Call for Contributions: S+T+ARTS Symposium

Over the past seven decades, the discourse on the dialogues and intersections between the arts and sciences has undergone a profound transformation since the inception of the “two cultures” debate. Today, numerous publications, institutions, organisations, academic associations, and funding programmes, such as S+T+ARTS in the European context, testify to the burgeoning emphasis on transdisciplinarity. However, amidst this progress, persistent questions and concerns remain, particularly with regard to the dissemination and impact assessment of projects within these transdisciplinary fields. A key challenge is to develop effective methods for observing, monitoring, evaluating, and identifying key variables illuminating project findings and respecting their inherent complexity. This symposium addresses these needs by convening an international dialogue that spans academic discourse and practical applications. By fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, they aim to explore new strategies for accurately addressing, monitoring, and measuring the multiple impacts of projects situated at the intersection of the arts, technologies, and sciences, within the global challenges of contemporary society.

Exploring the intersections of Arts, Science, Technology and Society as catalysts for change. A S+T+ARTS Symposium to reflect on impact and shape the future will take place at Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), Barcelona, during the 29th and 30th of October 2024, and is organised within the framework of S+T+ARTS in the City, a project runned by six S+T+ARTS Regional Centres: GLUON, HacTe, Ars Electronica, Inova+, Kersnikova Institute and MEET, Digital Culture Centre.

A selection of the presentations will be accepted to contribute in the paper format in a Special Issue of Artnodes Journal to be published in 2025.

Themes

• This symposium aims to delve into the emergence, evolution, and diversification of the Science, Technology, Arts & Society intersectional field, seeking to deepen their understanding through exploration of four key themes organised in four panels:
  • Towards Hybrid Research Scenarios
    • Exploring innovative methodologies and frameworks to facilitate profound research within the arts, emphasising the inherent values at the intersection of science, technology, arts and society.
    • Scrutinising past, present, and emerging projects and their impact on shaping the field.
  • Confronting Values and Measures in projects and policies
    • Investigating indicators and metrics to assess the impact and value of projects, initiatives, institutions and industries.
    • Engaging in discussions about the challenges and opportunities associated with measuring the multifaceted contributions to society.
    • Studying the transformative role of historical and current policies in nurturing the interdisciplinary intersection of art, science, technology, and society
  • Embracing social, ethical and legal challenges
    • Presenting case studies and projects led by artists, scientists, and technologists aimed at addressing pressing social challenges. Encouraging submissions that delve into the potential to foster community development and sustainable innovation.
    • Examining emerging social trends and models that promise to shape the future while addressing ethical issues and societal challenges.
    • Current debates around intellectual property rights, freedom of expression vs. censorship, ethical considerations like data privacy, access and equity, or environmental impact.
  • Epistemologies and Methodologies
    • Examining the epistemological foundations that underpin research and practice and the way it delves into the very nature of knowledge production.
    • Discussing methodologies employed in research and their implications for interdisciplinary collaboration. Processes, perspectives and dynamics that have proven to be helpful.
    • Debating challenges and proposing solutions for integrating distinct disciplinary methods within projects.

Participation Formats

• Presentation: A live talk where you present your research/project findings to the audience. You can use slides with visuals and key points to guide your talk, allowing time for questions at the end.
• Poster: A visually appealing display board showcasing your research/project on a single sheet. It condenses key information with text, images, and graphics to grab attention and spark conversation during poster sessions.
• Paper: A formal written document detailing your research methodology, findings, and analysis. It’s a more in-depth exploration compared to a presentation or poster, submitted for peer review before publication to Artnodes journal as a conference proceedings.

Eligibility Criteria

• They encourage academics, researchers, practitioners, artists, and technologists to submit their contribution.

For more information, visit STARTS.