation of the social significance of the energy issue seems, until now, to have affected, mainly, related disciplines, e.g. economics, economic history. This, despite the impact that every energetic “revolution” (from the discovery of fire to the use of animal power and wind, from the large-scale use of coal, since the eighteenth century to its gradual replacement by the oil during the “short” twentieth century) had on social organizations, forms of production, on communication tools, on attitudes, ways of life and mobility of people. Regardless, again, the growing relevance that the control of energy sources had in the geopolitical balance of the post-world-war era. Starting only from the seventies, the problems related to energy issues are having a growing appeal on social research, resulting in a rich, but relatively diverse, set of empirical research, related to issues such as attitudes towards sources and technologies for energy production or opposition to the creation of local infrastructures. The conference aims to be, therefore, a moment of reflection and integration of research experiences at international level, with a view necessarily open to interdisciplinary, and as an opportunity for theoretical reflection.
2. Areas of interest
As part of a broader discourse on the relationship between energy and society, the conference will consider four different aspects: 1. the relationship between social organization and energy; 2. Energy and economic development; 3. The relationship between politics and energy; 4. The relationship between energy, public opinion and mass communications. More specifically, the above mentioned four aspects are divided as follows: i) technology and social impact of alternative sources for energy production, ii) energy, sustainability and economic development: what energy mix for the new economy; iii) media, pubic opinion and social acceptability of energy sources and technologies; iv) energy policies, governance and environmental conflicts; v) the relationship between agriculture and energy, the “multifunctionality” of traditional agriculture to the “biofuels”; vi) Energy consumption, ecological awareness and daily life: the approach of the “ecological footprint” and the implementation of responsible behaviours; vii) energy infrastructures and illegal economies; viii) Energy infrastructures and landscape protection; ix) Energy, economy and global geopolitical balance; x ) methodologies and research techniques developed for the study of these addressed issues.
Call for abstracts
We invite all interested colleagues to send, within the 30th of March 2011, an abstract (max 500 words, in Italian or english), concerning signaled areas of interest, to the following address: [log in to unmask] . Following an evaluation by the scientific board, abstract acceptance will be communicated by the 20th of April 2011. A participation fee of 50 € (75 € including dinner on the 26th) is requested to participants, to be paid to Aethos Eventi&Congressi (Banca delle Marche, sede di Chieti scalo - viale Unita d'Italia, IBAN: IT30 V060 5515 5000 0000 0000 356) within the 15th of May 2011. We inform all participants that we are not able to accept any kind of payment at the conference, except for dinner. Deadline for submitting paper for publication expires by the 10th of July 2011. Transportation and logistic information will be soon available on the conference web site www.energysociety.unich.it
For communications or requests, participants are invited to contact conference secretary: [log in to unmask] .
|