Biennial Conference of the European Association for the Study of Science and Technology (EASST) 2012
2012: Copenhagen
October 17-20, 2012, Copenhagen Business School, Frederiksberg, Denmark Held jointly with the Society for Social Studies of Science (4S)

"Design and displacement – social studies of science and technology"

For the Joint EASST/4Sconference 2012 we broadly invite papers that address the dynamics and interrelationships between science, technology and society. Papers which address the meeting's theme 'Design and Displacement' are especially relevant, but papers on any topic in STS are welcome.

'Design' has become a key concept across a multitude of disciplinary domains and social spheres. In addition to its traditional 'aesthetic' associations, it is now a key term in multiple scientific domains and in diverse technological practices. One can even think of societies and social arrangements being 'designed'. In science and technology, 'design' implies the re-arrangement of materials and ideas for innovative purposes. When newly designed scientific and technical objects enter the world, however, their initial purposes are often displaced.

For decades, STS researchers have been following the practical and political dimensions of science and technology. By focusing on concepts and practices of scientific and technological design at their sites of construction and on their multiple displacements the 2012 conference continues this tradition. By bringing together 'design' and 'displacement' we want to highlight how scientific and technological design engages with existing socio-technical arrangements in both planned and unplanned ways, facilitating both collaborations and contestations, and generating both order and disorder.

The conference encourages analytic, critical and practical engagement with design and displacement in several ways. First, it points to the need for investigating the relation between design intentions and their displacements, for example as catalysts for change and conflict. It also highlights the importance of investigating design controversies. It locates design practices in broader political contexts, and focuses attention on how design facilitates or hinders social inclusion, locally and globally. The theme 'Design and Displacement' invites careful analyses of the way design practices take part in shaping worlds. However, 'Design and Displacement' also raises questions around STS as design work and practice-based interventions. In this sense design becomes simultaneously topic and outcome, a situation that raises new questions concerning the role of STS research.

Call for Open Panels
The success of the conference structure at the Trento 2009 conference has been taken up by the Copenhagen Organising Committee, and developed further. At the 2012 Joint Conference EASST/4S there will be proposals for 'open panels'. These can now be submitted. The selected open panels will then be included as part of the formal call for papers.

A 'panel' is a session of papers that address a shared theme. Panels are normally submitted at the call for papers as a 'closed package' of papers and presentations. The 2012 conference hereby calls for 'open panels', i.e. sessions that have a theme and a responsible anchor-person(s), but which are not already filled up with papers. The purpose of calling for open panels is to stimulate the formation of new networks around topics of interest to the EASST/4S community and may take inspiration from the conference theme "Design and Displacement". The selected open panels will be announced as part of the ordinary call for papers to come. An open panel can extend across a maximum of three sessions of each five papers (i.e. a totality of maximum 15 papers).

Submit your name, institutional affiliation and a short (maximum 300 words) description of the open panel theme along with a title at the 4S website. Deadline is January 4, 2012. Submit an Open Panel Now.

Proposers of open panels must be prepared to be in contact with the scientific program committee about the final composition of their panels and they must be prepared to chair the panel.

The selected open panels will be included in the call for papers opening January 11, 2012 and thereby allow direct submission of papers to a selected panel.
Exhibitors

EASST welcomes book and journal exhibitors. Please contact admin(at)easst.net for further details.

Support for Doctoral Students
EASST aims to support doctoral students new to STS conferences to feel part of the conference. We are planning a doctoral workshop linked to the Conference. Details will be posted here when available or email students(at)easst.net to register your interest until March 11.

We are also exploring the opportunity for mentor links with more experienced STS scholars.

Support for Conference Attendance
EASST will make funds available to support the attendance of those who have no, or limited, institutional support. Those attending from European countries underrepresented at EASST conferences are particularly invited to apply for conference support. Only participants with a paper accepted for the 2012 conference will be supported. Further details will be made available early in 2012 and will be announced here and via Eurograd.

Contact Info
For general meeting information and any questions about the program, contact the Scientific Program Chair, Signe Vikkelsø at meeting(at)4Sonline.org.
For technical assistance with the submission or registration process, contact webmaster(at)4Sonline.org.
For EASST specific issues please contact admin(at)easst.net.

Important Dates
January 4, 2012: Deadline for submitting open panels.
January 11, 2012: Abstract submissions open.
March 11, 2012: Deadline for submissions of individual papers and session proposals.
May 1, 2012: Acceptance notification.