Annual Conference 2021: STEMM and Belief in Diverse Contexts: Publics, Praxis, Policy and Pluralism

Wednesday 7th July 2021 — Friday 9th July 2021

THIS CONFERENCE WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE IN JULY 2020. IT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR JULY 2021 AND WILL TAKE PLACE FULLY ONLINE

Visit the following page to Register:

Open for Registration – INSBS Conference

In the last decade, there has been significant growth in social scientific and humanities research focusing on science, religion and belief in society. Greater attention is being paid to the varied ways in which perceptions of different aspects of STEMM subjects (science, technology, engineering, medicine, and mathematics) have been, or are, influenced by religious and non-religious belief, identity, community and conflict in different geographical, cultural and historical contexts.

As this field of research has grown it has engaged in myth busting popular perceptions and stereotypes about the relationship between science and religion, which treat both science and religious/spiritual populations as monolithic. To date, much of this foundational research has focused on North American contexts or debates. This conference seeks to build on this essential work and address future avenues for research within the social scientific and historical study of science, religion and belief in society to examine the practical implications and applications of research in this field. Expanding the geographical focus, the conference will encompass a range of issues at global, or local levels around four interlinked areas:

PUBLICS: Diverse (non)religious publics’ engagement with, and perceptions of, STEMM

PRAXIS: Issues relating to religion and (non)belief in scientific research or STEMM
communication practices

POLICY: Public policy analysis, exploring concerns with the development of, or
implementation of, policy connected to STEMM, and religion or belief in society

PLURALISM: Research on STEMM in pluralistic or religiously diverse societies.

This conference will bring together international researchers with backgrounds in sociology, science and technology studies, psychology, political science, history, social anthropology, and related humanities or social science disciplines, to discuss perspectives on the overarching topic of science and belief in society.

We are pleased to invite submissions of papers that relate to any aspect of STEMM in society (science, technology, engineering, medicine, and mathematics), that discuss any religious, spiritual or non-religious tradition, position or worldview.

Abstracts are invited for the conference relating to the following themes:

    • Public engagement with STEMM in pluralistic or religiously diverse societies;
    • The social scientific and historical study of the relationship between science and religious and/or non-
    • religious belief and identity;
    • Public perceptions of the relationship between science, religion and non-religion and their respective roles
    • in society;
    • National and international comparative perspectives on the study of science, religion and belief in society;
    • Past and present media or popular representations of science, religion and belief in society;
    • The past or present roles of science, rationalism, religion and belief in national, social or cultural identity and related geopolitical narratives;
    • Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches to the study of science, religion and non-religion in society;
    • Methodological approaches to, and issues in, the study of science, religion and belief in society;
    Studies on the impact of publics’ views on science and religion on policy making, and provision for religious, spiritual or non-religious communities across a range of geographies and issues (e.g. healthcare provision, educational policy, science policy, environmental policy or development).

Future Events

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ECR Workshop 2024, Birmingham, UK

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1st July 2024

INSBS 5th Annual Conference

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