[Tps] TPS/ ECPR Policy Network - 7th International Summer Academy on Technology Studies: Transforming the Energy System

[Navdeep Mathur]

ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR PAPERS
****************************************************

*7th International Summer Academy on Technology Studies:

“Transforming the Energy System: The Role of Institutions, Interests & 
Ideas“
*
Deutschlandsberg, Austria, August 27-31 2007

The Inter-University Research Centre for Technology, Work and Culture 
(IFZ) in Graz, Austria, is organising the seventh “International Summer 
Academy on Technology Studies”, taking place at the Castle of 
Deutschlandsberg, near Graz, in August 2007. The Summer Academy 2007 
will focus on the topic “Transforming the Energy System: The Role of 
Institutions, Interests & Ideas”.

*Aims and Perspective*
The aim of the Summer Academy is to explore strategies and limitations 
of an actively shaped transformation process in the energy system, in 
particular against the background of social and environmental 
sustainability goals. It will provide an opportunity for bringing 
together theoretical analysis from the perspective of social studies of 
technology with a discussion of practical policy implications. In 
addition to that it will also raise some critical questions concerning 
the role of research in the context of normatively shaped transition 
processes.

*Call for Papers*
Participants are encouraged to present a paper related to one of the 
following conference topics:

/(1) Institutions – the Challenges of Meso- and Macro-Level Transition
/Overcoming system inertia and lock-in; institutional arrangements of 
governance, policy making and regulation; the role of regional 
institutions in multi-level governance

/(2) Interests – the Negotiation of Goals and the Alignment of Actors/
The role of interests and values in the transformation of the energy 
system; the positioning of sustainability goals; democratisation and 
empowerment; processes of coalition formation

/(3) Ideas – the Social Dynamics of Visions & Expectations/
The role of visions and expectations in governance; dynamics of hype and 
disappointment; the potential impact of foresight and scenario-development

Please submit an abstract of 300 to 500 words and a maximum of one page 
on your work and research background.
The *deadline for submission is 11 May 2007*. You will be notified of 
acceptance by the end of May.

*Conference Design*
Each day of the academy will typically consist of a morning session with 
two keynote speakers and an afternoon session with presentations by 
participants as well as the discussion of cross-cutting themes. 
Furthermore, one afternoon will be reserved for the presentation of 
regional initiatives in the energy sector.
The language of the conference is English.
*
Speakers
*The following keynote speakers have so far confirmed their participation:
Malcolm Eames, Boelie Elzen, Armin Grunwald, Dorothea Jansen, Harro van 
Lente, Barbara Praetorius and Adrian Smith

*Venue*: The Summer Academy will be held at Deutschlandsberg Castle near 
Graz, among the vineyards of the Styrian wine-growing district.

*Accomodation*: € 390. The charges includes accomodation (five nights, 
Sun – Fri, ****hotel in the castle) and half board (breakfast and 
lunch). Rooms have been reserved by the organisers.

*Conference Fee*: € 250
The fee covers the conference proceedings and materials, as well as 
social events during the week. In justified cases a reduction of this 
fee may be considered.

*Social Events*: Social events, such as a visit to a typical 
‘Buschenschank’ (local inn with its own vineyard) or guided tours to 
regional places of interest, will be organised throughout the week. The 
area offers plentiful opportunities for hiking, cycling and other 
outdoor activities.

For *further information and registration* please visit our website:
www.ifz.tugraz.at/sumacad/ <http://www.ifz.tugraz.at/sumacad/>
or contact Anna Schreuer
IFZ - Inter-University Research Centre for Technology, Work and Culture
Schloegelgasse 2, A-8010 Graz, Austria
phone: +43/316/813909-16
fax: +43/316/810274
e-mail: schreuer at ifz.tugraz.at <mailto:schreuer at ifz.tugraz.at>


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://malagigi.cddc.vt.edu/pipermail/tps/attachments/20070326/91f32fee/attachment.html