ESA RN12 Environment and Society Summer School

As an activity of Research Network 12 “Environment and Society” this summer school will offer conceptual training on how to develop energy research proposals that foreground or integrate SSH's perspectives. Together with the participants we will discuss the potential of sociology and cognate social science disciplines to make energy research socially impactful, reflexive, and relevant to social needs.

The summer school aims at improving participants' understanding of ideas of interdisciplinarity and trans-disciplinarity and of how to develop successful research proposals.

Participants will learn about sociological and wider social science work on interdisciplinarity, as well as ideas and challenges related to transdisciplinary research. Practice oriented exercises will help participants to transform their ideas into research designs. They will discuss in groups their own research ideas and how to make them applicable and relatable.

The summer school will be beneficial for all who want to collaborate within interdisciplinary teams, as well as for those who aim to popularize science or work with non-academic partners.

Themes

We welcome postgraduate students/PhD researchers who want to engage in discussion on:

• Inter- and trans-disciplinarity of projects;
• Effective communication of research ideas;
• Equity, fairness and impact of research projects;
• The potential contribution of sociology in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary projects.

We will offer insights and support from experienced academics, peer feedback, and networking opportunities.

Format of event

On-site in Trento Italy.

Number of places

We will select 20 PhD students for the summer school.

Fee

The cost of participation of 150 € and includes lectures, group classes, 3 coffee breaks, 2 lunches, welcome dinner. The fee does not include accommodation, insurance nor travel costs.

Eligibility

Students/young researchers registered for a PhD in Sociology or allied discipline in a European University (e.g. human geography, political sciences…).

Selection

Participants will be selected following a peer-review process and on the basis of scientific excellence of their proposed abstract. A fair balance between different regions of Europe and areas of sociology (or neighboring disciplines) will also be considered.

Guidelines for applications

Please send a short Curriculum Vitae (max. 2 pages) and an abstract of the research idea you want to discuss (300 words max) by March 15^th 2023.  Application deadline extended to March 31^st , 2023 12.00 AM (CET)

Registration

If you have been selected as participant, you will receive the link to the registration form directly by email.

Please note that to register for the ESA Conference (6-8 September 2023), you need to fill in a different registration form.

Program

The Summer School Program is available at the bottom of this page.

Organising committee  

• Aleksandra Wagner, Jagiellonian University (Poland)
• Pia Laborgne, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany)
• Catherine Butler, University of Exeter (UK)
• Audronė Telešienė, Kaunas University of Technology (Lithuania)
• Tadeusz Rudek, Jagiellonian University (Poland)
• Alice Dal Gobbo, University of Trento (Italy), Local organizer
• Natalia Magnani, University of Trento (Italy), Local organizer  

Organization

The Summer School is jointly organized by the European Sociological Association Research Network 12 ‘Environment and Society’ (as a mid-term conference) and by the Energy and Society Network (as its 6th biennial international conference).

Partner

The Summer School is supported by the research group CoACT (Collective Action, Change and Transition) of the University of Trento and by Eurac Research.