CfA: STS and Citizen Science Colloquium
02.04.2023, Vienna University – organised as collaborative event to the ECSA2024 conference https://2024.ecsa.ngo
Engaging with participatory research, technology development and science communication has been a driving force in the development of Science and Technology Studies. In the field of Citizen Science, where these and other themes converge, the paths of many people involved with STS in one way or another are crossing. Already the inception of the field is closely linked to STS with Alan Irwin’s (1995) concept of Citizen Science as a reference point and there is a growing number of STS researchers studying Citizen Science as their research object. However, the boundaries between doing STS and doing Citizen Science have always been permeable giving rise to a rich tradition of mutual engagement. Scholars from other academic backgrounds and Citizen Science practitioners draw on STS concepts and methodologies, while STS researchers get involved with Citizen Science projects, platforms and organisations. These engagements have been and continue to be vital for shaping participatory practice, research and the field of Citizen Science. Yet, strikingly, this vibrant cross-pollination is conspicuously absent at mainstream STS and CS conferences. Despite frequent citations, STS research on Citizen Science seems content in its academic enclave, barely breaching the dynamic, hands-on realm of actual Citizen Science implementation.
We would like to use the ECSA2024 conference in Vienna as an opportunity to come together and discuss STS research on, with and through Citizen Science, and vice versa. Which current initiatives are underway? Are there common empirical, conceptual or methodological themes and challenges? What are the difficulties of working across research/practice and disciplinary boundaries? The idea is to meet for an informal exchange focusing on work-in-progress, rather than polished publications, and letting conversations emerge from there. Participants are invited to present with no formal restrictions on the nature and format of contributions (apart from time).
Schedule: We will start with an optional joint lunch at 12:00, the colloquium will begin at 13:00 and run until 19:00 latest. The exact timing will depend on the number of people who sign up. Contributions should plan for about 30 minutes, including interaction, discussion, feedback, or whatever else you require. If your idea needs more time, please specify this in your abstract. The final allocation of time will be confirmed once we know the total number of participants. Participation is free of charge, but lunch will be at your own expense. The venue will be confirmed. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide travel cost support.
If you are interested in presenting, please send an abstract (about 400 words) to both cgoebel@uni-mainz.de and katja.mayer@univie.ac.at until 15th January 2024 (23:59). Participation will be confirmed by 31st January.
The colloquium is convened by:
Claudia Göbel, University of Mainz, Germany, cgoebel@uni-mainz.de
Dr. Katja Mayer, University of Vienna, katja.mayer@univie.ac.at
Citizen Science Team, Center for Social Innovation Vienna ZSI