Genealogy of Popular Science

From Ancient Ecphrasis to Virtual Reality. International Conference, June 15-17, 2018, Fritz-Haller-Hörsaal, Building 20.40, Englerstr. 7, KIT Campus South Karlsruhe

Program | Keynote Speakers | Call for Abstracts | Book of Abstracts

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Popular Science is an intricate phenomenon with socio-political, economical, and aesthetic dimensions. Because of this multi-layered reality, research in Popular Science is probably not completely covered by one single discipline. In interdisciplinary research fields such as Science Studies, the Sociology of Science, or Science and Technology Studies (STS), the approach to the phenomenon of Popular Science seems to be fed back by the issues of the present. Here, historical approaches are missing. The History of Science, on the other hand, lacks methodological approaches to explain the poly-medial dimension of Popular Science. Finally, philological and iconographic disciplines, such as Classical Philology or Art History, seldom bring into focus the dissemination of scientific and technological knowledge as a cultural practice.

 

The aim of the conference is to initiate an interdisciplinary, genealogically reflected debate about Popular Science as a recurrent cultural technique. The category Popular Science will be elucidated in an interdisciplinary and diachronic way, focusing on both its socio-anthropological construction and the formal and functional techniques, which characterize the dissemination of scientific knowledge in its production and reception contexts. For this purpose, philological and iconographic research approaches are especially welcomed, but other disciplines such as the Sociology of Science, the History of Science, and Gender Studies are also beneficial for the main goal. The multi-layered examination of the cultural technique "Popular Science" will throw light on a research field that has hardly been investigated so far.

The lectures given during the conference will be published in an edited volume.

  

Location
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Campus South, Karlsruhe.
Fritz-Haller-Hörsaal, Building 20.40, Englerstr. 7, KIT Campus South Karlsruhe.

 

Scientific Head
Dr. Jesús Muñoz Morcillo, jesus morcillo∂kit edu, Tel. +49(0)721 48933
Prof. Dr. Caroline Y. Robertson-von Trotha, Director of the
ZAK | Centre for Cultural and General Studies
at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Rüppurrer Str. 1a, Haus B, 5. OG
76137 Karlsruhe

 

Organizers and Contact Persons
Dr. Jesús Muñoz Morcillo, jesus morcillo∂kit edu, Tel. +49(0)721 48933
Stephanie Rothe, stephanie rothe9∂kit edu, Tel. +49(0)721 48933
Klemens Czurda, klemens czurda∂kit edu, Tel. +49(0)721 48933
ZAK | Centre for Cultural and General Studies
at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Rüppurrer Str. 1a, Haus B, 5. OG
76137 Karlsruhe

 

Scientific Partners

Institut für Kunst- und Baugeschichte at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT),
Fachgebiet Kunstgeschichte, Prof. Dr. Oliver Jehle, Dr. Alexandra Axtmann
Institut für Germanistik at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT),
Abteilung Mediävistik und Frühneuzeitforschung, Prof. Dr. Mathias Herweg

 

Selection Committee

  • Dr. Jesús Muñoz Morcillo
  • Prof. Dr. Caroline Y. Robertson-von Trotha
  • Dr. Eva Noller
  • Prof. Dr. José Antonio Fernández Delgado
  • Dr. Laura Miguélez Cavero
  • Prof. Dr. Oliver Jehle
  • Dr. Oliver Hochadel
  • Prof. Dr. Mathias Herweg
  • Prof. Dr. Courtney Ann Roby
  • Andrea Geipel
  • Dr. Joachim Allgaier
  • Dr. Christine Mielke
  • Dr. Ralf Schneider

 

Patronage

The conference "Genealogy of Popular Science" is funded by the Schleicher-Stiftung in cooperation with the KIT-Stiftung. We would like to thank the Schleicher-Stiftung, the Commerzbank and the KIT-Stiftung for the great support that makes this project possible.

Since its foundation 5 years ago, the KIT-Stiftung has been promoting research, teaching, innovation and academic life at KIT. As a non-profit foundation under civil law, the KIT-Stiftung finances its tasks almost exclusively through contributions from friends and supporters. For further information about the KIT-Stiftung please visit its online presence at www.stiftung.kit.edu.

 

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