STS Meets Ethics – STS TURKEY & METU Applied Ethics Research Center Joint Conference 2023, October 31 – November 2 2023 (Ankara, Turkey)

We are thrilled to announce that this year’s STS TURKEY conference will be a joint conference, organized in collaboration with Middle East Technical University (METU) Applied Ethics Research Center (UEAM), and with the valuable support of UEAM, Bilkent University and STS Turkey. The event will take place at the Kültür ve Kongre Merkezi, METU Ankara, Turkey from October 31st to November 2nd, 2023.

The conference will be conducted in English and Turkish, allowing for a diverse and inclusive exchange of ideas.

Abstract submission is open until August 28, 2023. For more information on the submission process, guidelines, and updates, please visit: http://ststurkey.net/stsmeetsethics23-en/.

We eagerly anticipate your valuable contributions to this enriching and thought-provoking conference. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Date: 31 October – 02 November 2023

Venue: Kültür ve Kongre Merkezi, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey

Languages: English and Turkish

Deadline for abstract submission: August 28, 2023

Submission info: http://ststurkey.net/stsmeetsethics23-en/

Organization and support: METU Applied Ethics Research Center (UEAM), Bilkent University Faculty of Engineering, Turkish Scholarly Network for Science and Technology Studies (STS TURKEY)

Grand challenges created by climate change, environmental degradation and the resulting natural disasters along with the growing energy crisis, immigration and pandemics, on the one hand, and the hype and fear around the rise of artificial intelligence applications like ChatGPT, biomedical advances and digitalization based on big data, on the other… In a world characterised by such global crises and rapid advancements in science and technology, it has now become inevitable to address these complex and multifaceted phenomena through an interdisciplinary approach.

Philosophy addresses these phenomena in an effort to make sense of them while simultaneously taking upon itself the task of inquiring how they ought to be developed. Like many social sciences and humanities, philosophy too increasingly contributes to the diversity of studies on technology and science, particularly from the point of view of ethics.  It is also crucial to acknowledge the significance of Science, Technology and Society / Science and Technology Studies (STS) which have been shaping our understanding of emerging technologies a great deal. STS has been at the forefront of highlighting the interconnectedness of society, science, and technology, emphasizing their mutual influence on one another. This perspective has prompted us to delve deeper into the intricate relationships between science, technology and society, inspiring new insights and innovative approaches.

As we navigate the complexities of these phenomena, philosophy and STS continue to play pivotal roles in guiding us towards a holistic understanding of the interactions between science, technology and society. By recognizing the dynamic interplay between these elements, we can better address the ethical, social and philosophical implications arising from technological and scientific advancements. In this sense, philosophy and STS not only enrich our intellectual pursuits but also empower us to shape a future that aligns technology with human needs, aspirations and values.

The conference “STS meets Ethics” jointly organised by METU Applied Ethics Research Center (UEAM), Science and Technology Policy Research Center (TEKPOL), Department of Philosophy and Turkish Scholarly Network for Science and Technology Studies (STS TURKEY) and Bilkent University Faculty of Engineering welcomes any contributions inquiring the interconnectedness of science, technology, society and ethics. “STS Meets Ethics” thus aims to foster a more informed, ethical and responsible approach to the development of emerging technologies and their impact on society.

Conference topics include but are not limited to the following:

  •       Environment, Technology and Ethics

Environmental ethics; Sustainability; Green transformation and society; Science, technology and urban life; Multispecies ethnography; Agriculture and food ethics

  •       Digital Technologies and Society

Internet security, social media and big data; Artificial intelligence; Human rights in the information age; Information technologies and e-Government; Surveillance society and biopolitics; Human Machine Interaction

  •       Medicine, Technology and Society 

Medical ethics; Bioethics; Philosophy of biology; Transhumanism; Posthumanism; Stem cell, genetic modification, human enhancement; Reproductive technologies; Biopolitics; Food technologies; Biomedicalisation

  •       Responsible Research and Innovation

Design, technology and society; Participatory design; Responsible design; Social entrepreneurship and innovation; Science communication; Integrity in scientific research and technology development; Innovation management; Technology assessment; Defence industry; Academic performance metrics

  •       Culture and Identity under the Influence of Technology

Migration due to wars or climate events; Terror, war; Gender; Science, technology and feminism; Social media; Post-truth; Dis/Ability; Discrimination and inequality based on sexual orientation and ethnicity; Technology and psychology; Perception of technology in society

  •       Ethics, Aesthetics, Technology

Art, artisanship, and technology; Bioart and society; Digital arts; Science fiction literature and cinema; Aesthetics of technology

  •       Philosophy and History of Technology

Philosophy of technology; Evolution of technology; Social transformation and technology; Relationship between science and technology