Call for Papers (Extended Deadline): Spontaneous Generations

*Extended Deadline - Call for Papers - Spontaneous Generations: A Journal for the History and Philosophy of Science - Volume 3: Epistemic Boundaries*

The deadline for submissions for Volume 3 has been extended to *July 10, 2009*. We are accepting submissions of short papers (1000-3000 words) for our focused discussion section on epistemic boundaries as well as longer papers (5000 - 8000 words) on any subject in the history and philosophy of science. If you are interested in reviewing a recent book, published in the last 5 years, please contact our book reviews editor, Isaac Record ( isaac.record@utoronto.ca).

Spontaneous Generations is an open, online, peer-reviewed academic journal published by graduate students at the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology at the University of Toronto.

In addition to articles for peer review, opinion essays, and book reviews, Spontaneous Generations is seeking contributions to its focused discussion section.  This section consists of short peer-reviewed and invited articles devoted to a particular theme. This year, the theme is *Epistemic
Boundaries.* See below for submission guidelines.

We welcome submissions from scholars in all disciplines, including but not limited to HPS, STS, History, Philosophy, Women's Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, and Religious Studies. Papers from all periods are welcome.

The journal consists of four sections:
1. A focused discussion section (see below for a summary). Recommended length for submissions: 1000-3000 words.
2. A peer-reviewed section of research papers on various topics in the field of HPS. Recommended length for submissions: 5000-8000 words.
3. A book review section for books published in the last 5 years.
Recommended length for submissions: up to 1000 words.
4. An opinions section that may include a commentary on or a response to current concerns, trends, and issues in HPS. Recommended length for
submissions: up to 500 words.

* Epistemic Boundaries*
It is now common in the HPS-STS community to speak of the disunity of science, of the distinct practices and standards of evidence that have emerged in different scientific communities throughout history. Focusing on this disunity, science studies scholars have highlighted numerous types of boundaries demarcating epistemic communities. These boundaries can be disciplinary, material, geographic, social, cultural, chronological and/or institutional. This multiplicity raises a number of interesting questions for our understanding of scientific
knowledge:

- How are epistemic boundaries determined and to what extent do they identify crucial discontinuities? Do different epistemic boundaries always identify different communities?
- Do some boundaries bring together communities that aren't traditionally seen as united? For example, can some boundaries highlight broad, trans-disciplinary shifts in epistemology?
- What role do physical objects play in determining epistemic boundaries?
What kind of ontologies do epistemic boundaries reveal?
- What role do sites and spaces play in shaping epistemic boundaries?
- Are the boundaries between expert communities different in kind from the boundaries between experts and their audiences?
- How is knowledge transferred across different kinds of epistemic boundaries? What happens to knowledge during transfer -- does it change, is knowledge lost or gained? And what exactly is being transferred -- practices, artifacts, theories, models?

We welcome short papers exploring these issues for inclusion in Spontaneous Generations Volume 3. Submissions should be sent no later than 30 May 2009 in order to be included in the November 2009 issue.

For more details, please visit the journal homepage at http://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/SpontaneousGenerations/

Please distribute freely. Apologies for cross-postings.

(h/t H-SCI-MED-TECH)