Call for papers

CAREER DEVELOPMENT IN ACADEMIA
Workshop

Research Network 24 - Sociology of Science and Technology Network (SSTNET) of the European Sociological Association (ESA) and the Centre for Sociology of Science and Science Studies (IHST) of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg
July, 5-6, 2012, at the Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg, Russia

Science and technology are playing an increasingly important role in the development of
contemporary societies, and human resources are recognised as a key to techno-scientific development. It is therefore of strategic importance to secure the satisfactory recruitment of talented people to the science sector, that the scientific profession is attractive for (potential) researchers and that embarking on an academic career is open to talent from all social backgrounds. Employment opportunities, payment conditions, research facilities and career prospects are of major importance for career development. Moreover, academic careers differ considerably between disciplines and also between national science systems. The social importance of scientific career development and, consequently, its relevance as a topic in the STS field has been increasing due to the changing position and role of academia across European societies of different types. Academic career development is situated in the wider social context of structural changes in the knowledge production mode and the turbulent processes in which the traditional role of universities is disintegrating, while university-industry-government relations (Triple Helix) and the commercialization of science are intensifying. At the same time, more intensive public engagement is also expected of scientists. However, there seems to be a discrepancy between the broader socio-economic role of scientific research and the dominant criteria for researchers' performance evaluation. The increasing complexity of this social context also demands articulation and implementation of more complex policies for research career development.

The goal of this workshop is to contribute to a better understanding of the factors,
mechanisms and social context of career development in academia in specific countries and wider regions. The workshop keynote speaker will be prof. dr. Paul Wouters, the director of the Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS) of Leiden University. We particularly encourage contributions on the following issues, but potential contributions should not be limited to them and contributors are also encouraged to suggest new perspectives on the topic.

ƒ The social and economic conditions of a scientific career
ƒ Internationalization of higher education and the Bologna Process as the social framework of
an academic career
ƒ International mobility of scientists: current challenges, new policy initiatives, barriers
ƒ Recruitment and selection of scientists
ƒ The academic job market
ƒ The evaluation system’s impact on scientific careers
ƒ Research collaboration and scientific networks
ƒ Mechanisms of reproducing scientific elite, academic leadership
ƒ Mentorship and sponsorship in academies
ƒ Gender differences and integrating a gender equality strategy
ƒ The research climate in scientific organizations
ƒ Policies for research career development


Deadlines:
An abstract of up to 500 words, containing an outline of the paper, including methodology as well as the expected contribution of the paper, should be submitted by e-mail to the chair of the Workshop Organizing Committee by 29 February 2012. Decisions on acceptance will be communicated to authors by 31 March 2012.

Workshop Organizing and Selection Committee:

Nadia Asheulova, Committee chair (simar@bk.ru)
Katarina Prpić, SSTNET chair (katarina@idi.hr)
Inge van der Weijden (i.c.m.v.d.weijden@cwts.leidenuniv.nl)
Harald Rohracher, SSTNET co-chair (rohracher@ifz.tugraz.at)
Aaro Tupasela (aaro.tupasela@helsinki.fi)

No fees are charged for participation and no funds are available to SSTNET to cover travel or accommodation expenses. Further information about the workshop venue, accommodation and useful details about host city will be provided later.