CfP: Practicing Evidence – Evidencing Practice. How is (Scientific) Knowledge Validated, Valued and Contested?
Call for Papers: Practicing Evidence – Evidencing Practice. How is (Scientific) Knowledge Validated, Valued and Contested?
International Conference and Pre-Conference Workshop
19-21st February, 2020
Munich, Carl Friedrich von Siemens Stiftung
DFG Research Group 2448
DEADLINE: 15th September 2019
KEYNOTE: Angela Creager, Professor in the History of Science, Princeton University
“Evidence” has been generating a lot of interest lately. The concept has
become central to public controversies surrounding issues such as
climate change and the anti-vaccination movement, and it served as a
kind of rallying cry in the “science marches” and debates about the
“post-truth” society. Campaigns for more data-driven, “evidence-based”
decision-making have emerged in fields as diverse as medicine, politics
and management. Meanwhile, the number of conferences and research
projects reflecting on the nature and functions of the concept seem to
be on the rise too.
Evidence has been a crucial element of (scientific) epistemology since
at least the Early Modern period – and the object of intense
controversies for just as long. To this day, there is little agreement
on an exact definition of “evidence”, or on what may count as such in a
given situation and in different disciplinary contexts. Drawing on
insights from practice theory, we propose to re-examine the question of
evidence from a different angle: instead of asking what evidence is, we
start with the question of how evidence is “done” in practice. From this
perspective, the production of evidence (practicing evidence) cannot be
seen as independent of its use (evidencing practice). For this reason,
evidence practices are best understood as socio-epistemic
configurations. They are constructed and re-constructed in negotiation
processes between not only actors but also discourses and materialities.
Accordingly, we are interested in questions such as: How is knowledge
validated? What counts (or does not count) as evidence in a given
(disciplinary) context, and how does this affect scientific practices?
How do evidence practices change over time? What happens to practices of
evidence when established knowledge is challenged? What is the role of
evidence-based knowledge in neoliberal, democratic and knowledge-based
societies? We also welcome papers which analyze the forums of public
engagement with science (natural and social sciences and humanities)
including the ways in which popular discourses may influence practices
of evidence. What kinds of publics are constituted within such forums
and how do these publics engage with evidence practices and with
changing concepts of expertise? How does the wider public react to
(scientific) crises of evidence and the perceived blurring of boundaries
between fact and opinion?
We invite contributions from sociology, history of science, technology
and medicine, science and technology studies, media and communication
studies, political science, economics, philosophy and related fields. We
welcome submissions from contemporary as well as historical contexts.
The conference is developed and organized by the DFG research group
2448, Practicing Evidence – Evidencing Practice; an interdisciplinary
research group working on evidence. For more information about the DFG
research group 2448 Practicing Evidence – Evidencing Practice, please
visit: https://www.evidenzpraktiken-d
The organizers will cover travel and accommodation expenses for all contributing participants.
PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP
In addition to the main conference, we invite submissions for a workshop
on works in progress, which may include projects in planning stages or
doctoral projects. During the workshop you will have the chance to
discuss your work in progress and develop your work with invited experts
and commentators. As the workshop includes a symposium on
interdisciplinary research, we encourage applications from early stage
researchers and doctoral students.
SUBMISSION
For the main conference, invitations are now open for the submission of
abstracts for 20 minute presentations. To apply to the main conference,
please send proposals of 500 words for papers lasting 20 minutes and
short bios, by 15th September 2019, to evidence.practices.conference@
If you are interested in the workshop, please send your applications by 15th September 2019 to evidence.practices.workshop@gm