*Call for abstracts (Session 7): Implications of different ‚Imaginary‘
<br>concepts for
<br>energy futures: Interdisciplinary gains or quarrels?*
<br>
<br>Conference "Energy Futures - Emerging Pathways in an Uncertain World
<br>https://www.leibniz-gemeinschaft.de/en/research/leibniz-research-alliances/energy-transition.html
<br>
<br>
<br>Date: 7th /8th May 2020 Berlin
<br>
<br>Venue: WZB Berlin Social Science Center, Reichpietschufer 50, 10785 Berlin
<br>
<br>Organization: Leibniz Research Alliance on Energy Transitions
<br>
<br>
<br>"Implications of different ‚Imaginary‘ concepts for
<br>energy futures: Interdisciplinary gains or quarrels?"
<br>
<br>‘Imaginary’ concepts have become central frameworks for different fields
<br>of research like sociology, sustainability research and science and
<br>technology studies, leading to various definitions of the word
<br>‘Imaginary’. In this session, we are looking for productive interplays
<br>of multifarious theoretical and disciplinary perspectives with regards
<br>to ‘Imaginary’ concepts for energy futures. Deploying imaginary concepts
<br>in research on energy futures can provide fruitful knowledge and an
<br>increased understanding of technological, societal and economic
<br>interactions when it comes to energy transition(s).
<br>
<br>The concept of ‘imaginaries’ gained greater attention in social science
<br>in the 1950’s. Some influential approaches in social sciences were put
<br>forward by Castoriadis (1997) and Taylor (2007). The concept of
<br>‘sociotechnical imaginaries’ by Sheila Jasanoff and Sang-Hyun Kim’s
<br>(2013) explores national identities and national level science and
<br>technology projects. The role of competing imaginaries in shaping
<br>climate policy is explored by Levy and Spicer (2013). For these authors
<br>imaginaries provide a shared sense of meaning, coherence and orientation
<br>around highly complex and global issues. Grunwald (2011) investigates
<br>concepts and approaches for scrutinizing, comparing and assessing
<br>various energy futures from an epistemological point of view. These are
<br>only some of the prevailing ‘Imaginary’ concepts of this growing
<br>theoretical field.
<br>
<br>On the one hand, this session wants to create a brief overview of these
<br>rich theoretical hinterlands. On the other hand, we want to foster an
<br>interdisciplinary meta-debate with regards to the different ‘Imaginary’
<br>concepts. Thereby we want to impose a strong focus on the implications
<br>of these concepts for understanding energy futures:
<br>
<br>·What are challenges and benefits of these plural accounts of
<br>‘Imaginaries’ regarding science communication and public understanding
<br>of science?
<br>
<br>·Which are the gains and blind spots of the above outlined ‘Imaginaries’
<br>concepts and other approaches towards imaginaries and energy futures?
<br>
<br>·Observing the increase of different ‘imaginary’ concepts we want to ask
<br>in a self-reflexive manner: What are the consequences of scientific work
<br>in relation to society?
<br>
<br>We want to encourage contributions shedding light on the rich
<br>theoretical approaches of imaginary concepts. Thereby we aim at
<br>providing incentives for various scientific fields to explore the
<br>analytical possibilities of the concept, as well as encouraging papers
<br>discussing capabilities and pitfalls of using imaginaries to grasp
<br>current developments. Instead of having a mere theoretical controversy,
<br>which imaginary account produces (more) ‘truth’, it is of interest how
<br>the plurality of ‘Imaginary’ approaches can have beneficial or
<br>detrimental consequences for the transitions of energy systems.
<br>
<br>*How to contribute:*
<br>
<br>·250-word abstract for a position paper for a controversial debate
<br>focusing on the societal implications and consequences of using
<br>‘Imaginaries’
<br>
<br>As we expect proposals from different fields and expertise and for
<br>creating a discussion with a minimum of misunderstandings, we want to
<br>encourage you to use a scientific language suitable for a range of
<br>disciplines.
<br>
<br>*Format of the session:*
<br>
<br>Currently, we are aiming for starting the session with (a fair share of)
<br>interdisciplinary theory discussion and later on continue with a debate
<br>about the societal consequences of the current mushrooming of scientific
<br>‘Imaginary’-concepts. This means, short inputs, and enough room for
<br>discussions. The specific time schedule will be circulated after acceptance.
<br>
<br>*Deadlines*:
<br>
<br>Dec. 15th: Deadline for submission of abstracts to session organizers.
<br>
<br>Feb. 1st: Deadline for selection of abstracts and notification of authors.
<br>
<br>**
<br>
<br>*Contact person:*
<br>
<br>Julia Epp, WZB, Berlin Social Science Center (Julia.epp@wzb.eu
<br>)
<br>
<br>Silvio Suckow, WZB, Berlin Social Science Center (Silvio.suckow@wzb.eu
<br>)
<br>
<br>
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