STS Director's Retreat Some of the topics initially posed to participants included: What is the future in this field of study? What are the driving forces or critical topics in this area? What kinds of administrative hurdles are the centers facing? Over the course of the two-day workshop, the group convened a number of focused discussions around themes that emerged from responses to the initial round of questions. These discussions were organized around the following shared matters of concern: Identity formation among STS scholars and the field more broadly construed. Here, conversation focused on the contingent necessities of identity formation: in what circumstances does it make sense to stabilize an identity for STS as such, and what are the different strategies that can be undertaken and toward what ends? Institution building for STS. Here, conversations focused on emerging approaches to curriculum development and management, as well as strategies and possibilities for creating sustainable human and financial resource bases and fortifying international connections. STS Engagement with societal actors. Here, conversations focused on a variety of forms of engagement that STS scholars are now pursuing and are seeking in the near term. Questions around the ethics/politics of STS engagement in different domains were highlighted in these discussions. For example, what are the instrumentalities in particular moments of engagement, and whose interests ground the goals of STS participation as such? Cross-cutting each of these discussions, participants of the work conference reflected upon the emerging topics of research for which they hope to call increasing attention. Among such topics we include emerging configurations of university-industry-military engagements; STS, experimentation and artistic practice; imbrications of human and other animal bodies; secrecy and public policy; spirituality, religion, and other “no no’s”. The STS Directors retreat is expected to convene bi-annually. Check out the affiliated programsVincanne Adams, University of California, San Francisco Barbara Allen, Virginia Tech Karen Barad, University of California, Santa Cruz Adele Clark, University of California, San Francisco Brian Dolan, University of California, San Francisco Joe Dumit, University of California, Davis Steve Epstein, University of California, San Diego Donna Haraway, University of California, Santa Cruz Linda Hogle, University of Wisconsin Alessandro Mongili, University of the Studies of Cagliari Andy Pickering, University of Illinois Rachel Prentice, Cornell University Sal Restivo, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rebecca Slayton, Stanford University Katie Vann, Virtual Knowledge Studio David Winickoff, University of California, Berkeley
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