Summer School

Date: June 5, 2024
Location: Lecture hall U3043, University of Helsinki Main Building, Fabianinkatu 33
Venue Information
Time: 10:00 AM - 2:30 PM

The Science & Technology Studies journal and the Finnish Society for Science and Technology Studies (FSSTS) invite early career researchers to participate in a whole-day writing workshop as part of the 2024 Science Studies Symposium.

Costs: free of charge

Overview:
Writing plays a crucial role in academic production, yet its practices are often misunderstood and typically viewed as a solitary activity. This workshop aims to challenge these notions by revealing the intricacies and goals of writing from a comprehensive perspective that includes journal editors, authors, and the wider STS community.

Central to this workshop is the belief that STS writing thrives in a community where processes and goals of academic writing are shared and discussed. The workshop aims to provide a supportive and collaborative environment where early career researchers can receive detailed feedback on their research ideas, learn about effective publishing strategies, and engage in meaningful discussions with both peers and senior scholars from the STS community.

We assert that writing and publishing form the core of the current and potential future landscape of STS scholarship. Therefore, by exploring strategies for successful academic publication, this workshop engages with the key question of the symposium: what defines a substantive contribution to the knowledge base of STS and SSH (social sciences and humanities) scholarly fields more specifically.

Workshop objectives:

1. Understand how to develop a concept for your article and identify an academic journal for its publication: Gain insights into the initial stages of conceptualizing your research and selecting a suitable journal for your work.
2. Know and understand when to start writing and how to rewrite your drafts: Learn the timing for beginning the writing process and techniques for revising your drafts to enhance their impact.
3. Recognize and discuss the author guidelines of different journals and how to apply them to shape your writing: Familiarize yourself with the specific requirements of various academic journals and learn how to adapt your writing to meet these guidelines.
4. Recognize how the editing process works, from desk rejections to academic peer review and responding to reviews: Navigate the editorial process, from understanding the reasons behind desk rejections to engaging with peer review feedback and crafting responses to reviewers.

Program Highlights:

• Feedback sessions from peers and senior scholars on research abstract.
• Insights into publishing strategies within the academic community of senior editors.
• Discussions on the current state and future directions of publishing practices in STS.

Workshop Coordinators:
The workshop will be run by:

Antti Silvast, Coordinating Editor of Science & Technology Studies, the official journal of the European Association for the Study of Science and Technology (EASST), and Associate Professor at LUT University in Finland, who coordinates the work of our 14 international editors. 
Heta Tarkkala, Editorial Assistant of Science & Technology Studies and University Researcher at the University of Helsinki, Finland, who manages the practical flow of papers from submission to publication.

Call for Submissions:
Early career researchers are encouraged to submit an abstract for participation explaining the topic of their current work (max 500 words).

Contact:
Please submit your abstract or any questions regarding the workshop to coordinator Antti Silvast, antti.silvast@lut.fi