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Dear all, EASST CONFERENCE, UNIVERSITY OF YORK: 31ST JULY - 3RD AUGUST 2002 Call for Session Papers: 'Land, Science and People' at EASST Conference DEADLINE SOON - FRIDAY 18th JANUARY Co-organizers: Dr. Julia Garritt (Open University) and Dr. Andy Samuel (University of Abertay Dundee) Contact: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> or [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> Conference Stream: Environments, Energy and Natural Boundaries Three keywords: environment, management, communities. Session abstract: This session intends to explore the interactions that take place between the institutional and public spheres when science is called upon to decide how and why land and natural environments should be managed. Such science-based decisions can have profound ramifications upon the individuals, communities and organisations that they directly affect by reinforcing a 'worldview' of the environment different to that already conceptualized. Thus we can witness a tension between scientific and 'other' understandings of how and why the environment should be managed. Recent research in science studies, for example, has revealed the antagonisms felt by local communities and organisations when scientific experts are asked to evaluate a natural environment with which the former have an interest. Such scientifically-inspired practices can thus be said to have political consequences both in the UK and abroad, leading us once more to question the objectivity and impartiality of the science used. This questioning of environmental science is especially pertinent given the growing realisation that we need to secure the participation of all interested parties in order to achieve a more subtle and progressive understanding of environmental issues. Environmental uncertainties are increasing recognised as both technical (for example, the unknown changes effected by climate change, drought and trans-boundary pollution), and social (for example, the political ramifications of drought-induced rural migration, enforced emplacement/ displacement according to the distribution of natural resources, and democracy movements borne of a frustration about quality of life). It follows that we need to explore more integrative and socially-oriented approaches to environmental management and its associated science-based practices. In an attempt to bring together different perspectives on how this might be done, this session invites papers from a range of disciplines associated with STS. Papers that take a substantive (as opposed to theoretical) orientation will be particularly welcome, whether those investigations are historical or contemporary. ____________________________________________________________________________ The deadline for abstracts for this session is soon - Friday 18th January. If you are interested in presenting a paper in this session then please submit an abstract to the session organizers. E-mail's as above. Andrew Samuel Sociology Division University of Abertay Dundee Marketgait House 158 Marketgait Dundee DD1 1NJ ____________________________________________ Web Site: http://shs.tay.ac.uk/bstas Tel: (Work) 01382 308716 (Mobile) 07714 329046 Fax: 01382 223121 E-mail: [log in to unmask] BSA Scottish Study Group Web Site: http://shs.tay.ac.uk/StudyGroup