The Science and Democracy Network (SDN) was established in 2002 to enhance the quality and significance of scholarship in science and technology studies (STS) by training young professionals and by forging links between STS and related fields of study and practice, such as anthropology, political science, international relations, and law.
Through an annual meeting and other activities, the Science and Democracy Network (SDN) seeks to:
The SDN Annual Meeting on the theme of Science and Democracy is usually held in the United States at the John F. Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, MA; meetings have also been held in Berlin (2002) and Cambridge, UK (2007). The meetings provide a forum for presenting sophisticated empirical research on important topics in the contemporary politics of science and technology. These events train young professionals, foster dialogue among scholars and policy practitioners from the US, Europe, Asia, and elsewhere, and build an improved knowledge base for public policy by highlighting issues of importance to the United States and the global community.
The annual meetings focus on three core themes:
The meetings also include targeted topical lectures and panels on current issues of concern to SDN researchers.
Papers for each meeting are selected through solicitation across the SDN membership, as well as from scholars recommended by members. Selection criteria include relevance to major research themes in STS as well as intellectual development within and beyond the field. Young scholars participating in the workshops benefit from the critical review of their work on the politics of science and technology, in-depth discussion of methodological and theoretical issues in science and democracy research, significant networking opportunities with other participants, and opportunities to engage with senior scholars, scientists, and policy practitioners.
The SDN has been supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (Award No. SES-0350796; awarded February 23, 2004, concluded December 31, 2005). The final report submitted to the NSF in 2005 is available on the Reports page.
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