CFP: ARTEFACTS 2012

ARTEFACTS is an international network of academic and museum-based scholars
of science, technology and medicine interested in promoting the use of
objects in research. The network was established in 1996 and since then has
held annual conferences examining the role of artefacts in the making of
science and technology and related areas.

The next conference will be held in Edinburgh, Scotland, 7–9 October 2012.
The Scottish government aims to hold a referendum in the next few years on
national independence and the theme of the conference echoes this issue. It
aims to discuss the entanglement of national styles and identity and
scientific, technical and medical artefacts in a global context. Topics
could cover questions such as

- Between inventors and the nation: who makes and owns artefacts?
- Do artefacts embody national styles or distinct communities of practice?
- Do artefacts reflect particular national attitudes on the relationship
between science and technology?
- Do artefacts act as signifiers of nationhood and how are they enlisted in
the construction of nationalist agendas?
- National, international or local: how do museums aim at audiences through
artefacts stories?

ARTEFACTS conferences are friendly and informal meetings with the character
of workshops. There is plenty of time for open discussion and networking.
Each contributor is allocated a 20 minutes slot for her or his talk plus
ample of time for questions and discussion. If you want to present a paper
please contact Klaus Staubermann at k.staubermann@nms.ac.uk not later than
30 April 2012. Please remember that the focus of presentations should be on
artefacts. The conference will be held at the award-winning refurbished
National Museum of Scotland. For information about travel, accommodation,
and holidays in Scotland visit www.visitscotland.com

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