S&T News

Science & Technology in Society: An Interdisciplinary Graduate Student Conference

This annual conference provides a forum for ideas on theory and application of science and technology (S&T) as components of global society. Graduate students from a variety of disciplinary and interdisciplinary programs are invited to present their research on S&T in contexts ranging from local to global, public to private, micro- to macro-scale, speculative to legal, and history to future. In addition to presenting papers, students will have the opportunity to interact with each other and prominent scholars and professionals related to their field(s) of interest. Previous speakers have included Daniel Kleinman, Sandra Harding, and Al Tiech, just to name a few. We expect to draw scholars of similar caliber for the upcoming conference.

The conference organizing committee welcomes submissions of abstracts (up to 250 words) for a 10-15 minute presentation. Abstracts need to be submitted via email to stglobal@vt.edu by January 31st, 2005. Acceptance of abstracts will be given by March 1st, 2005. Final papers will potentially be included on the conference website. We seek submissions from graduate students studying topics related, but not limited to the role of S&T in the following thematic areas:

• Globalization, International Regulation
• Environment, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development
• The Knowledge-Based Economy
• Civil, Ethical and Legal Issues
• National Security and Defense Applications
• Government, Private and Academic Investment
• S&T in Non-Western Cultures
• Historical and Social Dimensions of S&T
• Revolutionary or Non-Traditional Directions in S&T
• Network and Industrial Organization
• Biotechnology
• Policy Implications of S&T
• Information Technology
• Foresight/Forecast in S&T
• Technology and Human Development
• Nanotechnology

Information concerning area lodging and registration will be made available on the conference website by January 31, 2005. Travel funds are available for a limited number of presenters. Students in need of travel funds should indicate so when submitting their abstract. For further information, please visit the conference website.

Sponsored by:

When: April 23rd – 24th, 2005
Where: American Association for the Advancement of Science Headquarters, Washington, DC
Abstract Deadline: January 31st, 2005