Edinburgh. June 12-13, 2019

The field of Science and Technology Studies has attained global reach. In some regions, the study of science and technology has been around for more than five decades, already stabilized as a discipline in itself. During that time, this discipline has been expanded not only by incorporating insights from other disciplines –like the study of innovation dynamics- but also by adding different methodological traditions and a growing number of geographical boundaries. Beyond the traditional centres (North America and Europe) where the study of science and technology emerged, the discipline has been able to adapt to the aforementioned circumstances, developing interesting lessons and addressing multiple challenges along the way. For example, in the Latin American region, the early studies of science and technology were characterised by an approach that could be categorized as developmental, seeking to reduce the scientific and technological gap between this region and the “developed world”. Consequently, scholars oriented these studies on the creation of new public policies and institutional programs. Continue reading →

Milan. October 24-27, 2019

Abstracts deadline: March 25, 2019

Organizers
Alexis De Greiff A.
Departamento de Sociología; Centro de Estudios Sociales
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá
Email: ahdegreiffa@unal.edu.co

Simón Uribe
Departamento de Ciencia Política
Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá
Email: simonuribe@gmail.com

Description

Arms, explosives, maps, garment and physical infrastructures constitute some examples of the objects fabricated, used or adapted in modern warfare. The relationship between war and technology has interested historians of technology from the outset of the discipline. Moreover, it has been also a primordial concern of general historians. However, most of the literature on the subject focuses in wars or conflicts between states (regular wars). In this session, we will address a less studied and, therefore, poorly understood dimension of the problem: the connections between different kinds of technologies and irregular warfare in the Twentieth Century. We are especially interested in cases of decolonization struggles, post-colonial conflicts, insurgent warfare and terrorism in the Twentieth Century. This entails exploring how state agents, as well as insurgents or terrorist groups, develop technological tools and systems for attacking, surviving and defending. These technologies are often combined or complemented with immaterial technologies such as military strategy, deception tactics, intelligence techniques and geographical knowledge, among others. We shall discuss the ways in which these socio-technical objects and practices are built, transmitted, replicated and subverted. In this way, we seek to critically examine how states, counter-states and para-states expertise developed, interact, and put into practice. In particular, we are interested in exploring scenarios and cases that involve actors which have historically defied or represented a threat to the state like guerrillas, revolutionary groups, mafias, terrorist organizations and large criminal networks.

Curia, Portugal. June 24 to July 2, 2019

The Epistemologies of the South are an epistemological and political proposal that put into question the hegemonic centrality of the modern eurocentric matrix project and wager on the broadening of cognitive justice and social justice recognising the impossibility of one existing without the other. The South, in this context, is not a geographical place, rather a metaphor for the unjust suffering promoted by the oppression of colonialism, capitalism and hetero-patriarchy and for a plural space of epistemological creativity closely linked to knowledges forged in resistances and struggles. The South thus thought is heterogeneous and includes diverse spaces, varied experiences and an infinity of knowledges. The Epistemologies of the South recognize these differences and value them, encouraging South-South dialogues, as well as South-North dialogues. Continue reading →

Umbria, Italy. May 26-June 5, 2019

Announcing a reading and discussion retreat in Umbria, Italy on the topic of “Anthropocene Organisms” from May 26th to June 5th, 2019.

The retreat will take place in the medieval Italian hill town of Monte Castello di Vibio using facilities made available by the International Center for the Arts. A small group of scholars will gather to spend mornings reading and discussing important contemporary papers with optional evening sessions workshopping papers-in-progress by the group’s members. The idea is to provide a relaxing environment for some focused work on important emerging areas of environmental and animal thought. Afternoons are free. Continue reading →

Quito. August 19-21, 2019

La Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO-Ecuador) y la Escuela Politécnica Nacional organizan la VI Escuela Doctoral de Estudios Sociales y Políticos sobre la Ciencia y la Tecnología de ESOCITE (Sociedad Latinoamericana de Estudios Sociales de la Ciencia y la Tecnología) que tendrá lugar en Quito entre el 14 y 17 de agosto de 2019. El encuentro busca reunir un colectivo de alrededor de 25 jóvenes investigadores en fase avanzada de redacción de sus tesis doctorales con el propósito de debatir avances de investigación, modelos de análisis, metodologías aplicadas y los aportes realizados al campo CTS y a las sociedades de la región. Continue reading →