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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/
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