Summary: A strength of the emerging academic field of Social Studies of Science and Belief is its theoretical and methodological diversity. In its current form the field combines approaches from sociology, religious studies, history, psychology, anthropology, and science and technology studies (STS). However, this diversity also means that it can be a challenge for scholars within the field to make use of approaches from outside their home disciplines.

This project is designed to address this challenge. First, we will map and consolidate existing relevant and useful approaches from STS, with the principal research question: ‘how have approaches from STS been usefully applied to the study of science and belief, and what insights have they yielded?’ We will then develop a book proposal for an edited volume on STS approaches to science and belief. This process will include a 1-day online workshop to discuss potential contributions and organisation of the edited volume with prospective contributors. Finally, we will identify potential publishers and submit the book proposal.

With the support of this INSBS small research grant, this project will strengthen the Social Study of Science and Belief by:

1. Bringing together scholars who take an STS approach to science and belief, putting them in conversation with each other and providing the infrastructure to start forming a community.
2. Increasing the visibility of these scholars and their work within INSBS and beyond.
3. Providing an access point for scholars in the field of science and belief unfamiliar with STS approaches and demonstrating their utility, to encourage their wider use.
4. Creating a catalyst for similar consolidation of approaches from other disciplines, to begin to trace the contours of the Social Study of Science and Belief as a multidisciplinary academic field.