EASST Review Volume 31 (1) European Association for the Study of Science and Technology March 2012 EASST Review Volume 31 (2012) Number 1 Editor: Ann Rudinow Saetnan (NTNU) EASST Review (ISSN 1384-5160) is published Tel:(+47) 73 59 17 86 quarterly, in March, June, September and email:[email protected] December. Membership queries: The Association's journal was called the EASST [email protected] Newsletter through 1994. EASST Review on the Web: http://www.easst.net Subscription: Full individual membership fee (waged and resident in high income countries): Guest Editor this issue: EUR 40 annual. Estrid Sørensen, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Students, unwaged or resident in all other Germany. EASST Council member countries pay a reduced fee of EUR 25. Council of the European Association for the Library rate is EUR 45. Study of Science and Technology: Please note that subscriptions can be made Marc Audetat (University of Lausanne) through the EASST website by following the ‘Join Ingmar Lippert (student representative) EASST’ link. Pierre-Benoit Joly (National Institute of Agronomic Research, Paris) Member benefits: Travel stipends for Ph.D. Laura Watts (IT University of Copenhagen) students, young scholars and researchers from Attila Bruni (University of Trento) developing countries are available. Fred Steward, President (Policy Studies Institute, Reduced registration rates for EASST events Westminster University) apply. Estrid Sørensen (Ruhr-Universität, Bochum) Harro van Lente (University of Utrecht) For other benefits see website. Claire Waterton (Lancaster University) Judy Wajcman (President of the Society for Social Studies of Science, ex-officio Cover Illustration: ‘Title: Atlantic Road; Photographer: Victor Pelaez Torres;Company: EASST's Institutional Members: Somatuscani EASST is in the process of rethinking its approach to institutional membership and its relationship with national STS organizations and centres. Any enquiries to [email protected] EASST's Past Presidents: Christine Hine, 2005-2008; Sally Wyatt, 2000- 2004; Rob Hagendijk, 1997-2000; Aant Elzinga, 1991-1997; Stuart Blume, 1987-1991; John Ziman, 1983-1986;Peter Weingart, 1982. EASST Review's Past Editors: Chunglin Kwa, 1991 – 2006; Arie Rip, 1982- 1991; Georg Kamphausen, 1982. 2 EASST Review Volume 31 (2012) Number 1 Organising STS Editorial By Estrid Sørensen, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, EASST Council member Increasingly often scholars who are This loosely associated group of scholars working in the larger STS centres are visited and has not only become larger and its scholars grown interviewed by younger colleagues who are older. We have become bound up in the interested in mapping the scholarly history of increasing complexity of structural constraints in STS. Our field has reached a stage where there is the contemporary academic world. Many of us are a need to define it, not only in terms of its involved in organising infrastructures for STS to empirical fields and theoretical approaches, but as meet the diverse needs that have developed over a tradition. This work of identification is the years. Sometimes such efforts are co-ordinated accompanied by louder and louder voices more broadly, and sometimes they are the result discussing how the future of STS will and should of either individual activity or of local groups. look. Arguments and disagreements often pivot Even though a view-from-above makes some around the issue of institutionalisation: should we major accomplishments visible – such as the strive for institutionalising STS as a field with international ESST masters degree and the STS degrees, professorships and an acknowledged representation in the ERC – the various efforts to status throughout the academic fields, or will such develop our field seem rather randomly scattered stratification restrict the creative theoretical and across the European landscape. empirical nerve of STS, which flourishes at its In 2010 the EASST Council hosted a best in open-minded and unconstrained networks? meeting of representatives of STS associations Sheila Jasanoff (2010) has metaphorically and other similar interested groups from most described a similar distinction as one between European countries to discuss the position in the STS as an autonomous island coalescing out of an different national situations. These situations are archipelago of knowledge-making, with its own indeed extremely diverse. Some countries have native habits of production and trading or as a few competing centres, others are characterised by program of interstate highway constructions networks of smaller groups. In some countries it is among existing disciplinary states. possible to gain STS degrees; some have For some thirty years STS has been professorships and STS scholars represented on primarily a heterogeneous group of scholars academic political bodies. In some countries STS coming together to share their common is primarily represented by senior academics enthusiasm and insights in the study of science while in others early career scholars are the most and technology. Maybe we are still such a bunch, active. Some national academic systems but we are also professors teaching STS, we are categorise STS as an established scholarly field, researchers searching for young scholars to while other more disciplinary oriented systems continue and develop the work we have started, have no category into which STS can possibly be we are actors on the labour market looking for fitted. In some countries STS scholars tend to STS vacancies, we are applicants who want to see prefer a situation of loose networks, while in STS projects funded, and we are members of others they strive for institutionalisation. departments wishing that the journals in which we As is often the case in Europe, different publish will be ranked at the top in the bibliometic national situations create different needs and system of our country or our discipline. We are require different types of solutions. There does not also authors feeling exploited by commercial seem to be any one solution as the best way publishing houses which are profiting forward for STS in the European countries, economically from the hard work we put into our whether by institutionalisation or through books and articles and we are experts saddened to networks. For either way of developing STS see scholars in the broader fields of social nationally, increasing visibility and broader sciences and humanities expressing their views on acknowledgement of STS on a cross-national science and technology in ways which we feel are European level seem beneficial. The EASST inferior to the explanations we could have given, Council over the past few years has taken steps in had we ourselves been consulted, etc. this direction, some of which will be launched in 2012. Among these is the introduction of three EASST Review Volume 31 (2012) Number 1 3 new awards. The awards are meant to support and offer support for whatever strategies are followed acknowledge scholars in our field who have nationally and regionally to organise the field. engaged in particularly productive ways to STS has moved from its initial start-up enhance the field of STS. Just as important as the endeavour to becoming a consolidated field in awards is the need to increase awareness of STS Europe. It is exciting to be part of this important as a field in its own right. Apart from paying development. Decisions to be taken over the tribute to the individuals receiving the rewards coming decade about the ways to organise STS and to the activities for which they are awarded, will be decisive for how our field will develop in awards draw attention to the awarding Europe. In this process it will be imperative that organisation. We all gain from being in a field that lively discussions and ideas and experiences are has awards as instruments to increase visibility shared in our field about the way forward for STS and acknowledgement of the field. The awards in Europe. The cover image of this Review were introduced in the last issue of the EASST suggests metaphorically that a combination of an Review and the procedure for applications will be archipelago island and interregional highway available shortly. In subsequent Reviews there constructions is indeed thinkable. will be launches of more measures taken by the EASST Council to both create visibility and also Easst Awards In EASST Review 30 (4) December 2011, Selection will be based on the successful EASST announced three new awards that will be development of social approaches to the dynamics made at the EASST / 4S Conference in October of innovation, originality, and better 2012. A full description can be found there but in understanding of the pursuit of innovation for summary these are: societal and environmental goals. Ziman Award The general conditions of the awards are as In honour of John Ziman this award will follows: be made for a significant innovative cooperation An award of €1000 will be made in each case in a venture to promote the public understanding Activities or publications in the time period 1 of the social dimensions of science. July 2010 to 30 June 2012 This could involve, for example, a forum Call for nominations – deadline 30 June 2012 or discussion community, or an interface with non Collaborations should have a distinctive academic users. Selection will be based on European dimension originality and influence. Self-nominations accepted Amsterdamska award The award process will be managed by the In honour of Olga Amsterdamska this EASST Council and may involve appropriate award will be made for a significant creative reviewers from outside the Council collaboration in an edited book in the broad field Submissions for one award may be of science and technology studies. considered for another if deemed appropriate Selection will be based on an anthology in Council members and reviewers are not the broad field of STS, a substantive contribution eligible for the award during the time of their to the field; the quality of the editing, as reflected service in the quality of the volume as a whole; A form for making nominations will be interdisciplinarity, while not a requirement, will available shortly.