Conference on Science & Technology Studies in South Asia

Conference on Science & Technology Studies in South Asia

14-15 May 2010

Organized by the South Asia Institute at the University of Texas at Austin, USA

Call for Papers:

The South Asia Institute of the University of Texas at Austin announces a conference on the social studies of science, technology, environment, and medicine in modern South Asia. The conference will be held in Austin, Texas, on May 14 and 15, 2010.

It has been a number of years since the last gathering of STS-South Asia-related scholars took place at MIT, organized by Banu Subramaniam and Abha Sur. There has been a substantial increase in the number of scholars working on these topics since that time; especially exciting has been the rise in the number of graduate students doing PhDs on STS-South Asia-related issues.

The goals of this conference are simple: to offer a venue for scholars to present their work to an informed audience, to create a forum for discussion of issues of common interest, to inform participants about the state of the field, and to help build a community of STS-South Asia scholars. The conference will be organized as a sequential series of panels over two days, and will include at least one plenary lecture by a senior scholar in the field. Depending on the number of participants, roundtable discussions on Big Topics may be added as well.

Those interested in participating should submit a 300-word abstract of the paper they would like to present to STS-SouthAsia@austin.utexas.edu by March 15, 2010. Organizers will endeavor to include as many papers as possible in the conference. Since one objective is to bring together STS-South Asia scholars from across North America, we encourage scholars who are not presenting papers to attend as well.
There is no conference registration fee. North America-based graduate students and scholars without tenure whose papers have been accepted are invited to apply to the conference for funds to defer the costs of travel and stay. The South Asia Institute at the University of Texas at Austin will host an opening and closing dinner for all conference participants.

Questions may be addressed to the conference organizers at: STS-SouthAsia[at]austin.utexas.edu

Abstracts are due on March 15, 2010.

Further Information

International Workshop on Understanding Environmental Change: The South Asian Challenge

International Workshop on Understanding Environmental Change: The South Asian Challenge

13th March 2010

Organized by: Uppsala-Delhi Ecology and Society Network

Hosted By: Centre of Studies in Science Policy, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Venue: School of Social Science, Committee Room 001

About the Workshop:

A networking project within the broad field of environmental history was initiated between researchers in Uppsala and Delhi in early 2007. The network, now entitled Uppsala-Delhi Ecology and Society Network, is co-ordinated by Dr. Gunnel Cederlöf, Dept. of History, Uppsala University; and Prof. Mahesh Rangarajan at the University of Delhi. Once fully established, it will function through workshops, lectures, publications, and a website. It will further provide PhD students with external supervision and may also channel other information which is useful for pursuing research studies. Researchers involved in the network are employed at Uppsala University, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala (SLU), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), University of Delhi, Delhi School of Economics, Delhi Institute of Economic Growth, and Jamia Millia Islamia University.

This workshop is supported by funding from the Swedish Research Council and will be hosted by the Centre of Studies in Science Policy, Jawaharlal Nehru University. Their support is acknowledged gratefully.

This is the fourth workshop in the series organized by the Uppsala-Delhi Ecology and Society Network. Other supporting institutions include the Centre for Studies in Science Policy, Jawaharlal Nehru University; Department of History, Uppsala University; the Department of History, University of Delhi; and the School of Human Ecology, Ambedkar University.

Programme Schedule

09.30 hrs: Registration

10.00 hrs -10.30 hrs: Keynote Address
Kiran Asher, Program in International Development and Social Change, Clark University, USA
"Thinking across Borders: A Disciplinary Nomad’s Reflections on Ecology and Society"
10.30 -10.45 hrs: Discussion
10.45 -11.15 hrs: Tea Break

Session I
11.15-11.35 hrs
Saagar Tewari, Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
"Recreating Geographies and Normalizing Bodies: the Imagined Landscapes of the South East Resource Region (SERR) in India"
11.35-11.55 hrs
Gunnel Cederlöf, Department of History, Uppsala University
"Climate Crises and Ordered Landscapes: Colonial Conquest of northern East Bengal"
12.00 – 12.40 hrs: Discussion
12.40 -14.00 hrs: Lunch Break

Session II
14.00 hrs -14.20 hrs
Pernille Gooch, Department of Human Ecology, Lund University
"Rapidly Changing Landscapes, Policies, and Local Livelihoods: Pastoralists and Peasants between Struggle for Subsistence and the Force of the Market in the Indian Central Himalayas"
14.20 hrs -14.40 hrs
Radhika Krishnan, Centre for Studies in Science Policy, Jawaharlal NehruUniversity, Delhi
"Digging the Earth: The Emergence of Enclave Mining in India"
14.40 hrs- 15.20 hrs: Discussion
15.20 hrs-15.50 hrs: Tea Break

Session III:
15.50-16.10 hrs
Navroz Dubash, Centre for Policy Research, Delhi
"Whither Climate Politics in India?"
16.10-16.30 hrs
Fiona Rotberg, Department of Government, Uppsala University
"Social Networks and Adaptation in Rural Bangladesh"
16.30 -1710 hrs : Discussion
17.10 hrs : Concluding Remarks

For further details / registration please contact: Asmita Kabra (asmita.kabra[at]gmail.com)

Lok Sabha Internship Programme 2010

Lok Sabha Internship Programme 2010

Applications are invited by the Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training in the prescribed format for five Internship Positions for a one-year Internship Programme in the Lok Sabha. The Internship Programme is aimed to provide an opportunity to young men and women with outstanding academic and extracurricular achievements to acquaint themselves with the working of parliamentary democracy and democratic institutions in general and specifically about the Indian parliamentary system. The Programme also aims at imparting requisite skills and knowledge to enable the Interns to develop a proper perspective about the role of Legislature in the parliamentary system which, in turn, would help them while working in their own chosen fields in future.

Duration: The duration of the Internship Programme will be one year, starting March 2010 and ending February 2011.

Eligibility:

• Age: The Internship shall be open to Indian citizens between 21 and 28 years of age as on 31st December 2009.
• Qualifications: The applicant should have completed a two-year Post-Graduate Degree from a recognised Indian or Foreign University with 55% marks in any of the areas/disciplines such as Social Sciences, Law, Journalism, Finance, Management, etc.
• Last Date of Application by POST: 20th February 2010

Further Details and Application Form

Science and Engineering Indicators 2010

Science and Engineering Indicators 2010

published by the National Science Foundation/ National Science Board, USA

SEI 2010 provides a broad base of quantitative information on the U.S. and international science and engineering enterprise.

About Science and Engineering Indicators

Science and Engineering Indicators (SEI) is first and foremost a volume of record comprising the major high-quality quantitative data on the U.S. and international science and engineering enterprise. SEI is factual and policy neutral. It does not offer policy options, and it does not make policy recommendations. SEI employs a variety of presentation styles-tables, figures, narrative text, bulleted text, Web-based links, highlights, introductions, conclusions, reference lists—to make the data accessible to readers with different information needs and different information-processing preferences.

The data are "indicators" Indicators are quantitative representations that might reasonably be thought to provide summary information bearing on the scope, quality, and vitality of the science and engineering enterprise. The indicators reported in SEI are intended to contribute to an understanding of the current environment and to inform the development of future policies. SEI does not model the dynamics of the science and engineering enterprise, and it avoids strong claims about the significance of the indicators it reports. SEI is used by readers who hold a variety of views about which indicators are most significant for different purposes.

SEI is prepared by the National Science Foundation's Division of Science Resources Statistics (SRS) under the guidance of the National Science Board (Board). It is subject to extensive review by outside experts, interested federal agencies, Board members, and NSF internal reviewers for accuracy, coverage, and balance.

Chapters
1. Elementary and Secondary Education
2. Higher Education in Science and Engineering
3. Science and Engineering Labor Force
4. Research and Development: National Trends and International Linkages
5. Academic Research and Development
6. Industry, Technology, and the Global Marketplace
7. Science and Technology: Public Attitudes and Understanding
8. State Indicators

Download Full-text PDF

SEI 2010 Presentation Slides

Presentation slides are based on figures in the full-text SEI 2010. Selected figures were modified to fit the presentation slide format.

* Global Expansion of Research and Development Expenditures
* Overseas R&D by Multinational Companies
* Global Higher Education and Workforce Trends
* Expanding Global Researcher Pool
* Research Outputs: Journal Articles and Patents
* Expanding International Research Collaborations
* New Research Patterns Reflected in World's Citations Base
* Inventive Activity Shown by Patents
* Fast-Rising Global Output of Knowledge- and Technology-Intensive Firms
* Booming Global High-Technology Exports Rearranging World Trade Patterns
* Big Shifts in World Trade Positions in High-Technology Products
* Continued Surpluses From U.S. Trade in Knowledge-Intensive Services and Intangible Assets

Download Data in PPT, JPEG and XLS Formats

Call for Papers: 4th Conference on Micro Evidence on Innovation in Developing Economies

Fourth Conference on Micro Evidence on Innovation in Developing Economies

Tartu, Estonia

May 27-28, 2010

Organized by: University of Tartu, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, UNU-MERIT, United Nations University

The University of Tartu, in collaboration with the Maastricht Economic and social Research and training centre on Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT), is announcing the Fourth Conference on Micro Evidence on Innovation and Development (MEIDE), to be held in Tartu (Estonia) on May 27-28, 2010. The aim of the conference is to bring together researchers from around the world to discuss the importance of innovation, and its different dimensions, for economic growth and development.

Many countries have conducted micro surveys on innovation for a number of years. It would be interesting to confront what has been learned from these surveys, and from case studies, to guide innovation policy. Empirical contributions based on micro data, from firm or household surveys, are particularly welcome, but also case studies and theoretical papers. Besides the usual emphasis on transition and developing countries, the fourth MEIDE conference will focus on innovation and its impacts in Central and Eastern European economies.

One or two sessions will be reserved for the COST/STRIKE workshop on "development of markets", which will be integrated in the conference. PhD students are also invited to submit papers.

Examples of topics that could be covered:

• Innovation, productivity and firm performance
• Innovation, education, health, human capital, and social capital
• Innovation in universities and public institutions
• Technology adoption and diffusion
• Innovation and employment
• Innovation and internationalization
• Innovation and the role of financial institutions
• Financial innovations
• Innovation and international trade
• International comparisons of innovation performance
• Effectiveness of innovation policies
• Innovation metrics
• Non-Technological Innovation
• Demand-lead innovations and innovation policies

Sponsors:
University of Tartu
UNU-MERIT, United Nations University
Eesti Bank/Bank of Estonia

Venue: Dorpat conference center, Tartu, Estonia

Registration: A conference fee of 120 € will be charged for conference expenses, materials and conference dinner. A limited budget is available for support of hotel accommodation.

Practical information: Tartu can be reached directly by plane from Rigi and Stockholm. Most international flights go to Tallinn, from where there is a shuttle to Tartu.

A visa is required for residents outside of the Schengen zone, except for the list of countries indicated at the homepage of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Organisors: Jaan Masso, Urmas Varblane, Jacques Mairesse and Pierre Mohnen

Submission of Papers: Researchers are invited to submit a full paper by March 1, 2010. Please submit your paper online. Upon acceptance of your paper, a formal invitation form will be sent to you for application of visas to Estonia, if needed.

Important dates:

• Submission deadline: March 1, 2010
• Notification of acceptance: March 15, 2010
• Sending paper to discussant: May 20, 2010
• MEIDE 4 conference: May 27-28, 2010

Further Details