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The Public Understanding of Science in Africa - Call for Papers

Deadline for abstracts is 1 May 2010.

Papers and media presentations are invited for a workshop on The Public Understanding of Science in Africa at the British Institute of East Africa, Nairobi, Kenya, 22-24 September 2010.

The workshop will discuss:

• What debates are African publics engaging in, in relation to science and policy-making and scientific debates?
• How is science in Africa engaging with publics, whom do these publics consist of and how are they conceived? 
• Are particular publics emerging in relation to scientific issues? 
• What do public engagements with science in Africa tell us about opportunities for participation in decision-making, policy and public debates? 
• What relationships exist between the various publics involved and various actors, from the state to international scientific research groups, pharmaceutical companies, NGOs and UN agencies? 
• What do these reveal about the meanings of citizenship and the development of networks of concerned actors in relation to scientific issues, as well as the ability of particular communities to shape or affect scientific policies that concern their livelihoods?

Organised by The Centre of African Studies, University of Cambridge, UK together with The British Institute of East Africa, Nairobi, Kenya  and The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Anthropologies of African Biosciences Group.

Call for papers

Abstracts and expressions of interest for papers, maximum of 250 words, are invited from researchers, journalists, science educators, scientists, policymakers and academics for all sessions.

Panel One: Science, Medicine and public health
Possible topics
Media reports on health and medicine Medical research and the engagement of publics Public health campaigns Global disease programmes and their publics

Panel Two: Conservation and the environment
Possible topics
Public engagement with conservation projects Public understanding of climate change; water resources; deforestation; Foreign states buying land in Africa to cultivate food Environmental degradation and migration Media reports on climate change issues in Africa

Panel Three: Science, technology and development
Possible topics
Implications of expanding mobile phone technology and Internet access Debates about genetically modified crops Development of sustainable energy sources Development of sustainable technology

For more information
Contact Mrs Dorian Addison at the Centre of African Studies, University of Cambridge conference@african.cam.ac.uk