Co-Chairs, Robin Williams and Andrew Webster send their best wishes for Christmas and the New Year. We hope that everyone has a restful and peaceful break.

This past few days has seen the publication of an online text which is worth reading in its informed, critical yet constructive analysis by a wide range of experts of the UK’s move towards an ‘industrial strategy’. You can find the book, a joint publication by MMU and the BA here  there is an excellent introduction by editor Craig Berry.

ISSTI in Edinburgh has published its latest Newsletter. This one is especially valuable inasmuch as it includes a series of presentations from the Institute’s retreat and interviews with academics who played a major role in helping to establish the STIS field. You can find the Newsletter here

POST has just published its October Newsletter. See further details here

The annual 4S conference begins tomorrow in Sydney, organised around the theme of ‘TRANSnational STS. Among the many highlights will be the presentation of the Bernal Prize to Trevor Pinch, for his long-standing contribution to the field. More details can be found here

The annual EASST Conference takes place next week coordinated by the Centre for Science Studies and the Department of Sociology at the University of Lancaster. There will be an AsSIST-UK Plenary session on Saturday July 28th. See more details here

With many AsSIST-UK members in attendance this will provide an excellent opportunity for networking.

James Wilsdon makes a strong case for a new type of centre – among the many What Works Centres – that would bring together diverse forms of evaluative expertise and associated data to develop more robust and interdisciplinary assessment of R&D and HEI policies. See more here