The Association’s Annual Conference will be held in Manchester this year, over two days, September 9-10th. The theme for the meeting is ‘Science, Technology and Innovation Studies: Critical Inquiries in Theory and Practice’. The two day meeting is being hosted at the new Alliance Business School building at the University of Manchester.

The full Call for Papers is available here

Details about registration, fees and accommodation will be published on the AsSIST-UK website very shortly. We plan to keep conference costs for delegates as low as possible and hope we see many members at the meeting.

Abbi Hobbs, Head of the Social Science Division at the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology has published a very helpful article in the latest BSA Network Magazine that describes the work of POST and of her group. AsSIST-UK members should find it a valuable summary of different ways of engaging with Westminster. In regard to the REF Impact agenda, Abbi comments:

‘ The draft panel criteria and working methods for REF 2021 now out for consultation include various types of impact on Parliament, such as research which helps to highlight issues of concern to parliamentarians, contributes to new analysis of existing issues, helps parliamentarians and staff to identify inquiry topics, and shapes the focus of inquiries. These are all types of impact that sociological research can and should be having, so do think about Parliament when you are considering how to use your research findings to effect change in society. ‘

For further information see here

The Chair of the Science and Technology Select Committee, Norman Lamb MP, has written to Government Ministers and Huawei seeking assurances regarding the security of the UK’s communications infrastructure.

The letters have been written in response to concerns about foreign telecommunications providers, including Huawei, providing products and services to UK telecommunications network operators.

Concerns have also been raised regarding the implications of Chinese legislation, such as the National Intelligence Law passed in 2017, and the requirement it might place on Chinese companies to assist in intelligence work.

▪ Letter from the Chair of the Committee to Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

▪ Letter from the Chair of the Committee to Rt Hon Gavin Williamson MP, Ministry of Defence

▪ Letter from the Chair of the Committee to Rt Hon Jeremy Wright MP, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

▪ Letter from the Chair of the Committee to Ryan Ding, Executive Director, Huawei

AsSIST-UK member and Director of SPRU at Sussex, Professor Johan Schot, has taken up a new position at the University of Utrecht at its Centre for Global Challenges. Johan has made a major contribution to the continued success of SPRU as well as being a key member of AsSIST-UK, representing the Association at various events in Westminster and helping steer its formation in earlier days. We wish him every success and thank him for the contribution he has made to STIS during his time at SPRU. For more information see this link

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