Seems of interest.

Best,
Michael

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Jaime Jimenez <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: July 28, 2005 9:46:47 AM PDT
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: DURBAN 2006, CALL FOR PAPERS
> Reply-To: Science & Technology Studies <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
> This is an invitation to participate in the RC23 Sociology of Science  
> and
> Technology sessions of the
>
>         XVI WORLD CONGRESS OF SOCIOLOGY
>         DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA, 23-29 OF JULY, 2006
>
> Kindly find below the full sessions' Programme.
>
> You may as well visit the webpage:
>
> http://www.ucm.es/info/isa/congress2006/rc/rc23_durban.htm
>
> to see the Programme.
>
> Truly yours,
>
>                 Jaime
> _______________________________________________________________________ 
> ____
>
> RC23 PROGRAMME
>
>
> SINGLE SESSIONS:
>
>
> - Science and Technology in contemporary Africa and the Third World.
> Between international communities and development needs.
>
> Co-Chairs: Jochen Gläser, Australian National University, Australia,
> <[log in to unmask]> and Johann Mouton, University of  
> Stellenbosch,
> South Africa, <[log in to unmask]>
>
> More than anywhere else, science in developing countries faces a  
> conflict
> between the need to be part of a rapidly progressing, western-type  
> "world
> science", and the expectation to contribute to national development.   
> This
> session will discuss how this conflict shapes the work, careers, and
> societal roles of scientists in developing countries.
>
>
> - Standardization of science policies?
>
> Co-Chairs: Jochen Gläser <[log in to unmask]> and Gili S. Drori
> <[log in to unmask]>
>
> Science policy in highly industrialized countries has adopted an  
> epistemic
> basis that can be described by catchwords such as "knowledge society",
> "national innovation systems", "mode 2", "triple helix" and  
> "e-science".
> The new policies linked to these catchwords are currently traveling  
> through
> the epistemic communities of science policy and are gaining a strong
> influence in the science policy of developing countries as well. In  
> this
> session, the mechanisms by which these Western models travel, the  
> reception
> of these models in developing countries and their adequacy for the  
> national
> conditions will be discussed.
>
>
> - Commercialization of Science: errors and fraud. Theoretical  
> perspectives
> and case studies.
>
> Chair: Maarten Mentzel <[log in to unmask]>
>
> Science in academic institutions depends more and more on external  
> non-state
> funding. This may lead to greater pressures for 'results', in both  
> life and
> natural sciences. Among other consequences, normative standards may  
> become
> laxed, at times inviting behavior that deviates from generally  
> accepted,
> "Mertonian" norms. The session invites papers that treat the use of  
> false
> information, plagiarism or fraudulent research and that discuss  
> strategies
> to prevent these phenomena. Examples considering the input of
> (inter)national professional organizations or institutions that regard
> scientific integrity are welcome.
>
>
> - Science and Technology under globalization.
>
> Co-Chairs: Binay K. Pattnaik <[log in to unmask]> and Marja  
> Häyrinen-Alestalo
> <[log in to unmask]>
>
>  Globalization has had a differential impact on S&T structures and  
> processes
> in developed and developing countries. It has been differential even  
> among
> developed countries by themselves. How have these changes been  
> perceived in
> a context of differing S&T systems, both on quantitative and  
> qualitative
> basis? Further, what changes are taking place in order to adapt to  
> current
> realities? What qualitative changes may be observed in the relationship
> between north and south S&T communities? Is center-periphery finally  
> being
> overcome?
>
>
> - Science for sale?: social, political, and intellectual issues  
> related to
> property rights in science and technology.
>
> Chair:  Ralph Matthews <[log in to unmask]>
>
> As science becomes institutionalized in many locations outside of
> universities, the issues of intellectual property rights to knowledge  
> and
> technology become increasingly more important, affecting the ideal of
> science as a public good.  This session will examine the social issues
> related to intellectual property rights. Topics for consideration  
> include
> aspects of the social implications of intellectual property rights for  
> the
> development of science and technology, the impact of intellectual  
> property
> rights for social and economic development, and governance issues  
> concerning
> the role that the state and other national and international bodies  
> play in
> the formation and maintenance of intellectual property rights.
>
>
> - The social and ethical implications of biotechnology.
>
> Chair:  Karel Mueller <[log in to unmask]>
>
> With the ever increasing integration of science and technology into  
> social
> processes, it becomes more and more evident that it is necessary to  
> step
> back and reflect upon their lasting impacts. The current debate on the
> ethics and morality of cloning, even in its exclusively therapeutic  
> level,
> poses a dilemma difficult to resolve. While scientific advance  
> promises to
> deliver cures for a number of widespread diseases, at the same time
> threatens to change the very nature of the human condition it intends  
> to
> preserve, arousing religious and moral opposition from diverse fronts.  
> This
> session intends to address the deeper implications of the current  
> debate for
> the advancement of science and technology.
>
>
> - Information technologies: New global challenges for Science and   
> Technology?
>
> Chair: Marja Häyrinen-Alestalo <[log in to unmask]>
>
> What sort of challenges are faced by Science and Technology in this  
> day and
> age of ever more rapid and secure transfer of information, in  
> increasingly
> globalized networked economies facing the demands of market  
> orientation? On
> the social and political end, what can Science and Technology do for
> increased demands of more efficient democratic representation. The  
> session
> aims to discuss these issues and the future of E-science and  
> E-business in
> general.
>
>
> - Paradigm change in the public image and acceptance of Science and  
> Technology.
>
> Chair: Jaime Jiménez <[log in to unmask]>
>
> How is social accountability modifying scientific practice? New  
> funding and
> evaluation schemes present complex challenges that will be discussed  
> in this
> important session.
>
> -  Business meeting.
>
> Chair: TBA.
>
>
> JOINT SESSIONS:
>
>
> With RC32: Women
>
> - Women in Science and Technology.
>
> Co-chairs: Hebe Vessuri <[log in to unmask]> (RC23) and Duvuru
> Jayalakshmi, University of Madras, India, <[log in to unmask]>   
> (RC32).
>
> Has the role of female scientists and technologists changed in this
> knowledge era? How are female spaces created in high technology fields  
> like
> information and communication technology, and what are their  
> implications on
> the feminization of labor? Are there any signs of a better balance in
> leadership positions in Science and Technology, in a local or global
> perspective? Why are there so few female scientists awarded the Nobel  
> prize?
>
>
> With RC07: Futures
>
> - Futures of Science and Technology.
>
> Co-chairs: Jaime Jiménez <[log in to unmask]> (RC23) and Markus S.
> Schultz <[log in to unmask]> (RC07).
>
> This session is meant to provide a forum for discussing the social
> consequences of current trends in science and technology and to  
> reflect on
> the mechanisms and dynamics by which science and technology is  
> produced.
> These are some of the concerns:  What ethics and values drive or are  
> implied
> in the current advancement in science and technology? What are the  
> future
> implications of genome cloning and biotechnology in general? What
> alternative scenarios can be discerned in the (more or less  
> contentious)
> processes that shape the world's communication infrastructure,  
> including but
> not limited to the Internet? What prospects are offered by the  
> emerging nano
> technologies? How are sociologists theorizing these trends, and to what
> alternative scenarios do they point to?
>
>
> With RC38: Biographies
>
> - Scientists' biographies as a mode of probing science in context.
>
> Co-chairs: Hebe Vessuri <[log in to unmask]> (RC23) and  
> Gabriele
> Rosenthal <[log in to unmask]> (RC38).
>
> What can be learned from scientists' biographies on the social context  
> that
> allows for a successful scientific career?
>
>
> With RC52: Professional groups
>
> - Re-organization of  work in the knowledge profession and the use of
> Information Technologies.
>
> Co-chairs: Czarina Saloma <[log in to unmask]> (RC23) and Charles Gadea
> <[log in to unmask]> (RC52).
>
> The social use of modern technologies, the formation of virtual  
> scientific
> communities and the democratic (credential-less, interest-driven)  
> exchange
> of scientific and technological information. Collectivization and
> de-nationalization of S&T research through growing international
> collaborative works. Implications for the publishing activity.
>
>
>
> With RC40: Agriculture
>
> - The role of science and technology in the world's food production:  
> the
> case of transgenics, risks and potentials.
>
> Co-chairs: Judith Zubieta <[log in to unmask]> (RC23) and Larry  
> Busch
> <[log in to unmask]> (RC40).
>
> The controversy of transgenics in food production is far from being  
> solved.
> What are the positions on either side? Interest groups hold their  
> positions
> firmly. What does society have to say to that respect? What progress  
> has
> been made in recent years? What is the future of transgenics in  
> agriculture?
>
>
>
>
>
> Dr. J. Jimenez
> RC23 President
> IIMAS, UNAM
> A. Postal 20-276
> 01000 Mexico, D.F.
> Mexico
> Tel (52) 55 5622 3597
> Fax (52) 55 5616 2670
> e-mail [log in to unmask]
>