PCA/ACA Science & Popular Culture Call for Papers Papers, panels, and round tables are now invited for the Science & Popular Culture area of the PCA/ACA Conference in Seattle, Washington to be held March 21-25, 2016. With the integral place of science in Western, and indeed global society as well as the current proliferation of science and technology on television and in films, it is more important than ever to examine what popular culture texts are telling us about science. Such analyses serve to illuminate where science features in these texts, as well as how science is viewed, digested, and understood by the public. Studying science in popular culture is essential to understanding how scientific ideas are utilised, explored, critiqued and sometimes exploited outside of their formal contexts. The common fascination with science has also created a popular culture niche of its own, giving rise to new engagements with scientific knowledge, practices, and technologies. Submissions should be 100-250 words in length and can address any aspect of the complex interrelation of science and popular culture, including (but not limited to):
Representations of science/scientists in television, film, art, print (newspapers, magazines, novels, comics, etc.), and other media Use of science in popular culture The cultural influence of science Influences of popular culture on science and scientists Internet culture and science Science-related cultural artefacts Scientists as celebrities, and celebrity advocates of science Popular science Science communication and education Non-Western cultures and science Translations of science into the public domain Science of the everyday Molecular gastronomy and other food science Science as art/the artistic dimensions of science Science and science fiction Public understandings of science The public and popular dimensions of scientific debates Science and music History and philosophy of science Reconciling primary science with public perceptions Moments of conflict between scientific discoveries/knowledge/work and cultural beliefs
The deadline for submissions is 1 October 2015 Submissions can be made via the PCA/ACA site, and any inquiries sent to:
[email protected]
