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Please distribute widely: CALL FOR PAPERS 21. century policies for sustainable technological innovation: The role of STS higher education Organised by the Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture (T.I.K.), University of Oslo, this will be the fourth and final international conference organised as part of the European POSTI project: "Policies for Sustainable Technological Innovation in the 21st Century". By sustainable innovation, POSTI refers to two different concepts: 1. sustainability-related objectives and measures incorporated in innovation processes or outputs; 2. innovation processes or outputs which aim directly at improving the present or future quality of the environment, in a broad sense. While POSTI encompasses ideas related to "clean technology" and "green innovation", it also incorporates aspects of sustainability in the interactions between social, political, economic and ecological spheres. The Oslo conference will be organised into plenary sessions, panel discussions, a keynote address and two topical streams: 1st stream. Europe's 21. century policies for multidisciplinary studies in society, science and society. During recent years several hundred young academics have graduated from society, science and society (STS) programmes. In this stream we would like to discuss some aspects in connection to the contents, benefits and potential of such programmes. What is the intellectual background and status quo of such courses? In what degree are they really multi-disciplinary? At a more general level, we would like to ask what kind of benefits this type of education may or may not have for corporations, communities and society. Does this type of education play any role at all within the current and future shaping of discourse and practice related to sustainability and social acceptability? Finally we want to illuminate policy-related aspects of higher education in science, technology and society. What are the current policies at the national and European levels regarding the fostering of such multidisciplinary higher education? Should there be any policies within this area in the future? If yes, what are the most important aspects in connection with policy formation in the area? Note that we are within this stream not only interested in receiving papers which might broadly fall in the category of STS studies, but also in studies of related types of educational programmes (e.g. higher education in management of technology or in economics of science and technology etc.). 2nd stream. Europe's 21. century policies for higher education in natural sciences and engineering. This stream corresponds more or less to the stream outlined above, except that it takes its point of departure in higher education within natural sciences and engineering. In what degree is such education focussed exclusively on scientific and technical aspects, versus including the societal aspects of science and technology? Moreover, what are the current policies at the national and European levels regarding such higher education? How should those policies be adapted in the future? What are the most important aspects in connection with policy formation in the area? Submitting proposals Proposals for papers are invited from a broad range of Science, Technology and Society (STS) and related disciplines, and may focus upon theoretical, methodological, empirical or applied research topics, or upon direct experience of STS-informed policymaking in the public or the private sector. The best contributions to the four POSTI conferences will be compiled into a major book. Proposals for papers should consist of a title, an indication fo the stream which the paper is intended for, an outline of maximum 2 pages (ca. 800 words) including references, and a 10-line CV. Proposals will be refereed by a committee consisting of Dr. Birgitte Gregersen (Aalborg University), Dr. Manuel Mira Godinho (Technical University of Lisbon), and Dr. Terje Gronning (University of Oslo). Proposals should be submitted via a special submission form available on the conference web site. In keeping with the overall objectives of POSTI, we encourage the submission of proposals from younger researchers (Masters degree graduates and above), as well as proposals from senior academics and persons working in private firms or in public administration. The best contributions to the four POSTI conferences will be compiled into a major book. The deadline for receipt of proposals is 1 February, 2001. For the full text of the call for papers and more information about the conference and the POSTI project, see: http://www.esst.uio.no/posti/cfp.html Contact person: Grazyna K. Normandbo, conference administrator Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture (T.I.K.), University of Oslo P.B. 1108 N-0317 Oslo, Norway tel: +47 22 84 06 00 fax: +47 22 84 06 01 e-mail: [log in to unmask] http://www.tik.uio.no/