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***Forwarded by Esther-Mirjam Sent on behalf of Steve Fuller*** 
 
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                       SCIENCE AND ITS CRITICS 
         A meeting to promote dialogue between the "two cultures" 
                         University of Kansas 
                 Kansas Union Building, Big 12 Room 
                       February 28-March 2, 1997 
 
     February 28:  Friday evening registration and keynote address 
    March 1: Meeting     March 2 (until 12:30 PM): Meeting 
 
The "science wars" between scientists, their defenders and their critics 
have recently generated much heat but little light. This meeting is 
intended to explore some of the issues surrounding science and its 
critics in a non-confrontational, interdisciplinary atmosphere. We would 
like to construct a program of short talks and longer panel discussions. 
We are seeking balanced representation from a wide variety of 
disciplines and speakers who are willing to use language that is widely 
accessible. 
 
Possible topics for exploration: 
The scientific method:  How is it really practiced? Does it yield "the 
     truth"? 
Science and religion: Are they ever incompatible? 
Science and postmodernism: If it is postmodern, can it be science? 
Science and politics: Is science mainly a tool for white males to retain 
power? 
Science and education: Are we a nation of scientific illiterates? 
     Does it matter? 
Your topic: Are there other related topics we should explore? 
 
Our keynote speaker will be Alan D. Sokal, Professor of Physics at New 
York University, who sparked a major battle in the "science wars"; last 
summer with his publication of "Toward a Transformative Hermeneutics of 
Quantum Gravity"; in the cultural studies journal "Social Text". He will 
discuss "what the Social Text affair does and does not prove". 
 
Steve Fuller, Professor of Sociology and Social Policy at the University 
of Durham (UK), is our other featured speaker. In Dec. 1994, he 
organized the first conference that brought together scientists and the 
social scientists who study them. His talk will address the question: 
"If 'scientific progress' is a myth, then are any other grand narratives 
of science possible?" 
 
If these issues interest you, please come and take part in the dialogue. 
For registration information visit our Web site: 
    http://kuhep4.phsx.ukans.edu/~baringer/scicrit.html 
or contact: 
    John Pattinson, 
    The University of Kansas, 
    Division of Continuing Education, Academic and Professional Programs, 
    Continuing Education Building, 
    Lawrence, Kansas  66045-2607 
    (913) 864-3284. 
 
Registrations will be accepted up to the day of the conference. 
Abstracts are no longer being accepted, however. A preliminary program 
will be announced soon. To help cover our costs it is necessary to 
charge a registration fee of $25 ($10 for students). 
 
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