RN12 - Environment and Society
The Environment & Society Research Network aims to provide a platform for social scientists interested in issues of environment and sustainability. The main activity of the E&S network is the coordination of sessions at the biannual ESA conference. The network also has an e-mail list and a website to facilitate communication among social scientists active in the field of environment and sustainability.
Researchers and educators who are interested are welcome to join the network. For more information and e-mail addresses, please visit our website at http://www. esa-esn.org.
Board members:
Matthias Gross, chair/coordinator, matthias.gross[at]ufz.de
CSA (Kris) van Koppen (vice-chair), Kris.vanKoppen[at]wur.nl
Çigdem Adem (e-mail list), c_adem[at]yahoo.com
Balínt Bàlazs (website manager), balazs.balint[at]essrg.hu
Giorgio Osti, ostig[at]sp.univ.trieste.it
Mikael Klintman, mikael.klintman[at]fpi.lu.se
Mercedes Martínez, mercedes.martinez[at]uv.es
Luísa Schmidt, schmidt[at]ics.ul.pt
Audrone Telesiene, audrone.telesiene[at]ktu.lt
Henning Best (treasurer), Henning.Best[at]gesis.org
Click here to read the biennial report 2009-2011 of RN12
European Sociological Association 11th Conference
TORINO, 28-31 August 2013
Call for Papers
Instructions
Authors are invited to submit their abstract either to the general session (open) or any specific session. Please submit each abstract only to one session. After abstract evaluation, coordinators will have the chance to transfer papers between sessions where applicable.
Abstracts should not exceed 1750 characters (including spaces, approximately 250 words). Each paper session will have the duration of 1.5 hours. Normally sessions will include 4 papers.
Abstracts can only be submitted online no later than 1st of February 2013 to the submission platform at: www.esa11thconference.eu. Abstracts sent by email cannot be accepted.
The information requested during abstract submission include: 1) name(s), affiliation(s) and email of all the author(s); 2) contact details of presenting author (postal address, and telephone in addition to email); 3) title of proposed presentation; 4) up to 4 keywords (optional).
Submitting authors will receive an email of acknowledgement of successful submission receipt. Abstracts will be peer-reviewed and selected for presentation by the relevant Research Network or Research Stream; the letter of notification will be sent by the conference software system in early April 2013. Each author cannot submit more than two abstracts (as first author).
Abstract submission deadline: 1st February 2013
Abstract submission platform: http://www.esa11thconference.eu
If you have further questions on the conference, please visit the conference website.
For information on the Research Networks, visit: http://www.europeansociology.org/
RN12 - Environment and Society
Coordinator: Matthias Gross < This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. >
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Leipzig, Germany
The Environment & Society Research Network (RN12) of the European Sociological Association (ESA) brings together social scientists with a research interest in issues of environment and sustainability. The theme of the 11th conference of the European Sociological Association (ESA) is “Crisis, Critique and Change.” In accordance with this theme, RN12 will critically focus on the environmental dimensions of contemporary crisis and also reflect on transitions and changes out of the crisis.
Whereas debates on climate change after Fukushima have taken a backseat role in the face of the significance of society’s energy dependencies, the Environment & Society Research Network remains dedicated to all fields of environmental research in connection to social theory, sustainability, consumption, food, democracy, energy, climate, science and technology, innovation, conservation, governance, and justice. Our sociological focus will be on areas as diverse as water management, energy shortages, air and soil pollution, vulnerability to natural and technological disasters.
At the RN 12 sessions at the ESA conference in Turin in 2012, we aim to explore issues of environment and society from diverse theoretical, methodological and empirical points of view and, no less important, in a more practical perspective of societal action.
We invite you submit abstracts to the session themes listed below. Topics addressed in the RN 12 sessions include, but should not be restricted by those listed below:
01RN12. Social Theory and the Environment
02RN12. Climate Change and the Role of the Social
03RN12. Natural Disasters, Resilience, and Vulnerability
04RN12. Renewable and Non-renewable Energies
05RN12. Social, Environmental, and Financial Pillars of Sustainability
06RN12. (Un-)Sustainable Consumption
07RN12. Rationality and Environmental Decision Making
08RN12. Local Food and Global Food Chains
09RN12. Environmental Communication, Values, and Attitudes
10RN12. Participation, Citizenship and Environmental Democracy
11RN12. Science, Technology, and Environmental Innovation
12RN12. Human Ecology and Global Environmental Change
13RN12. Biodiversity and Nature Conservation
14RN12. Governance and Management of Water
15RN12. Environmental Justice
16RN12. New Trends in Environmental Movements Research
17RN12. Adapting Urban Structures to Global Environmental Change
18RN12. Transitions to Green Economy and Society
19RN12. Beyond Rio+20: International Environmental Policy and the Impact on the Social
20RN12. Environment & Society (open)
We are open for additional topics as long as they can be accommodated in the conference schedule. Authors from outside of Europe are especially welcome to submit abstracts and participate in the sessions.
08JS12. RN12 Joint session with RN08 Disaster, Conflict, and Social Crisis Network
Energy Futures: Emerging Conflicts, Impacts, Opportunities
(Chair: Debra J. Davidson & Matthias Gross)
This session will focus on research exploring the multiple emerging trajectories along which society’s relationship with energy supplies is unfolding. New ‘non-conventional fuels,’ such as shale gas and bitumen are being developed rapidly, as are renewable fuels, including biofuels, geothermal fuels, and wind power. And finally, conventional fossil fuel sources are being exploited in ever more remote locations, with little scrutiny. Each of these is associated with a suite of discursive frames and socio-ecological impacts that demand critical evaluation, as they constitute an increasing proportion of our energy portfolio. In many cases, new fuel sources are heartily endorsed with little attention to the uncertainties and risks associated with their adoption. In others, adoption is constrained because the potential benefits are under-represented due to elevated risk concerns. Sociological attention to the risks, benefits, and evolutionary implications of society’s energy futures is growing, but to date little effort has been made to synthesize this important body of work. In this session, papers covering several of these lines of inquiry will be presented.
Note: all submitted abstracts will be assessed by an international review panel. The language of the abstract should be English. Acceptance of the abstract will be based on the following criteria:
• Does the abstract indicate that the paper will make an original, understandable, and meaningful contribution to environment and society debates?
• If the paper presents new empirical material it must be clear from the abstract upon which research any of the conclusions for environment and society debates are based.
• If the paper mainly presents new theoretical considerations it must be clear from the abstract which existing theories and concepts the paper is in discussion with, and which new insights will be added to the debates.
For further questions or comments, please contact RN12’s coordinator Matthias Gross at: < This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. >
