Geography,Science and Machines c. 1750-1960- RGS-IBG. AnnualConference, Edinburgh, 3-5 July 2012
RGS-IBG Annual Conference, Edinburgh, 3-5 July 2012
Organisers: Jochen F. Mayer and Luise Fischer ( University of Edinburgh )
Call for Papers
Geography, Science and Machines c. 1750-1960
This session is concerned
with the role of machines within the history and geography of scientific knowledge-making c. 1750-1960. Our proposal is informed by the belief that scholarship within historical geography and the work on the geography of science has largely neglected the material and technological bases to scientific knowledge-making and to the ordering of the social world more broadly. Scholarship has been interested in the technology and instruments of exploration on earth (Driver 2001) , and in outer-space (MacDonald 2007) . There has been less attention, however, to historical and sociological work that emphasised the role of material infrastructure in the organisation of state power and the role of material cultural practice in the manufacture of scientific knowledge (Shapin and Schaffer 1985/2011; Callon 2004; Latour 2005; Bennett and Joyce 2010) .
This proposal builds on such
attempts to bridge the history of technology and the history/geography of science. We explicitly ask about the relationship between 'machines' and practices of knowledge making in the wider social and cultural contexts. We apply a broad understanding of 'machines'. They can be considered a (seemingly) independently functioning structure and a human construction and device. 'Machines'
may describe 'small' instruments or 'large' technologies (mechanical systems, or electronic systems) . In the attempt to avoid material determinism, we are particularly interested in studies that explore the inclusion of human design and practice into the meaning of 'machines', and that investigate the spatiality of such human- machine relationships. We especially welcome papers that explore the networks of technologies, institutions, and human practices that allow a given society to select, store and produce scientific knowledge.
Papers may include themes
such as:
- The role (whether present or absent) of machines in
scientific knowledge making, e.g., machines in geographical knowledge production, circulation, and reception
- Geographies of knowledge technologies (e.g., their
construction, meaning, and application) and human-machine relationships
- GIS as a 'machine' and the history of GIS within (the)
geographical discipline (s)
- Government/bureaucracy as machine, and machines within
government/bureaucracy (office machines such as typewriters etc.)
- Spatial interaction and scalar effects of 'machines' and
human practices
Please submit your abstract of 250 words (max. and including key
words) to both organisers Jochen Mayer (J.Mayer@sms.ed.ac.uk) and Luise Fischer (L.Fischer@sms.ed.ac.uk) by 26 January 2012.
The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination, distribution, forwarding, or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited without the express permission of the sender. If you received this communication in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer.
Organisers: Jochen F. Mayer and Luise Fischer ( University of Edinburgh )
Call for Papers
Geography, Science and Machines c. 1750-1960
This session is concerned
with the role of machines within the history and geography of scientific knowledge-making c. 1750-1960. Our proposal is informed by the belief that scholarship within historical geography and the work on the geography of science has largely neglected the material and technological bases to scientific knowledge-making and to the ordering of the social world more broadly. Scholarship has been interested in the technology and instruments of exploration on earth (Driver 2001) , and in outer-space (MacDonald 2007) . There has been less attention, however, to historical and sociological work that emphasised the role of material infrastructure in the organisation of state power and the role of material cultural practice in the manufacture of scientific knowledge (Shapin and Schaffer 1985/2011; Callon 2004; Latour 2005; Bennett and Joyce 2010) .
This proposal builds on such
attempts to bridge the history of technology and the history/geography of science. We explicitly ask about the relationship between 'machines' and practices of knowledge making in the wider social and cultural contexts. We apply a broad understanding of 'machines'. They can be considered a (seemingly) independently functioning structure and a human construction and device. 'Machines'
may describe 'small' instruments or 'large' technologies (mechanical systems, or electronic systems) . In the attempt to avoid material determinism, we are particularly interested in studies that explore the inclusion of human design and practice into the meaning of 'machines', and that investigate the spatiality of such human- machine relationships. We especially welcome papers that explore the networks of technologies, institutions, and human practices that allow a given society to select, store and produce scientific knowledge.
Papers may include themes
such as:
- The role (whether present or absent) of machines in
scientific knowledge making, e.g., machines in geographical knowledge production, circulation, and reception
- Geographies of knowledge technologies (e.g., their
construction, meaning, and application) and human-machine relationships
- GIS as a 'machine' and the history of GIS within (the)
geographical discipline (s)
- Government/bureaucracy as machine, and machines within
government/bureaucracy (office machines such as typewriters etc.)
- Spatial interaction and scalar effects of 'machines' and
human practices
Please submit your abstract of 250 words (max. and including key
words) to both organisers Jochen Mayer (J.Mayer@sms.ed.ac.uk) and Luise Fischer (L.Fischer@sms.ed.ac.uk) by 26 January 2012.
The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination, distribution, forwarding, or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited without the express permission of the sender. If you received this communication in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer.