The IAS-STS in Graz, Austria, promotes the interdisciplinary investigation of the links and interactions between science, technology and society as well as technology assessment and research into the development and implementation of socially and environmentally sound technologies. The IAS-STS is broadly speaking, an institute for the enhancement of science and technology studies.
The IAS-STS invites researchers to apply for a stay as a
– Research Fellow (up to nine months) or as a
– Visiting Scholar (shorter period, e.g. a month)
The IAS-STS offers excellent research infrastructure. Close co-operation with researchers at the IFZ, guest lectures, workshops and conferences provide an atmosphere of creativity and scholarly discussion.
Furthermore we can offer five grants (up to EUR 1,000 per month) for long-term Research Fellows at the IAS-STS.
The Fellowship Programme 2010-2011 is dedicated to projects investigating the following issues:
1. Gender – Technology – Environment
Women with their various interests, competencies and potentials play an important part in the process of shaping socially sound and environmentally friendly sustainable technologies – as users and consumers or experts. Applications should focus on research in the field of women in traditionally male fields of engineering, on ways of creating cultures of success for women engineers (students, graduates), and on masculinity and the culture of engineering.
2. Genetics and Biotechnology
A focus of the Fellowship Programme lies on research providing a critical analysis either of human genetics or of biotechnology. Researchers investigating either ethical, legal and social aspects of genetic testing in the medical domain or risk and wider governance issues related to agricultural biotechnology are especially encouraged to apply.
3. Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP)
SCP seeks to promote social and economic development within the carrying capacity of ecosystems. New strategies and concrete tools are needed to change individual and institutional patterns of consumption and to enhance corporate responsibility (CR) of organisations. Researchers investigating patterns of consumption and intervention strategies to promote sustainable lifestyles among both public and private consumers or working within the thematic field of ecological product policy are encouraged to apply. Research projects integrating product assessment tools such as LCA, carbon footprint, MIPS or related methods are also of special interest.
4. Energy and Climate
Projects in this field should aim at socio-economic aspects of environmental technologies or at strategies of environmental technology policy, such as user participation or strategic niche management. They should develop measures and strategies for the promotion of renewable energy sources and for the transition to a sustainable energy system. Regional governance, climate policy strategies, innovation policy and the role of users in the area of energy technologies play an important role. In addition, the Manfred Heindler Grant is awarded for research projects on the increased use of renewable energies and on a more efficient use of energy.
5. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)
A focus of the Fellowship Programme will be put on novel ICT-related developments from an STS point of view. Topics like ICTs and agency, ubiquitous computing or ICTs and mobility are analysed with respect to their wider social and political implications. Further issues of interest are the social shaping of ICT developments, innovation policies, risk management and participatory approaches to the design of ICT systems and applications.
Deadline: 31/12/09 (submission)
Institute for Advanced Studies on Science, Technology and Society (IAS-STS)
Attn. Günter Getzinger
Kopernikusgasse 9
8010 Graz
Austria
tel: +43 (0) 316 812661-32
fax: +43 (0) 316 812661-11
info@sts.tugraz.at
More info HERE
