Baza natječaja

7th International Summer Academy on Technology Studies
Graz, Austria

Transforming the Energy System: The Role of Institutions,Interests & Ideas

Date: 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: 

• 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 
• 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 formatio
• 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 !!

Conference Fee: EUR 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.

 !! In justified cases a reduction of the fee may be considered !!

For further information and registration please visit our website:
http://www.ifz.tugraz.at/index_en.php/article/articleview/1276/1/107  

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@ifz.tugraz.at