Positive Technology Journal

STS Italia is a research network which connects Italian scholars and academics interested in studying science and technology at both theoretical and empirical level.

The approaches and research perspectives pursued in the network consider relationships among science technology and society as a thick texture involving heterogenous actors, and reject any deterministic prejudice about the role of technoscience in society.

Research interests characterizing STS Italia concern theoretical and empirical analysis of science and technology in different contexts (from ‘laboratory studies’ to socio-technical networks; ftrom public perception of biotechnologies to domestication of technologies in everyday life).

STS Italia is inspired by the STS approach (Science and Technology Studies), which constitutes an inter- and trans-disciplinary field well known and institutionalized in Europe and the U.S.

The aim of STS Italia is to promote exchange, discussion and to strengthen the debate on science technology and society inside and outside Italian Universities.

The conference aims to attract a wide audience and broad participation, bringing together researchers engaged in investigating science and technology issues and willing to share their experience during plenary sessions and parallel workshops of the event. Younger researchers and Ph.D. students from University and other research centres are particularly welcome.

Provisional conference program
Plenary session 1
“STS: an international perspective. The state of the art in Science and Technology Studies”

Plenary session 2
“Technoscientific innovation and society: the Italian context”
Parallel workshops
“Research fieldwork and beyond: STS in Italy”

Suggested topics for abstracts:

• Theory, practices and normativity: the coordinates of the theoretical debate (social construction, actor-network, socio-technical networks and so on);
• Technosciences and democracy (governance, risk, public communication of science, ethics and development of technologies);
• “Ongoing processes” (biotechnologies, nanotechnologies, information infrastructures, internet/intranet, e-learning);
• Science, technology and gender;
• Communities of Practice, tacit knowledge and academic science;
• Practices of scientific knowledge, research policies and science crisis;
• Science, technology and social change.

The conference will be held at the Tiscali Campus Auditorium, “Sa Illetta”, SS 195 km 2,300, 09122 Cagliari, 2 kms. far from Cagliari city centre.

The abstract deadline is 9th April 2006
The acceptance of abstracts selected by the scientific advisory board will be communicated to authors by 10^th May.

Participation to the conference is free (no registration fees). Partial coverage of travel and accommodation expenses for undergraduate, graduate and Ph.D. students will be provided. Requests for support will be selected by the Organizing Committee.

To send an abstract, download the form from www.stsitalia.org and send it via e-mail to alessandro.mongili@tiscali.it or by Snail mail to the following address:
Federico Neresini c/o Dipartimento di Sociologia – Università di Padova, Via Cesarotti 10/12, 35123 Padova