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SORRY FOR CROSSPOSTINGS
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ANNOUNCMENT AND CALL FOR PAPERS

3rd International Summer Academy on Technology Studies
“User Involvement in Technological Innovation”
Deutschlandsberg, Austria, July 8 – 14, 2001

Organised by:
Inter-University Research Centre for Technology, Work and Culture
(IFZ), A-8010 Graz, Schloegelgasse2 in cooperation with:
University of Twente, Centre for Studies of Science, Technology
and Society (WMW),
Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BUTE),
Department of Innovation Studies and History of Technology.

INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION:
For further information on programme or registration, please visit our
web site:
http://www.ifz.tu-graz.ac.at/sumacad/
or contact:
Bettina Lackner, e-mail: [log in to unmask]

Aims and Perspectives:
The general aim of this sequence of summer academies is to
explore strategies for a more sustainable design of technologies as
an issue of science and technology studies. An important issue
within this context is the role of users in technological innovations
and perspectives for a more active involvement of users. This issue
raises questions such as: Would participative design processes
improve the quality of innovations from the perspective of users? Do
users have design- relevant knowledge and how can this knowledge
be incorporated into technology development? Is it possible to
organise user involvement effectively or do such strategies belong
to the realm of symbolic policy making? We certainly will also have
to ask questions like: What are the limits of user involvement?
Who are the users (e.g. of technologies not yet developed?) and
who speaks on behalf of users?

The summer academy shall provide a platform to combine both,
theoretical analysis and practical policy questions of shaping
technological change in a environmentally sustainable and socially
inclusive way. An important aim of the summer academy also is to
establish closer links to Central and Eastern European countries
regarding the joint effort of shaping technology as a means of social
and economic change.

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CALL FOR PAPERS:
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Participants are encouraged to present a paper related to the
conference topic. Please submit a one page abstract and a
maximum of one page on your work and research background.
The deadline for submissions is Friday, March 30, 2001.

Conference Venue:
The Summer Academy will be held at Deutschlandsberg Castle
(near Graz) among the vineyards of the Styrian wine-growing
district.

Fees & Accommodation:
Conference fees: ATS 4,000.—(Euro 290.--). The fee covers the
conference proceedings and all conference materials. ATS
5,100.—(Euro 370.--) for accommodation include half board
(breakfast and lunch) and coffee breaks for the period from Sunday
evening to Friday evening as well as social events during the week.

Grants:
Participants from Central and Eastern European countries are
invited to apply for grants covering fees and accommodation.


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Harald Rohracher - IFF/IFZ
Interuniversitaeres Forschungszentrum fuer Technik, Arbeit und Kultur
Inter-University Research Centre for Technology, Work and Culture
Schloegelgasse 2, A-8010 Graz, AUSTRIA
Tel: +43(0)316/813909-24, Fax: +43(0)316/810274
E-mail: [log in to unmask], http://www.ifz.tu-graz.ac.at/
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