EASST council is waiting for applications from interested parties who would like to host the next EASST conference for the European STS community in 2026.
The format of conferences is an ongoing topic of reflection for EASST, as discussed in the joint EASST-4S conference in Amsterdam. Interested parties should feel free to suggest innovative formats, including collaborations between multiple host institutions.
Read the application guidelines and procedure, and submit your application by 1 December 2024.
The application procedure for hosting EASST's biennial conference is as follows:
- The host institution must be a university or an equivalent research and higher education institution, with interest in STS as demonstrated for instance by a department or centre in STS.
- The person submitting the application must be a member of EASST.
- The application consists of:
- A possible theme for the conference;
- Letter of approval from the Head of Department acknowledging support of the unit;
- Details of the charges the institution will levy for the use of the venue;
- Short description of the premises: size of the largest hall (for Opening Ceremony, Keynote, Plenary Sessions, Roundtables, GM), around 25-35 breakout rooms for parallel sessions and various meetings with a capacity above 25 seats, large foyer space (or the equivalent) for catering tables, the book exhibit (publishers) and the registration desks;
- Preferred and possible format(s) for delivery of the conference (face-to-face, online, hybrid, multi-hub, other);
- Short description of the accommodation situation, considering in particular availability and affordability;
- Best time(s) for the conference given the local situation (between early July and mid-October);
- Brief information regarding the audiovisual provision (and possible support) for the halls/rooms to be used.
- Applications should be received by December 1, 2024, by email to the address below.
- The Council will decide the next conference location after hearings with possible candidates in two months after receiving the applications.
- The Council, however, is free to approach a candidate of its choice.
Please note the following:
- As conferences are an important source of revenue for financing the association’s activities, EASST expects the conference accounts to close with a positive balance that is then used to support STS activities.
- EASST does not provide financial support to the host institution: the conference income must come from registration fees, banquet tickets, publisher marketing, and fundraising by the host institution.
- EASST recommends NomadIT as the professional conference organiser (PCO) to be used for the creation and maintenance of the conference website and administration of the calls for panels and papers, registrations, meetings, receptions, and all other activities.
- Each conference requires the following committees:
- Scientific Committee: consisting of the Council and some members of the Local Committee.
- Local Committee: constituted by the person locally responsible of the Conference organisation.
- Conference Ethics Committee: consisting of local organisers who will be working with the EASST Ethics Committee.
- The conference should comprise parallel sessions and at least one plenary session and one social event.
- Further spaces required:
- A room for EASST Council meetings and hearings;
- A large space for registration desks, and a room close for the PCO;
- A publisher exhibition space in the main Conference area;
- Wifi Internet access (username and password).
- Food provision (and restaurant information) should take into consideration the various dietary requirements of delegates.
- The format of conferences is an ongoing topic of reflection for EASST, as discussed in the joint EASST/4S conference in Amsterdam. Interested parties should feel free to suggest innovative formats, including collaborations between host institutions.
Any queries and/or applications should be sent to admin(at)easst.net.
