Understanding the Shaping of Socio-Technical Futures
Understanding the Shaping of Socio-Technical Futures
Abstract Submissions Closed
RC23 Sociology of Science and Technology (host committee)
Language: English
Attempts to shape the future through socio-technical visions and scenarios are increasing in science and policy. An increasing use of “knowledge objects” embodying socio-technical futures (STFs) such as scenarios, simulations, models, roadmaps in decision-making and innovation processes can be observed. Even visions made by professional visioneers appear to have become a common element of long-term innovation processes, e.g. in the field of new and emerging technologies (McCray, 2012).
The production and the use of visions and scenarios constitute a cross-disciplinary field of practice and research. Sociology of knowledge and action theory is common place when studying the adscription of meaning to technology, the social shaping of STFs, the functions they fulfil and their impact.
However, there are also approaches less centred on objects and actors, advocating a process sociology perspective and investigations of systemic societal dynamics to study “futures in the making” (Adams, 2011). Today interesting analyses also stem from practitioners (foresight, technology assessment), who strive for a theoretical foundation of their prospective and anticipatory practices (Joint Research Center, 2014).
We invite contributions from social science perspectives and from the field of practice aimed to better understand the epistemic status and concrete practices of STFs.
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