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Rhetoric and the Politicization of Science

2005 American Association for the Rhetoric of Science and Technology (AARST)
Workshop: Rhetoric and the Politicization of Science
Wednesday, November 16, 2005 – Boston, MA

The controversy over the “politicization” of science advice and policy under the Bush administration provides an opportunity for rhetoricians of science to engage with a broader public discourse about the role of science in society. The American Association for the Rhetoric of Science and Technology is soliciting proposals for its 2005 pre-conference, held on Nov. 16 in conjunction with the annual meeting of the National Communication Association in Boston, MA. Desired proposals include but are not limited to the following types:

(1) Readings, analyses, and interpretations of key texts, lines of argument, and debates in the politicization of science controversy.

(2) Examinations of the contexts in which the controversy is located, including historical, political, social, and related aspects that bear upon the development and reception of particular elements of the discourse.

(3) Pragmatic, critical, or discipline-oriented policy recommendations emerging from a rhetoric of science or related perspective for attaining goals related to effective, transparent, and accountable science advice and policy.

More broadly, this pre-conference invites scholars, scientists, and others to participate in the critical analysis of documents, debates, and discourses related to the politicization of science under the Bush administration, with particular attention to issues of public participation and democratic deliberation in science advice, policy and direction. Analyses may be undertaken from a variety of disciplinary perspectives, including cultural studies, discourse studies, rhetoric, and related fields, and the location of current controversies in their ongoing contexts is of particular interest.

The deadline for proposals, which may include work in progress or extended abstracts as well as completed papers, is May 31, 2005. Submit proposals in Word or WordPerfect format via e-mail attachment to wjw11@psu.edu.

Contact: William J. White, Asst. Prof., Comm. Arts & Sciences, Penn State Altoona, 3000 Ivyside Dr., Altoona PA 16601. Phone: (814) 949-5689. E-mail: wjw11@psu.edu.