CfP: International Network for the Study of Science and Belief in Society, first Annual Conference
Thursday 4th July –
Saturday 6th July 2019. Edgbaston Park Hotel, Birmingham,
UK. Please note: support for attendance is available.
Organised by the Science and
Belief in Society Research Group at the University of Birmingham, UK this is
the first conference launching the new, International Network for the Study of
Science and Belief in Society.
In the last decade
there has been significant growth in social scientific scholarship on science
and religion, complementing the more established historical research into the
subject. Greater attention is being paid to the varied ways in which perceptions
of science are influenced by religious and non-religious belief, identity,
community and conflict in different geographical, cultural and historical
contexts. The purpose of this international conference is to bring together
researchers with backgrounds in sociology, science and technology studies,
psychology, political science, history, social anthropology, and related
humanities or social science disciplines to discuss perspectives on the
overarching topic of science and belief in society.
Abstracts are invited
for the conference relating to the following themes:
· The social scientific and historical study of the relationship between
science and religious and/or non-religious belief and identity;
· Public perceptions of the relationship between science, religion and
non-religion and their respective roles in society;
· National and international comparative perspectives on the study of
science, religion and belief in society;
· Past and present media or popular representations of science, religion
and belief in society;
· The past or present roles of science, rationalism, religion and belief
in national, social or cultural identity and related geopolitical narratives;
· Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches to the study of
science, religion and non-religion in society;
· Methodological approaches to, and issues in, the study of science,
religion and belief in society;
· Avenues for future research and developments within the social
scientific and historical study of science, religion and belief in society;
·
Public policy research relating to
any aspect of public policy that intersects with issues connected to science,
religion and belief in society. Including studies on the impact of publics’ views on science and
religion on policy making, and provision for religious, spiritual or
non-religious communities across a range of geographies and issues (e.g.
healthcare provision, educational policy, science policy, environmental policy
or development);
·
International studies of religious or
spiritual communities’ perspectives on the intersection, and possible
relationships, between science and religion over time.
We are interested in
papers that relate to any aspect of STEMM in society (science, technology,
engineering, medicine, and mathematics) and that discuss any religious,
spiritual or non-religious tradition, position or worldview, including
unbelief.
Keynote papers will be given by
historian Professor Peter Harrison, Australian
Laureate Fellow and Director of the Institute for Advanced Studies in the
Humanities at the University of Queensland (Australia), and psychologist
Professor Cristine Legare, associate
professor of psychology and the director of the Evolution, Variation, and
Ontogeny of Learning Laboratory at The University of Texas at Austin (USA).
Individual paper
submissions:
To submit a paper
proposal, please send an abstract of no more than 300 words, alongside a
biographical note of no more than 200 words including name, institutional
affiliation, email address and if possible a web-link to your institutional bio
page.
Biographies of
successful applicants will be added to the International Network’s Research Directory when our new website
launches in the spring. Please indicate on your application if you would like
to opt out of being added to the Research Directory.
Panel session
proposals:
We will also be
accepting a limited number of panel proposals with a maximum of four speakers.
To submit a panel proposal, please send a session summary of no more than 250
words alongside abstracts of no more than 300 words for each paper and biographical
notes of no more than 200 words for each contributor (please include
institutional affiliation(s), e-mail contact details, and other info as above).
Individual or panel
session submissions may cross over several of the themes listed above, and
those intending to submit papers are encouraged to consider the relevance of
their work to other academic disciplines.
Please send all
individual paper and session proposals to Dr Harris Wiseman (h.wiseman@bham.ac.uk) for the attention of
the conference organisers, Professor Fern Elsdon-Baker (University of
Birmingham), and Dr Alexander Hall (University of Birmingham).
All abstracts must be
submitted by 1st March 2019.
Conference Costs and Bursaries:
Please note that for
all successful applicants, accommodation and registration costs will be covered
by the International Network for the Study of Science and Belief in
Society as part of a 1 year grant from the Templeton Religion Trust.
In addition to this, a
limited number of bursaries are available to support those who may not have
institutional support to attend international conferences, including but not
limited to: postgraduate, early career, retired, or low income or unwaged. To request this additional support please e-mail
Dr Harris Wiseman at h.wiseman@bham.ac.uk, including your contact details, a short biography (including a clear
statement regarding your career stage), your abstract and a statement of
interest to be considered for one of the bursaries. We also have a range of
other bursaries for covering other needs (e.g. support with day care costs).
The deadline for submission of bursary applications is 1st March
2019.
Please note that we will be running a fully funded early career workshop in the days
prior to this conference, but this will be announced and advertised via a
separate call.
Key Dates:
Abstract submission:
Open now
Deadline for abstracts
and conference bursary applications: 1st March 2019
Decision notification: 15th
March 2019
Registration opens: 15th
March 2019
Registration deadline for
presenters: 29th March 2019
Should you have other
questions about the conference please contact the conference co-ordinator Dr
Harris Wiseman at h.wiseman@bham.ac.uk
A digital version of
this Call of Papers can be found online at:
The conference is supported
by the Templeton Religion Trust and is being held as part of the activities of
the newly established International Network for the Study of Science and Belief
in Society, based at the University of Birmingham. For more information about
the network please contact Dr Alexander Hall (A.F.Hall@bham.ac.uk).