MEPHISTOS graduate conference 2007, UCLA

DESCRIPTION: MEPHISTOS is an international, interdisciplinary graduate student conference devoted to the History, Philosophy, Sociology and Anthropology of Science, Technology, and Medicine. It is the premier opportunity for young scholars to present papers, participate in discussions, and develop collaborations with others across the field of science studies. For many graduate students MEPHISTOS is often their first conference-presenting experience. The tone is therefore a refreshingly supportive one in which participants are remarkably curious and enthusiastic about others’ projects. Contacts and collaborations last long after the conference ends.

GOALS: The Organizing Committee for the MEPHISTOS 2007 conference at the University of California at Los Angeles hopes to maintain and further encourage this collaborative and interdisciplinary spirit. To that aim, we have chosen in the processes of planning the conference to highlight a few features in particular:
1. A geographical array of conference participants. MEPHISTOS is an international conference and we strongly encourage graduate students from universities throughout the world to apply. To this end the MEPHISTOS Organizing Committee will cover travel costs for conference participants.
2. An interdisciplinary array of conference participants. We strongly encourage applicants from all pertinent science studies disciplines. Further, we strongly encourage proposals related to non-Western and pre-modern science.
3. An interdisciplinary array of conference organizers. The Organizing Committee is made up of representatives from all pertinent science studies disciplines and we hope that this exercise of organizing and running an academic conference together will further foster interdisciplinary collaboration.
4. A chance to showcase the University of California at Los Angeles and the accomplishments of the History, Philosophy, Sociology, and Anthropology Departments as well as related research centers and institutes.
The graduate community of the University of California at Los Angeles is proud to host the twenty-fifth annual MEPHISTOS conference this coming spring of 2007 and welcome to opportunity to maintain its great legacy. The MEPHISTOS Organizing Committee thanks you in advance for your consideration.

TOPICS: The MEPHISTOS Organizing Committee welcomes proposals for individual papers from graduate students examining issues related to the History, Philosophy, Sociology, and Anthropology of Science, Technology, and Medicine. Applicants should not, however, feel constrained by the above-listed disciplinary approaches. We welcome paper proposals from all disciplinary fields. Further, applicants should not feel restricted to the modern and contemporary time period only as we strongly encourage paper proposals devoted to early modern, medieval and renaissance periods as well.

IDEAS: Past papers and discussions have addressed the following issues: Health and Normalcy; Measurement, Evidence, and Representation in Science and Medicine; Technology and Society; Narrative and Science; Knowledge-Making, Knowledge-Forgetting; Religion and Science; Science in the Media; Science and Gender; Science and Art; Ancient Studies of Science; Sciences for the Environment; Non-Western Science; Information Technology; Philosophy of the Mind and the Body.

The 2006 conference schedule and the 2005 conference schedule provide a sample of topics.

HOW TO APPLY: All interested applicants please submit at Cover Letter and an Abstract (200-300 words, separate attachments preferred) by email to: mephistos@bol.ucla.edu

DEADLINE: January 1, 2007

ACCEPTANCE: Letters of Acceptance will be emailed to applicants in February 2007. MEPHISTOS presentations are expected to be 20 minutes in length. In accordance with MEPHISTOS traditions, modest travel grants and lodging will be provided to conference speakers.

QUESTIONS: Questions may be directed to Gustavo Garza at mephistos@bol.ucla.edu.