Tagungsankündigungen / Events

Tagungsberichte und Tagungsankündigungen

Tagungsankündigungen / Events

Was isst der Mensch? Ernährung als neu zu erschließendes Politikfeld

Offene Akademietagung in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Forschungsverbund Ernährungswende
Loccum, 16.-18. April 2004

Ernährung in Deutschland kann heute nicht mehr ausschließlich als Frage der Grundsicherung der Ernährung der Bevölkerung diskutiert werden. Dringlicher stellen sich heute Fragen nach einem nachhaltigen Umgang mit dem Nahrungswohlstand:

Es geht somit weniger um die Quantität als um die Qualität der Produkte und Dienstleistungsangebote und um die bewusste Ausgestaltung des Ernährungsalltags der KonsumentInnen.

In Politik wie Wissenschaft werden Umweltauswirkungen, Gesundheitsfragen und die Bedürfnisse der KonsumentInnen bisher nur getrennt thematisiert. Was fehlt, ist eine integrierte Betrachtung der stofflichen, soziokulturellen und strukturellen Dimensionen von Ernährung. Und es mangelt an attraktiven Visionen und Leitbildern für „nachhaltige Ernährung“.

Die Tagung soll dazu beitragen, Ernährung als ein für die gesellschaftliche Entwicklung besonders bedeutsames, integratives Handlungsfeld neu zu entdecken.

Teilnehmende

Die Einladung zur Teilnahme richtet sich an das Management von Gemeinschaftsküchen und Großkantinen, Unternehmen aus dem Bereich der Lebensmittelerzeugung, -verarbeitung und -handel, an Multiplikator/inn/en in Verbraucherschutzeinrichtungen und -verbänden sowie in Bildungseinrichtungen aller Art, insbesondere Volkshochschulen; außerdem an Politiker/innen, Wissenschaftler/innen aus dem Feld der sozial-ökologischen Forschung und der Gesundheitsvorsorge sowie an interessierte Bürgerinnen und Bürger.

Kooperationspartner

Die Vorbereitung und Durchführung der Tagung erfolgt in Zusammenarbeit mit einem Verbund mehrerer Institute aus dem Bereich der sozial-ökologischen Forschung, die im Begriffe sind, eine anzustrebende „Ernährungswende“ zum Gegenstand einer gemeinsamen Studie zu machen (Öko-Institut e.V. (Freiburg und Darmstadt), Institut für sozial-ökologische Forschung (Frankfurt), Institut für Ökologische Wirtschaftsforschung (Heidelberg), Katalyse Institut (Köln), Österreichisches Ökologie Institut (Wien).

Ansprechpartner

Dr. Andreas Dally
Evangelische Akademie Loccum
Postfach 21 58
31545 Rehburg-Loccum

Tel.: +49 (0) 57 66 / 81 - 108, +49 (0) 57 66 / 81 - 116 (Fr. Schwarz)
Fax: +49 (0) 57 66 / 81 - 128 (oder - 900)
E-Mail: Andreas.Dally∂evlka.de
Internet: http://www.loccum.de

Das aktuelle Programm nebst Anmeldemöglichkeit ist auch zugänglich über:
 http://www.loccum.de/program/p0414.html

 

 

SPC 2004: First International Workshop on Sustainable Pervasive Computing

A one day workshop in conjunction with PERVASIVE 2004
Linz, Austria, April 21-23, 2004

The technology of pervasive computing is now ready for large-scale everyday use. Such a widespreading may have a strong impact on society and environment, by the way equipments and technical infrastructures for everyday life will be designed, and by the way the social and environmental issues of technology will be managed. Despite the promising facilities it will bring on, pervasive computing has indeed some darks sides, which must be taken into account at an early stage if we want to achieve a sustainable development. The goal of the workshop is then to bring together interdisciplinary contributors for enabling to set up the foundations of sustainable pervasive computing. People from any discipline concerned by pervasive computing deployment (e.g. from computer science, business, urbanism, architecture, mobility, health care and medicine, energy, waste management, ethics, technology assessment, law, etc), and interested in sharing their works, experiences, or ideas for reaching this goal are welcome to the workshop. Two aspects will be considered:

  1. Analysis and evaluation of the implications of pervasive computing for the society and the environment. This aspect may involve points of view on pervasive computing coming from humanities and technology assessment, together with computer science and concerned application fields for including topics like the following (non limited list):
    • social opportunities and risks: privacy, security, cultural aspects, digital divide, rebound effects;
    • health opportunities and risks: physiological impacts, cognitive impacts, rebound effects;
    • environmental opportunities and risks: e-waste, energy demand, rebound effects.
  2. Design and applications for sustainable pervasive computing. This aspect may be handled through contributions coming from the various engineering fields concerned by the applicative issues of pervasive computing (including computer science) for addressing topics like the following (non limited list):
    • e-business: supply chain management, transport efficiency, privacy;
    • mobility: traffic management, security, energy efficiency;
    • smart building: architecture, energy efficiency;
    • urbanism: urban planning, public infrastructure;
    • health care: personal health monitoring, hospital management, surgery applications.

The workshop is expected to include papers describing either scientific research related to technology evaluation or design, as well as applicative issues, and experiments.

All papers will be published in a technology assessment or academic series.

Contact

TA-SWISS
attn. of Danielle Butschi
Birkenweg 61
CH-3003 Berne
Switzerland

Tel: + 41 31 322 99 63
Fax: + 41 31 323 36 59
E-Mail: danielle.buetschi∂swtr.admin.ch

Further details on the workshop are available at: http://diuf.unifr.ch/pai/spc2004

 

 

Pervasive 2004
Second International Conference on Pervasive Computing

Vienna, Austria, April 21-23, 2004

A vast manifold of tiny, embedded and autonomous computing and communication systems have started to create and populate a pervasive and ubiquitous computing landscape, characterized by the autonomy of their programmed behavior, the dynamics and context-awareness of services and applications they offer, the ad-hoc interoperability of services and the different modes of user interaction upon those services. This is mostly due to technological progress like the maturing of wireless networking, exciting new information processing possibilities induced by novel microprocessor technologies, low power storage systems, smart material, and motor-, controller-, sensor- and actuator technologies. A future computing scenario is envisioned in which almost every object in our everyday environment will be equipped with embedded processors, wireless communication facilities and embedded software to perceive, perform and control a multitude of tasks and functions. Since many of these objects are already able to communicate and interact with global networks and with each other, the vision of context-aware “smart appliances“ and “smart spaces“ has already become a reality. Service provision is based on the ability of being aware of the presence of other objects or users, and systems can be designed in order to be sensitive, adaptive and responsive to their needs, habits and even emotions. With pervasive computing technology embodied into real world objects like furniture, clothing, crafts, rooms, etc., those artefacts also become the interface to “invisible“ services and allow to mediate between the physical and digital (or virtual) world via natural interaction - away from desktop displays and keyboards. Novel interface concepts for situated interaction give rise for bringing the interaction with computers “back to the real world“. All these observations pose serious challenges to the conceptual architectures of computing, and the related engineering disciplines in computer science.

PERVASIVE 2004, the Second International Conference on Pervasive Computing, provides a premier venue to bring together researchers and practitioners working in all foundational and applied research areas of pervasive and ubiquitous computing. It will include presentations, workshops, tutorials and multimedia demonstrations on subjects like:

Organisation

Papers & Tech-Notes

Regular papers will present original, highly innovative, prospective and forward-looking research in one or more of the categories given above. Just like regular papers, tech-notes will present directing research, but in very focused and compact format. Accepted regular papers and tech-notes will be published by Springer in the Lecture Notes of Computer Science (LNCS).

Hot Spots

PERVASIVE 2004 Hot Spot Papers aim at presenting very topical issues and late breaking application oriented results in all areas of pervasive and ubiquitous computing. Hot spot papers will be published in the “Advances in Pervasive Computing“ book of the OCG (Vol. 176 ISBN 3-85403-176-9) accompanying the conference proceedings. Depending on the type and style of the contribution presented, demo exhibition space, poster space and a few minutes of presentation time to the PERVASIVE 2004 plenary audience will be given to reviewed and accepted hot spot papers. Furthermore will they be included in the PERVASIVE 2004 DVD.

Doctoral Colloquium

The PERVASIVE 2004 doctoral colloquium, to be held right before the main conference during April 19-20 in Linz, Austria, invites PhD students and candidates to present, discuss and defend their work-in-progress or preliminary results in an international, agile and renowned audience of junior and senior researchers and developers in the pervasive computing field.

Thesis position papers (5 pages or approx. 2500 words) are solicited relating a problem statement, methodological approach, potential for innovation and expected contribution to the international pervasive computing literature.

Accepted submissions will be presented during the colloquium and will be included in the PERVASIVE 2004 adjunct proceedings. The PERVASIVE 2004 Doctoral Colloquium Certificate, signed by the international colloquium committee will be handed to the successful presenters. Further information can be obtained from the conference website or the Doctoral Colloquium Chair at doctoral∂pervasive2004.org.

Videos

Submissions will present novel pervasive computing systems, devices or just designs, or demonstrate innovative styles of interaction or usability of those systems - in a lively format: as a video.

Video papers will be published in the PERVASIVE 2004 adjunct proceedings, all video clips will be presented in the PERVASIVE 2004 Video DVD. Further information can be obtained from the conference website or the Video Chair at video∂pervasive2004.org.

Tutorials and Workshops

PERVASIVE 2004 tutorials will provide the dissemination of skills, technologies and advanced concepts to the participants. Tutorial submissions should focus on rewarding topics applicable to different and numerous aspects of pervasive computing or cover an outstanding new research field. Workshop sessions will provide inspiring and influencing discussion on pervasive computing topics. Each workshop aims at the sharing and consolidation of new research ideas and fosters future co-operations. Workshop proposals may be related to any topic of pervasive computing. Further information can be obtained from the conference website, the Tutorials Chair (tutorials∂pervasive2004.org) or the Workshops Chair (workshops∂pervasive2004.org) respectively.

Contact

Alois Ferscha
Institut für Praktische Informatik
Johannes Kepler Universität Linz
Altenberger Str. 69
A-4040 Linz, Austria

Tel.: +43 - 732 - 24 68 - 85 56
Fax.: +43 - 732 - 24 68 - 84 26
E-Mail: ferscha∂soft.uni-linz.ac.at
Internet: http://www.pervasive2004.org

 

 

Ökologische Ökonomie: eine neue Wissenschaft?

Jahrestagung der Vereinigung für Ökologische Ökonomie
Heidelberg, 6. - 8. Mai 2004

Wollte man die Ökologische Ökonomie in ihren wesentlichen Zügen charakterisieren, müsste man Vokabeln benutzen, die in den meisten disziplinären Selbstbeschreibungen fremdartig anmuten würden. Sie ist eine Wissenschaft, die sich mit Ganzheiten ebenso beschäftigt wie mit spezifischen ökonomischen Problemen und dabei über Disziplinengrenzen weit hinausgehen kann. Ihr Hauptbezugspunkt sind lebensweltliche Probleme, sie folgt einem Denken in partizipativen und kooperativen Strukturen. Sie versteht sich selbst als offenen Suchprozess mit dem Ziel der Gestaltung nachhaltiger Lebensweisen.

Diese aus der Sache motivierten Eigenschaften der „neuen Wissenschaft“ der Ökologischen Ökonomie sind eine Herausforderung für die herkömmliche analytische, partikularisierende und disziplinär orientierte Wissenschaft. Eine Grundannahme der Ökologischen Ökonomie ist deshalb, dass eine Reform unserer Wirtschaftsweise mit der Reform unserer Art und Weise, Wissenschaft zu betreiben, einhergehen muss. Beide gehören letztlich in den größeren Rahmen einer kritischen Reflexion unserer Kultur als Ganzes. Die Frage ist also: Wie kann eine neue Wissenschaft, eine neue Wissenschaftskultur, aussehen und welchen Beitrag kann die ökologische Ökonomie dazu leisten?

Wir möchten Sie herzlich einladen, auf unserer nächsten Jahrestagung an diesen grundlegenden Reflexionen teilzunehmen. Das Themenspektrum spannt sich von fundamentalen Fragen zum Verhältnis von Ökologischer Ökonomie und Wissenschaftskultur bis zu deren Niederschlag in der alltäglichen, ökonomischen und akademischen Praxis.

Auch in diesem Jahr wird wieder ein Empfang durch die Oberbürgermeisterin der Stadt Heidelberg stattfinden, den Festvortrag wird Prof. Dr. Walther Zimmerli halten.

Die Teilnehmerzahl ist begrenzt.

Anmeldung

Vereinigung für Ökologische Ökonomie (VÖÖ)
Jürgen Kopfmüller
Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe
Institut für Technikfolgenabschätzung und Systemanalyse (ITAS)
Postfach 3640
76021 Karlsruhe
E-Mail: juergen kopfmueller∂kit edu

 

 

TSCF Spring 2004 Conference

The Future of Family - Decomposition or Recomposition? Social Link Cycle

Brussels, Belgium, May 12-13, 2004

Scope and Issues

The family link is the first and probably the most important link that binds people together within society. Nevertheless, this primary bond seems today to be weakened by societal, cultural and economic impacts that disrupt it or dissolve it into the wider set of individualist society.

This conference bears on the vigor of family in our societies: is the family link profoundly struck, or is it just restructuring itself? Does marriage have a future? Which place for elderly people in the family landscape? How to manage adolescents education in a context where external societal values seem to be all the time more early and influential? Should we do something to have firmer families? The objective is to shed light on some current developments, and to draft possible innovative responses.

The “Social Link Cycle“ is a line of conferences dedicated to the bond between people within society and its contemporary crisis.

The main topics to be discussed are:

Public Addressed

All those who want to understand the world they live in. The academic content of our conferences is excellent but the language used is clear and the conclusions are operational.

Conference Languages are English and French.

Contact

The Social Capital Foundation
Patrick G. Hunout, President
Ave. Castaigne 16
B-1310 LA HULPE, Belgium

Tel. + Fax: 0032.2.653 73 40
E-Mail: secretary∂socialcapital-foundation.org

Programmes and registration forms can be downloaded from:
http://www.socialcapital-foundation.org/conferences/Contact%20registration3.htm

 

 

The World Council for Renewable Energy

Second World Renewable Energy Forum: Renewing Civilization by Renewable Energy

Bonn, Germany, May 29 - 31, 2004

Awareness of the need for Renewable Energy is increasing worldwide - not only due to the dangers of climate change, but also because of the coming exhaustion of fossil energy supplies, the vulnerability of societies to energy dependencies and recent as well as future international resource conflicts.

The gap between the recognition of the value of Renewable Energy and its actual market implementation however, is still very wide. It has been a historic failure over the past decades not to promote Renewable Energy quickly and forcefully. Up to now very few national governments, international governmental organizations, financial institutions and large corporations are really committed to it.

The World Council for Renewable Energy (WCRE) was founded in 2001 as a non-governmental and non-commercial organization. The WCRE and the International Solar Energy Society (ISES), one of the supporters of the 2nd World Renewable Energy Forum, represent the Renewable Energy community all over the world.

In 2002, the first World Renewable Energy Forum of the WCRE adopted the Global Action Plan for the Proliferation of Renewable Energy, and it proposed the creation of global alliances of like-minded countries in order to implement strategies and policies. Inspired by this, in his speech at the Johannesburg Summit 2002 the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany invited the governments to an Intergovernmental Conference on Renewable Energy (Renewables 2004) which will take place in Bonn from June 1-4, 2004. Linked to this event, the German Parliament invites to the International Parliamentary Forum on Renewable Energy, June 2, 2004 in Bonn. In the three days before these events the 2nd World Renewable Energy Forum takes place. It presents the views and propositions of the global Renewable Energy community.

The Forum will show the manifold ecological, economical and cultural benefits for civilization by implementing Renewable Energy. An examination of the contradictions and double standards in the contemporary global energy debate, and the real reasons for resistances and failures to implement Renewable Energy are at the core of the Forum. Strategies will be articulated how to overcome these obstacles, including the strong need for international Renewable Energy institutions.

Finally, the WCRE presents at its Forum the World Renewable Energy Agenda which will be addressed to the world public.

We invite you to join this Forum for a common campaign for Renewable Energy.

Topics

The Forum is organized by EUROSOLAR in cooperation with InWEnt Capacity Building International, Germany.

The conference Language is English.

Further information and Registration

EUROSOLAR e.V.
Kaiser-Friedrich-Str. 11
53113 Bonn, Germany

Tel.: +49-(0) 228 / 36 23 73 or 36 23 75
Fax: +49-(0) 228 / 36 12 79 or 36 12 13
E-Mail: inter_office∂eurosolar.org
info∂wcre.org
Internet: http://www.eurosolar.org
http://www.wcre.org

 

 

Climate protection as development opportunity

Hamburg, Germany, June 7-8, 2004

This conference will be held on June 7-8, 2004 at the Hamburg Institute of International Economics, Hamburg, Germany. It will focus on the harnessing of the Clean Development Mechanism to reach development targets. Especially the CDM Gold Standard, the challenges to support small and micro projects and the role of voluntary offsets initiatives will be discussed.

Initial supporters include the Hamburg Funds for Climate Protection, the Hamburg One World Network and WWF. A detailed programme will be available in the medium term. Registration will be free of charge but places are fairly limited so that expressions of interest will be accepted only during a limited time span.

Contact

Axel Michaelowa
Head of Programme „International Climate Policy“
Hamburg Institute of International Economics
Neuer Jungfernstieg 21
20347 Hamburg, Germany

Tel.: +49 (0) 40 / 42 83 43 09
Fax: +49 (0) 40 / 42 83 44 51
E-Mail: a-michaelowaFoq7∂hwwa de
Internet: http://www.hwwa.de/climate.htm

 

 

Symposium / Call for Papers

Energy and Agriculture Carbon Utilization. A Sustainable Alternative to Sequestration

Athens, Georgia, USA, June 10-11, 2004

The Energy & Agricultural Carbon Utilization Symposium will bring together energy producers and policy makers together with agricultural ecologists, soil scientists and environmental communities.

Considering todays high degree of expertise in energy production and the increasing capabilities of sustainable agriculture, an alliance between these diverse groups is not only beneficial for the industries themselves but is an essential step toward environmental stewardship.

Importance of this Symposium

Renewable energy and hydrogen have an immediate role to play in building local secure food production. Hydrogen as ammonia is utilized everyday in agricultural communities. It is made by first producing hydrogen from natural gas. Rural farming/forestry economies, seeing the increase in natural gas and oil prices are building a grassroots effort to support renewable and locally produced hydrogen as replacement for hydrogen from natural gas. The impact of integrated local production of hydrogen, biodiesel, and carbon based fertilizers are also gaining support from rural electric power producers who benefit from a huge local carbon sink, cleaner power plant exhaust and increased stability in rural economies.

Symposium Origination

A team of researchers across many disciplines from the US, Brazil, Australia, Sweden and Japan have been working on a sustainable solution for energy with large-scale carbon use in agricultural and energy applications. The University of Georgia is hosting a symposium to bring together parties interested in the science, technology, business and policy of building a sustainable energy and agriculture partnership. The international event will bring scientists, project demonstration leaders and leading businesses from around the globe to share their work, analysis, and vision for a business led collaborative implementation plan.

Speakers will provide recent discoveries of the two thousand year history of terra preta soils. These man-made soils contain carbon (as charcoal) that were applied by indigenous populations to allow intensive farming of cropland, improve soil quality, and protect forest environments from slash-and-burn agriculture. Geographers, anthropologists, soil scientists and energy researchers will present papers, posters and presentations on systems for sustainable energy and agriculture. Other presentations will include research and developments in integrating fossil fuel carbon capture, future collaborative research and implementation opportunities.

The widespread use of biomass as an energy source could cause depletion of topsoil nutrients. Agricultural carbon fertilizers allow the return of micronutrients. New carbon capture systems from fossil fuel exhaust can allow this carbon to carry essential nitrogen as well and restore carbon to degraded soils, rebuilding the pool which has lost up to 50 % of its total carbon content since intensive agriculture began.

This symposium is a unique opportunity to help bridge the gap between energy, policy, agricultural and soil science by networking the broadest range of talents from these diverse fields to support common goals for a sustainable planet.

Call for Papers

Abstracts are invited in the following topic areas (these are simply guidelines and all topics will be considered):

  1. Historical Usage of Charcoal including Terra Preta.
  2. Benefits, limits and performance of charcoal soil applications.
  3. Stability of charcoal or black carbon in the soil as a sink.
  4. Methods and results of agricultural charcoal and / or other large applications.
  5. Integrated energy and agricultural charcoal production techniques.
  6. Large scale use of charcoal for other non-fuel applications.

Deadline: April 25, 2004

Contact

Ryan Adolphson, Director
Georgia Industrial Technology Partnership
Driftmier Engineering Center
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia 30622
Tel.: +1 (706) 542 - 44 93
E-Mail: ryan∂engr.uga.edu

Elaine Wilson
EPRIDA
6300 Powers Ferry Road, Suite 307
Atlanta, Georgia 30339
Tel.: +1 (404) 547-8169
E-Mail: elaine∂eprida.com

Conference Website and call for papers:
http://www.georgiaitp.org/carbon

 

 

9. Tagung Siedlungsabfallwirtschaft Magdeburg

Nachhaltige Entsorgung 2005 ff.

Magdeburg, 16.-17. Juni 2004

Die mittlerweile 9. Tagung Siedlungsabfallwirtschaft Magdeburg (TASIMA 9) steht unter dem Motto: "Nachhaltige Entsorgung 2005 ff." und wird gemeinsam mit dem Ministerium für Landwirtschaft und Umwelt Sachsen-Anhalt vom Institut für Förder- und Baumaschinentechnik, Stahlbau, Logistik (IFSL) der Universität Magdeburg organisiert.

Die Schwerpunkte der zweitägigen Veranstaltung bilden folgende Themen, zu denen jeweils mehrere Referenten vortragen werden:

Als Referenten konnten bisher z. B. Herr Dr. Schnurer vom Bundesministerium Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit und Herr Prof. Dr. Hahn vom Umweltbundesamt gewonnen werden. Die Veranstaltung möchte Abfallwirtschaftler im In- und Ausland ansprechen, unabhängig davon, ob sie in kommunalen und privatwirtschaftlich betriebenen Abfallwirtschaftsunternehmen oder in Behörden, Forschungseinrichtungen und Ingenieurbüros tätig sind bzw. ihre Position als Technik- und Anlagenhersteller dokumentieren wollen.

Parallel zum Vortragsprogramm ist auch in diesem Jahr wieder ein Anbieterforum geplant, auf dem Firmen ihre Produkte und Konzepte vorstellen können.

Kontakt

Dr.-Ing. Hartwig Haase
Tel.: +49 (0) 391 / 67 12 628
Fax: +49 (0) 391 / 67 11 253
E-Mail: hartwig.haase∂mb.uni-magdeburg.de
Internet: http://www.uni-magdeburg.de/ifsl/

 

 

2nd Announcement

EuroSun2004

Freiburg, Germany, June 20 - 23, 2004

We kindly invite you to participate in EuroSun2004, the biennial ISES Europe Solar Conference. Leading scientists, engineers, architects and representatives from institutes, industry and business will present and discuss the latest scientific and technological developments in a broad field of solar and renewable energies and associated topics. Additional workshops and seminars on special topics will be offered during the days prior and close after EuroSun2004.

EuroSun2004 will be the fifth in the biennial series for EuroSun Conferences which was launched with resounding success in Freiburg in 1996.

Intersolar 2004, Europe's largest international trade fair for solar technology with its focus on photovoltaics, solar thermal technology and solar architecture, will supplement the scientific conference. In addition, there will be technical tours to a number of solar and other renewable energy projects.

Conference Topics

Papers will deal with the following topics:

Conference language is English.

Contact

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sonnenenergie e.V.
Augustenstraße 79
80333 München

Tel.: +49 (0) 89 / 52 40 71
Fax: +49 (0) 89 / 52 16 68
E-Mail: info∂dgs.de
Internet: http://www.dgs.de

 

 

Announcement and Call for Papers

6th International Summer Academy on Technology Studies: “Urban Infrastructure in Transition: What can we learn from history?“

Deutschlandsberg, Austria, July 11-17, 2004

Cities are powerfully shaped by socio-technical networks and infrastructures. These organize and mediate the distribution of people, goods, services, information, waste, capital, and energy within, and between, urban regions. The quality of urban life (50 % of the world's population live in cities) depends heavily on urban infrastructures and service systems (water, sewage, energy, transport, telecommunications). Achieving sustainable urban infrastructure networks is vital if cities are to thrive or even function in the long term.

The Summer Academy 2004 will focus on the transition of urban infrastructure in view of changing framework conditions and new challenges in a historical perspective. A starting point is the contemporary debate about urban infrastructure, in which you hardly can find a reference to historical experiences. This is precisely where the discussions of this year's Summer Academy will raise the following questions:

The main objectives of the Summer Academy are to explore: 

Call for Papers

Participants are encouraged to present a paper related to one of the following topics:

  1. Political aspects of urban technology
    This topic focuses on the question of organization, regulation, design and governance of urban infrastructure concerning the following issues: Relationship between market/politics and the private and public sector of the economy; systems of services of general interest; structures of governance, measures of managing technical progress (transition management), technical regimes, path dependencies; actors (private and public institutions, municipalities, countries, national states, trans-national actors); decision-making process and role of key decision-makers in determining the choice of services to be provided (system builders); concepts of participation, beyond centralization.
  2. Social aspects of urban technology
    This topic of the social impacts or the social importance of urban infrastructures includes the following issues: Systems of technical infrastructures as a socially and environmentally sound technology; impacts on the environment; concepts or visions of public assistance or fundamental public services; changes in the understanding of services of general interest (or in the definition of basic needs); tensions between technical network integration and social, political and cultural integration/disintegration processes; relationship between citizens and public authorities; users, consumption patterns, life-styles.
  3. Cultural aspects of urban technology This topic focuses on the interaction between the transformation of urban infrastructures and cultural change (discourses). The main issues in this context are: Interrelations between the process of modernization (transition of urban technology) and cultural change; theories of infrastructure; discourses of modernization, technology as a symbol of modernity, ideas/visions and self concepts of modern or (in a contemporary context) sustainable cities; urbanity; criticism of urban technology and civilization.

Please submit a one page abstract and a maximum of one page on your work and research background. The deadline for submissions is Friday, April 2, 2004.

A maximum of 40 participants will be accepted. The language of the conference will be English.

Grants

A special grant scheme covering travel costs, accommodation and fees will be open to NIS (New Independent States of the former Soviet Union) Young Scientists. Participants from Central and South Eastern European and developing countries may also request financial support.

Information and Registration

For further information or registration form, please visit our web site: http://www.ifz.tugraz.at/index.php/sumac

or contact:

Peter Wilding
IFF/IFZ (Inter-University Research Centre for Technology, Work and Culture)
Schloegelgasse 2
A-8010 Graz, Austria

Tel.: +43 - 316 / 81 39 09 - 32
Fax: +43 - 316 / 81 02 74
E-Mail: wilding∂ifz.tugraz.at

 

 

International Conference and Exhibition

Electronics Goes Green 2004+
Driving Forces for Future Electronics

Berlin, Germany, September 6-8, 2004

Electronics are an integrated part of our life. Almost all innovations are in some way based on electronics. To continue this success story future electronics have to meet technological requirements of course. But they have to meet environmental and social requirements as well.

The conference Electronics Goes Green 2004+ (EGG 2004+) will bring together the worldwide leading experts from the technological and the environmental area. Together they will discuss the trends in future electronics as well as in current and upcoming environmental issues.

The establishment of sustainable electronics is a global challenge which needs an international approach. To reach the worldwide leading experts Electronics Goes Green will combine the well-known conferences CARE INNOVATION (Europe), ECO DESIGN (Japan) and ISEE (USA) as the world's leading meeting on electronics and the environment.

In the year 2000 more than 530 participants from 36 countries made EGG 2000+ the leading international conference on electronics and the environment. Nearly all leading companies from the electronic sector participated.

Topics of EGG 2004

Information and Support

Fraunhofer IZM
Secretariat Electronics Goes Green
Harald Pötter, Karsten Schischke, Lutz Stobbe
Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25
13355 Berlin, Germany

Tel.: +49 (0) 30 / 464 03 - 130
Fax: +49 (0) 30 / 464 03 - 131
E-Mail: egg2004Kdo2∂izm fraunhofer de
Internet: http://egg2004.izm.fraunhofer.de

 

 

Egalisierende und Ungleichheit stiftende Wirkungen von Wissenschaft und Technik

Herbsttagung der DGS-Sektion Wissenschafts- und Technikforschung auf dem 32. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Soziologie
München, 4. - 8. Oktober 2004

Von sozialer Ungleichheit sprechen wir, wenn unterschiedliche Bevölkerungsgruppen aufgrund ihrer sozialen Herkunft, ihrer sozialen Lage, ihres Geschlechts, ihrer Bildung, ihres ökonomischen Kapitals, ihres Berufs oder anderer sozialer Merkmale systematisch geringere oder größere Chancen besitzen, am gesellschaftlichen Leben teilzunehmen, begehrte Positionen zu erringen, Einfluss auszuüben, eigene Interessen durchzusetzen usw. Gemeint sind mit dem Begriff der sozialen Ungleichheit also Unterschiede in den Zugangschancen zu gesellschaftlich relevanten Handlungsfeldern und Unterschiede in den Handlungsmöglichkeiten innerhalb dieser Felder, die in der unterschiedlichen Verfügung über die dazu erforderlichen Ressourcen ihre Ursache haben. Dabei ist zumeist mitgedacht, dass der Erwerb dieser Ressourcen nicht allein von der Leistungsbereitschaft und -fähigkeit des Einzelnen abhängt, sondern mindestens ebenso von der sozialen Stellung, in die er bzw. sie hineingeboren und hineinsozialisiert wird, sowie von gesellschaftlich zugeschriebenen sozialen Attributen.

Vor diesem Hintergrund ist die Frage nach egalisierenden oder Ungleichheit stiftenden Wirkungen von Wissenschaft und Technik eine Frage danach, ob und in welcher Weise wissenschaftliches Wissen bzw. technische Artefakte dazu beitragen bzw. beitragen können, Differenzen in den Handlungsmöglichkeiten unterschiedlicher gesellschaftlicher Gruppen zu verringern bzw. zu vergrößern. Beide Richtungen sind denkbar und für beide Richtungen lassen sich einschlägige Überlegungen bzw. Beispiele anführen.

Ein aktuelles Beispiel für eine Technologie, deren Einsatz unter Umständen sogar zur Entstehung neuer Formen sozialer Ungleichheit führen könnte, ist die Gendiagnostik. Der Einsatz gendiagnostischer Verfahren zur Früherkennung erblicher Krankheitsdispositionen könnte zur Folge haben, dass Personen mit entsprechenden genetischen Dispositionen private Kranken- oder Lebensversicherungen nur noch zu ungünstigeren Konditionen angeboten bekommen oder gar überhaupt nicht mehr, oder auch, dass solche Personen Nachteile auf dem Arbeitsmarkt zu gewärtigen haben.

Auf der anderen Seite bieten uns vielerlei technische Geräte des alltäglichen Gebrauchs Beispiele für eine soziale Ungleichheit verringernde Wirkung des Technikeinsatzes. Alltagstechniken wie Auto, Kühlschrank, Elektroherd, Zentralheizung oder Kommunikationstechniken haben dazu beigetragen, dass die breite Bevölkerungsmehrheit in Sachen Mobilität, Wohn- und Ernährungsqualität oder Zugang zu Informationen Handlungsmöglichkeiten besitzt, die vor noch nicht allzu langer Zeit einer kleinen gesellschaftlichen Schicht vorbehalten waren. Diese Wirkung entsteht dadurch, dass Alltagstechniken den Ungleichheit stiftenden Vorteil des Besitzes von ökonomischem wie auch von Bildungskapital in einem gewissen Umfang abschwächen. Nicht nur führt die ebenfalls technisch ermöglichte Produktivkraftentwicklung dazu, dass diese Techniken für den Großteil der Bevölkerung erschwinglich werden. Die Automatisierung der Artefakte, die die Bedienung auf den Knopfdruck reduziert, verringert zugleich auch das zu ihrer Benutzung erforderliche Vorwissen. Diese Wirkung tritt jedoch nur ein, wenn die Technik tatsächlich erschwinglich oder der Zugang zu ihr möglich ist. Wo dies nicht der Fall ist, können sich bestehende Disparitäten weiter vergrößern. Ganze Völker und Kontinente können den Anschluss an den technischen Fortschritt verlieren.

Viele Geräte, die inzwischen als Alltagstechniken weite Verbreitung gefunden und Gleichheit stiftende Wirkungen entfaltet haben, wurden zunächst in Industrie und Handwerk in Produktionszusammenhängen genutzt. Technische Innovationen resultierten hier in schöpferischer Zerstörung. Individuelle Fertigkeiten und Wissensbestände wurden ebenso entwertet wie Investitionen in konventionelle Technik. So ergaben sich gesamtwirtschaftliche Wachstumseffekte über die Erzeugung von Disparitäten.

Die Wirkung und die Wirkungsrichtung hängt also nicht nur von den individuellen Nutzungszwecken ab, zu deren Verwirklichung wissenschaftliches Wissen und Technik im konkreten Einzelfall eingesetzt wird das wäre die These von der an und für sich neutralen Technik bzw. Wissenschaft, die je nach Absicht der Nutzer zum Guten wie zum Schlechten eingesetzt werden kann. Die Beispiele sprechen vielmehr dafür, dass die Nutzung wissenschaftlichen Wissens und technischer Produkte bzw. Prozesse durchhaus in systematischer Weise richtungsgebunden auf Verhältnisse sozialer Ungleichheit einwirken kann. Die Beispiele machen zugleich auch deutlich, dass eine wissenschaftsdeterministische oder technikdeterministische Erklärung zu kurz greifen würde: Es ist die Existenz einer privatwirtschaftlichen Versicherungswirtschaft, die bereits jetzt beim Vorliegen von Krankheitsdispositionen Risikoaufschläge verlangt, welche die entsprechenden Befürchtungen gegenüber der Gendiagnostik plausibilisiert. Ebenso hängt die Verbreitung und Nutzung technischer Massengüter bekanntermaßen von sehr viel mehr Faktoren ab als nur der technischen Möglichkeit, sie kostengünstig produzieren und einfach bedienen zu können.

Die Frage nach den egalisierenden oder Ungleichheit stiftenden Wirkungen von Wissenschaft und Technik soll auf der Sektionssitzung dementsprechend als Frage nach soziotechnischen Konstellationen gestellt werden, die in systematischer Weise auf Verhältnisse sozialer Ungleichheit einwirken. Es soll um die Beschäftigung mit Prozessen gehen, in denen wissenschaftlich-technische Ressourcen in einer Weise in soziale Handlungsfelder eingebaut werden, die auf die bestehende Ressourcenverteilung und damit auf die bestehende Verteilung von individuellen und kollektiven Handlungsmöglichkeiten einen verändernden Einfluss hat. Vorgetragen werden sowohl Beiträge, die solche Prozesse rekonstruktiv analysieren, wie auch Beiträge, die im Sinne prospektiver Wissenschafts- und Technikfolgenabschätzung entsprechende Entwicklungspfade thematisieren.

Kontakt

Ingo Schulz-Schaeffer
Technische Universität Berlin
Institut für Soziologie, FR 2-5
Franklinstr. 28/29
10587 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0) 30 / 314 - 253 81
E-Mail: schulz-schaeffer∂tu-berlin.de

Raymund Werle
Max-Planck-Institut für Gesellschaftsforschung
Paulstr. 3
50676 Köln
Tel.: +49 (0) 221 / 27 67 - 224
E-Mail: werle∂mpi-fg-koeln.mpg.de
Internet: http://www.soziologie.de/sektionen/w02/index.htm

 

 

IHDP-IAI 2004 / Call

Global Environmental Change Institute on Globalisation and Food Systems

Scientific Workshop and Science-Policy Forum
Nicoya, Costa Rica, October 24 - November 6, 2004

IHDP (International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change) and IAI (Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research) would like to announce The 2004 Global Environmental Change Institute on Globalization and Food Systems - Scientific Workshop and Science-Policy Forum, to be held from October 24 - November 6, 2004 at the Mesoamerican Institute of the National University of Costa Rica in Nicoya.

The Institute will focus on interactions between processes of globalization and global environmental change, and the implications for food systems and food security. Globalization has been a very powerful driving force in the world since the early 1980´s, leading to economic, social, institutional and cultural changes that influence food systems in a myriad of ways. These changes are transforming the production and storage of food, the movement and trade of food, access to and consumption of food, and the quality and safety of food. At the same time, global environmental change is altering both the physical and social conditions that underpin terrestrial and marine food systems. The transformation of food systems in a globalizing world is likely to interact synergistically with global environmental change. The goal of the Institute is to explore this critical interaction and consider implications for food security, particularly in areas characterized either by poverty and food insecurity or by growing per capita incomes and rapidly changing demands for food.

The Scientific Workshop aims at encouraging systematic promotion of young scientists, particularly social scientists, from developing countries and countries in transition, to initiate their future integration into IHDP and IAI networks and project communities, and to developing partnerships among governments, industries and communities; connecting local and regional professionals and institutions worldwide with initiatives and networks of other organizations dealing with the same subject; and informing local and regional professionals on the funding opportunities available to support projects dealing with global environmental change and food systems in the region and related fields.

The Science-Policy Forum will focus on the science-policy interface and the use of scientific information in the policy and decision-making planning processes (i.e., what scientific information is available, what needs to be better understood, the translation of scientific information for the non-scientific community, the use of the information, discussions of policy issues that should be incorporated into the scientific community agenda, etc.). The objective is to hold this forum during the final 1-2 days of the Institute. Governmental agencies, national and international organizations, NGO's, and private companies will be invited to attend this forum to be presented with the results of the scientific workshop, and to discuss the scientific and political aspects of global change and food systems with Institute participants from different countries or regions.

Six themes will form the structure for the Institute. The topics listed under each theme provide examples of issues that may be presented and discussed. The Institute organizers and international experts responsible for the themes will have the responsibility and freedom to develop each theme according to their own expertise and judgment. A set of mandatory background reading materials will be distributed to participants prior to the Institute in order to ensure familiarity with the research issues and methods. The institute will also include modules and lectures on writing and submitting proposals other than issues related to professional development.

Topics

  1. Globalization, Global Environmental Change, and Food Systems
    • The global food system: patterns and trends in production and consumption
    • Changing environmental conditions: climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, and land use changes
    • Economic and cultural globalization, sustainability and food systems
    • Global Environmental Change and Food Systems (GECAFS) project
  2. Food Security and Vulnerability in a Globalizing World
    • Food security in a comparative perspective
    • Vulnerability in a dynamic global context: globalization and global environmental change
    • Global Environmental Change and Human Security (GECHS) project
  3. Globalization, Land Use Changes, and Rural Livelihoods
    • Land tenure, entrepreneurship, and property rights
    • Tropical forests, food production, and land use changes
    • Rural livelihoods, rural to urban migration, and food security
    • Land Use and Land-Cover Change (LUCC) project
  4. Globalization and Food Transformations
    • Biotechnology and genetically-modified foods
    • Globalization of the fishing industry: environmental and social consequences
    • Biomass production: implications for food systems
    • Industrial Transformation (IT) project
  5. Governance in a Globalizing World
    • Multilayered governance
    • International institutions: WTO, UNFCCC, and Biodiversity Convention
    • Local responses to environmental and economic changes
    • Institutional Dimensions of Global Environmental Change (IDGEC) project
  6. From Science to Policy
    • Economic agents, markets, governments and science
    • Institutional capacity and food security
    • Communicating science to policy communities, and policy needs to scientists

Who Should Apply?

Researchers, stakeholders, and decision makers working in the field of global environmental change with an interest in globalization and food systems, both from a scientific and a political perspective, are encouraged to apply. We are interested in professionals who have conducted studies, developed projects or have been involved in some kind of activity that deals with the Institute theme from a local, regional or international perspective. We would like to include a mix of participants (scientists, policy makers, stakeholders), which can encourage the work and discussions from multidisciplinary and multifunctional perspectives and in an integrated and comprehensive fashion (from physical and social aspects of the changes occurring in the global environment to their socioeconomic impacts and mitigation and adaptation policies).

Details about Financial Support, Selection Criteria and Process, and Application Procedures can be found at the Internet site as quoted below.

The deadline for applications is April 15, 2004.

Contact

Ms. Maarit Thiem
IHDP
Walter-Flex-Str. 3
53113 Bonn, Germany

Fax: +49 (0) 228 / 73 90 54
E-Mail: thiem.ihdp∂uni-bonn.de
Internet: http://www.ihdp.org (application forms under “news“ section)

Institute Website: For further information on the IHDP-IAI Institute, please visit the website
http://www.institutes.iai.int

 

 

Call for Papers

Wissensorganisation und gesellschaftliche Verantwortung. Informationstheoretische, ökonomische und ethische Aspekte

Duisburg, 5. - 7. November 2004

Die gesellschaftliche Verantwortung der professionellen Wissensorganisation beschäftigt die Informations- und Bibliothekswissenschaften seit geraumer Zeit. In der Ausbildung an den Hochschulen werden informationstheoretische, ökonomische und ethische Fragen berücksichtigt. Angesichts der gesellschaftlichen Entwicklungen der letzten Jahre ist jedoch die verantwortliche Organisation von Wissen zu einem Problem geworden, das einer umfassenderen Berücksichtigung in Wissenschaft, Ausbildung und Praxis bedarf: Informatisierung und Kommerzialisierung von Wissensprodukten führen zu neuen Exklusionen und Kontrollmöglichkeiten im Umgang mit Wissen und wissenschaftlicher Leistung. Qualitätsmanagement und Nachhaltigkeit rücken bei Wissensgewinnung und -verbreitung stärker in den Mittelpunkt.

Die 9. Tagung der Internationalen Gesellschaft für Wissensorganisation (ISKO) soll zur Weiterentwicklung der gesellschaftlichen Verantwortung der Wissensorganisation in den fachlichen Grundlagen, in der Ausbildung und der wissensorganisatorischen Praxis beitragen. Im Mittelpunkt der Tagung wird die Verzahnung verantwortlichen Handelns in der Praxis mit der wissenschaftlichen Reflexion stehen. Dabei sind empirische, rechtliche und ökonomische Fragen ebenso relevant wie theoretisch-systematische Diskurse.

Der thematische Rahmen soll mit den folgenden Fragen umrissen werden. Relevante Beiträge zur Wissensorganisation außerhalb dieses skizzierten Rahmens sind willkommen.

Die Tagung richtet sich an Wissenschaftsforscher, Wissenschaftsmanager, Informations- und Bibliothekswissenschaftlerinnen und -wissenschaftler, sowie alle, die sich mit der gesellschaftlichen Verantwortung der Wissensorganisation und Wissensverbreitung beschäftigen. Beiträge aus angrenzenden Disziplinen (Pädagogik, Soziologie, Kommunikationswissenschaft, Philosophie) und der Praxis sind willkommen. Die Einbeziehung der Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmer im Interesse eines lebendigen Diskurses ist ein wichtiger Bestandteil der Tagung.

Die Vorschläge werden mit Titel und einem Abstract von etwa einer Seite in elektronischer Form (E-Mail-Text, html, rtf, pdf) erbeten bis zum 31. März 2004 an christian∂swertz.de. Aus den Abstracts sollte der Bezug zum Thema der Tagung, die Relevanz der Fragestellung, die Methodik und die vertretene These hervorgehen.

Kontakt

Dr. Christian Swertz
IZ Sozialwissenschaften
Lennestr. 30
53113 Bonn

Tel.: +49 (0) 228 / 22 81 - 142
Fax: +49 (0) 228 / 22 81 - 41 42
E-Mail: ohHat2∂iz-soz de
Internet: http://www.gesis.org/SocioGuide
http://www.bonn.iz-soz.de/wiss-org