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Apologizes for X-posting
Emotions and Affect in Science: Communities, Spaces and Bodies
Open panel at the EASST/4S Meeting, October 17-20 2012, Copenhagen
Organizers: Staffan Bergwik and Helena Pettersson
Modern science is often credited with producing objective matters of fact. Its authority partly stems from the idea that subjective emotions among knowledge makers are controlled, in particular through standardized scientific methods and scrutiny by peers. Nonetheless, emotions and affects are ubiquitous in science: the joy of discovery, the rage over adversaries' criticisms or the worry of fierce competition. The aim of this panel is to probe how scholars in science studies can investigate emotions and affects. What are the technologies, discursive deployments and embodiments that produce affects in relation to scientific work? In which historical, social, intellectual and material ecology do scientists learn and cultivate emotions?
"Affective life" has been studied in a range of disciplines, including sociology, history, cultural studies and gender studies. This research has displayed that emotions are viable objects of study from cultural and social perspectives rather than only individual, biopsychologial phenomenon. Social scientists have argued that our late modern world is increasingly an "affective society". Given that knowledge constitutes a foundation of the post-industrial world, an analysis of the links between emotions and knowledge production is crucial. We welcome papers from a wide range of disciplines. Possible themes to address include (but are not limited to):
- How are emotions collectively cultivated, performed and reiterated within scientific communities? How are affects played out in interactions?
- Are there networks of emotions?
- How can the study of scientific desires enhance our understanding of how gender, class and sexuality intersect in knowledge-making practices?
- In what ways are emotions connected to power? Who is allowed to play out affects in knowledge making practices? What emotions are regarded creative or, conversely, non- scientific?
- How are emotions embodied? What is the relationship between affects and the materiality of the sciences? What are the places and spaces of affect and desire within science?
Please submit your abstract electronically via the webpage of the conference:
http://www.4sonline.org/meeting
Also, please send a copy of the abstract to the organizers
The deadline for abstract submissions is March 11.
For further information contact:
Staffan Bergwik [log in to unmask]
Helena Pettersson [log in to unmask]
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