EASST Review Volume 25 (4) European Association for the Study of Science and Technology December 2006 EASST Review Volume 25 (2006) Number 4 Editor: Ann Rudinow Saetnan Norwegian Institute for Studies in Research of Deputy Editor: Richard Rogers Higher Education Tel:(+47) 73 59 17 86 (Saetnan) Science Museum, London (+31) 20 525 3352 (Rogers) University of Bielefeld email:[email protected] University of Edinburgh [email protected] University of Gothenburg Membership queries: University of Maastricht [email protected] University of Manchester University of Surrey EASST Review on the Web: University of Sussex http://www.easst.net University of York VTT Group for Technology Studies, Finland Contributing Editors: Wellcome Trust Andrew Jamison (University of Aalborg) Harald Rohracher (Graz) EASST Review (ISSN 1384-5160) is published Paul Wouters (Virtual Knowledge Studio, Royal quarterly, in March, June, September and Academy of Sciences, Netherlands) December. The Association's journal was called the EASST Newsletter through 1994. Council of the European Association for the Study of Science and Technology: Subscription: Individual membership fee: Marc Audetat (University of Lausanne) EUR 35 annual. Reduced two- and three-year Conor Douglas, student member (University of membership available. Students and citizens of York) East European countries pay reduced rates on Christine Hine, President (University of Surrey) applicaton EUR 20. Library rate is EUR 35. ([email protected]) Please note that subscriptions can also be made Reiner Grundmann (Aston University) through the EASST website. Erika Mattila (London School of Economics and Political Science) Member benefits Jessica Mesman (University of Maastricht) Travel stipends for Ph.D. students, young Tiago Moreira (Durham University) scholars and researchers from developing Fred Steward (Brunel University) countries are available. Ragna Zeiss (Free University, Amsterdam) Reduced registration rates for EASST events Susan Leigh Star (President of the Society for apply. Social Studies of Science, ex-officio) EASST's Past Presidents: EASST's Institutional Members: Sally Wyatt, 2000-2004; Rob Hagendijk, 1997- Academy of Finland 2000; Aant Elzinga, 1991-1997; Stuart Blume, CSISP/Sociology Department, Goldsmiths 1987-1991; John Ziman, 1983-1986;Peter College Weingart, 1982. Ecole des Mines, Paris Europäische Akademie, Bad Neuenahr- EASST Review's Past Editors Ahrweiler Chunglin Kwa, 1991 – 2006; Arie Rip, 1982- Institute for Policy and Practice, University of 1991;Georg Kamphausen, 1982. Newcastle Inter-University Research Center for frontpage illustration: NTNU Info/Rune Petter Technology,Work and Culture, Graz Ness James Martin Institute, University of Oxford Linköping University 2 EASST Review Volume 25 (2006) Number 4 Re-viewing the Review? by Ann Rudinow Sætnan Happy New Year! Greetings to all from your new journal that comes out in three forms editor. simultaneously. The complete journal appears on line. At the same time a paper version is sent to First, I’d like to thank Chunglin Kwa yet again members. The paper version contains, as now, for the job he’s done defending and developing “service pages” (job announcements, conference EASST Review over the years and through periods announcements, calls for papers), an editorial, a of budgetary restraints. Maintaining EASST review or two (of books, conferences, other events) Review, on paper, and with a recognizable style as … and in addition an expanded table of contents more than simply a members’ newsletter has at including abstracts and URLs to the on-line times been no small challenge. Printing and articles. A shorter version – table of contents with mailing the Review is, after all, the main post on clickable links – can be sent out by email. EASST’s budget, so when the budget was tight Another question is where we want to balance there was always a pressure to cut back. Now that between accessibility and membership privileges. the budget seems secure, Chunglin has decided it’s If membership is to be meaningful, then members a safe chance to hand over the editorship and free should receive some privileges that non-members up time for other concerns. Having offered to take do not – or at least not as freely or automatically or over as editor, I see my first task as learning the promptly as do the members. On the other hand, ropes and maintaining the Review as the quality when we publish in a journal we want as broad a product it already is. But thereafter, the question is readership as possible. Thus we do want the whether it’s possible for EASST Review to journal available also to non-members. One way to become even better. handle this might be through a delayed release. The The council has been discussing various options complete, on-line journal would be available “fresh for offering members a fully peer-reviewed journal. off the presses” only to members and to Should we start our own? Link up with an existing subscribing institutions. As each issue comes out, journal? Build on the EASST Review? And if the however, the previous issue could be made latter, should we do it on paper or on line? The available to the general public. Or … we could council has asked me to start exploring how make only abstracts available to the general public EASST Review might become a fully peer- during this first time period, but require a log-on reviewed on-line journal. Here are my thoughts on (i.e. individual or institutional membership) to this so far: access full texts. Or … we could make all issues First, the idea makes little sense if all we do is freely available and count on members finding turn it into an ordinary journal, only on screen. If other reasons to maintain their memberships. Any we take the Review on-line, we should take thoughts on what would be preferable? advantage of the extra opportunities on-line Next, how might discussion pages function? I publishing offers. Three that I see as pertinent are: envision that each accepted article becomes a - The ability to publish multi-media articles, “thread” to which comments can be appended. i.e. articles including images, sound, Here we would need some security features. In video. some discussion forums where I participate, there - The ability to hold on-line discussions of is a warning button automatically added to each published materials. posted item. If a reader sees an offensive item – - Fewer restrictions on space. spam, flaming, inappropriate language, attempts to These do, however, raise new challenges. “pirate” discussions into unwelcome topics – they Especially opening a journal to un-edited push the warning button and alert a discussion comments would require both technical and monitor. Monitors are able to remove items from organizational safeguards against spam, flames, the forum and, worst case, to ban offenders from theme piracy, etc. participating. Unfortunately, these security features Secondly, council has time and again concluded are necessary, and they require personnel time as that most members want to receive the Review on well as technical solutions. The time requirements paper. Preferably then, going on-line would go beyond what is now donated for editorship, so supplement rather than supplant a paper version. we would have to have more volunteers and/or a So what might this look like? I envision a budget for paid assistance. And while we’re on the EASST Review Volume 25 (2006) Number4 3 subject of volunteers, even without opening for on- membership thinks on this before we move line discussions, we would still need volunteers to forward – or not. do peer review! So answer me honestly: Would Meanwhile, I will attempt to maintain the style you be willing and able to offer prompt responses and standards established by Chunglin. Of course, to referee requests from a new journal? that too depends on contributions from you, the Some other security features would be a bit readers. Please continue to support EASST as an different from what I’ve seen on, say, cycling academic forum by submitting reviews, forums. Hobby forums often allow people to post announcements, dissertation presentations etc. to under nicknames. I think that would be EASST Review. Reviews and dissertation inappropriate for an academic discussion. We presentations may be sent to me at any time, ought to sign our debate contributions with our preferably electronically at [email protected]. own names, much as we are visible and knowable Announcements may be sent to Richard Rogers at when we participate at a conference session. [email protected]. In addition to appearing in However, since we are not visible on-line, there is the next quarterly Review, announcements appear the danger that someone would post under on our more frequently updated web pages: someone else’s identity. I envision that there would http://www.easst.net. be a “confirm your post” system, perhaps And just to get the ball rolling on contributions, automatic. Having signed on as a user, your email I have made one small change starting with this address would be registered, but invisible to other issue: users. Any posting in your name would generate an alert to your email allowing you to alarm a monitor Were you puzzled by the front cover illustration? if someone else is posting in your name. Of course, Were you frustrated to find only a source cited if you know you’ve just posted, you know there inside and no explanation of the image offered? I will be an alert seconds later and you simply delete thought I would make the front cover into a puzzle. it. I have no prizes to offer beyond a few seconds of These are my thoughts so far. As you can see, fame, but I invite readers to “compete” for two there are some costs and some risks involved. Over honourable mentions – one for being the first with the coming months I’ll be exploring what the costs the “correct” answer to the question “What is might be.