If there is one planet with worlds apart, there is also the problem of the social sciences not being on the same map. So, in order to address the state of the world it is also necessary to address the state of the art. In order to make social science relevant, pertinent and potent, social scientists have to scrutinize their own concepts about how society works, and engage in vigorous self examination of how their approaches fare in order to define common tasks and set a shared agenda.
OPENING KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Amartya Sen, Lamont University Professor at Harvard University: "Challenges for the Social Sciences in the New Century"
Plenary Speeches “One Social Science – or Many?”
Professor Jon Elster, Columbia University and Collège de France “Can Science Save Us? The Challenges for the Social Sciences from Climate Change”
Rajendra Pachauri, The Chair of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change “Knowing Better – and Doing Worse? What Social Science can Provide for Policy Makers”
Jonas Gahr Støre, Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs
During this world conference, there will be three types of sessions: Plenary, Parallel (invited speakers) and Poster Sessions:
Plenary and Parallel Sessions: For the Plenary and Parallel Sessions there will be invited speakers. Plenary speakers are already listed on the WSSF website, whereas speakers at the Parallel Sessions will be identified on the website as soon as a session program has been completed.
The Poster Sessions
- Participants are invited to submit papers for presentation at the Poster Sessions.
- Those who submit papers, must provide a concise and readable abstract of not more than 250 words by February 1, 2009.
- The research reported should be original and not published before (it may be submitted, but not yet printed in a professional journal. If it has been accepted for publication, the journal should be identified.)
- The body of the abstract should include the purpose of the research, and a brief overview of methods, results and conclusions.
For information and registration details: http://www.rokkan.uib.no/wssf