Rumos Conference 2027- Call for papers until 31 July

In preparation for the seventh edition of the Rumos conference, to be held on January 14 and 15, 2027, a call for papers is open until July 31, 2026.
The conference is organized by the Knowledge, Science, and Technology Thematic Section of the Portuguese Sociological Association, in collaboration with the Political Economy of Science and Technology Thematic Section of the Portuguese Association of Political Economy, and will focus on the theme The role of science and technology studies in the imagination and (re)configuration of democratic futures.

In recent years, the rise of authoritarian, nationalist, and anti-democratic forces in various regions has coincided with profound and rapid transformations in science and technology. The growing influence and relevance of digital infrastructures, algorithmic governance, surveillance capitalism, and the ubiquity of biotechnologies and artificial intelligence across various social domains have reshaped not only daily life but also the conditions under which democracy is experienced, challenged, and contested. These changes challenge social scientists—and, more specifically, researchers in the social studies of science and technology—to critically examine the relationships and ambivalences between techno-scientific and socio-technological developments and the rise of authoritarian and populist political projects grounded in logics of exclusion. This conference therefore aims to: 1) rethink the contributions of the social studies of science and technology and their critical potential for questioning trends associated with domination, violence, and authoritarianism; 2) discuss forms of resistance and opposition to these dynamics; 3) to articulate visions for emancipatory projects aimed at restoring justice and democracy; and 4) to promote research in the social studies of science and technology on knowledge, science, and technology across all thematic domains. The conference welcomes contributions that explore these objectives in areas such as climate and biodiversity, housing, labor, health, education, migration, social security, the welfare state, art, politics, public debate, security, and war. We therefore invite scholars and professionals interested in these topics from diverse fields, including the social studies of science and technology, sociology, anthropology, political science, human geography, history, philosophy, communication and media studies, and political economy. Submissions of both theoretical and empirical papers are welcome. The aim is to promote dialogue across different thematic and disciplinary areas, contributing not only to academic debates but also to broader social and political discussions on the role of the social studies of science and technology in the imagination and (re)configuration of democratic futures.

Among other themes centered on knowledge, science, and technology, the topics under discussion include:

● How are democratic values and civil rights at risk due to digital infrastructure, algorithmic governance, surveillance capitalism, and the ubiquity of biotechnologies and artificial intelligence in various social domains
(including labor, health, the environment, migration, crime control, politics and public debate, the environment, the Anthropocene, the arts, among others)?
● How is democracy itself being challenged by these developments?
● How can democracy be reconfigured and driven forward by current sociotechnological transformations? ● In what ways are science and technology challenged, on the one hand, and mobilized, on the other, by authoritarian and antidemocratic forces? What challenges, controversies, and
policies emerge around these developments?
● Under what conditions are science and technology mobilized to advance democratic values and civil rights?
● How do experts, professionals, citizens, and marginalized people resist, reconfigure, or reclaim science and technology for the sake of democracy and justice?
● What theoretical, methodological, and conceptual tools do the social studies of science and technology offer—in dialogue with other critical academic fields, such as
feminist, postcolonial, social movement, and political economy studies—
to analyze and understand these contemporary dynamics?
● How can scholars in the social studies of science and technology address the
Conference Format
With the aim of strengthening and enriching the quality of reflection and debate surrounding the papers, we ask authors to share preliminary versions of their work in advance and invite participants to engage with one another’s texts. Submitted versions will be shared among participants, and each contribution will have a discussant
responsible for providing constructive feedback, raising critical questions, and facilitating discussion during the session. This format is designed to support papers in the development phase of
their publication process, while simultaneously contributing to the consolidation of the community of social studies of science and technology.

Schedule
July 31, 2026 | Deadline for abstract submission
September 1, 2026 | Acceptance notifications
November 30, 2026 | Registration deadline
November 30, 2026 | Deadline for submission of full-length papers
January 14–15, 2027 | Conference (Braga)

Guidelines for Abstract Submission

● Abstracts must not exceed 300 words.
● Abstracts must clearly outline the research question(s), the methodological approach, and the main expected conclusions or contributions.
● Submissions must include:
○ Title of the proposed paper (maximum of 15 words).
○ Name(s) of the author(s), institutional affiliation(s), and contact email(s).
○ 4–6 keywords.
● Abstracts may be submitted in Portuguese or English.

Full information here
Proposals must be submitted here

[Posted:29-05- 2026/Updated: 30-06-2026]