Technoscience studies

The reason for why this web page is not updated after 2019 is explained below in the section What has happened to Technoscience Studies.

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The research division of Technoscience Studies has taken the initiative to establish the National Research Platform for Feminist Technoscience (NFemTech). You can find our new website here: http://www.technoscience.se

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The mission of the Research Division of Technoscience Studies is to expand and transform the theoretical and practical knowledge bases of technology research, development and innovation.

You can find valuable information in the following areas:
Background & Theoretical Stance
Documents & Papers
Research & Projects
Researchers
Annual Reports Technoscience Studies

One of the key aims of Technoscience Studies is to develop complex knowledges about Information and Communication Technology (ICT), including media technologies as reality-producing technologies as well as the transformations that follow in its wake. The researchers create theoretical bases and practices for developmental processes in ICT-related fields as well as in the context of innovation systems.

The Research Division of Technoscience Studies focuses on four main profile areas:

• Design for Digital Media
• Feminist Technoscience
• ICT for Development
• Innovation System and Development

The research conducted in this division is regionally relevant through its involvement and collaboration in NetPort and its profile in New Media. There is a strong connection between research and undergraduate education, which often leads to the establishment of companies by students in media technology, particularly within the digital gaming industry. Several research projects have contributed to innovative development in the municipality of Karlshamn and have fostered cooperation, resulting in regional development. Former and current international PhD students from countries like Uganda, Tanzania, and Bolivia have directly contributed to solving critical issues in their respective home countries, such as developing digital education resources for rural secondary schools, implementing digital systems to handle serious diseases, and fostering triple helix cooperation for innovative clusters in crucial sectors.

NEWS from 2019

December 19th 2019 Elisabeth Gulbrandsen successfully defended her doctoral thesis The New Production of Politics – between the no longer and the not yet

November 1st 2019 Anders Falk successfully defended his licentiate thesis Sacred Games – Becoming Gods / priming digital game ethics

January 25th 2019 Linda Paxling defended successfully her doctoral thesis Transforming Technocultures: Feminist Technoscience, Critical Design Practices and Caring Imaginaries. 

The research division of Technoscience Studies has taken the initiative to establish the National Research Platform for Feminist Technoscience (NFemTech) involving 10 Swedish Universities, see information about NFemTech here.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO TECHNOSCIENCE STUDIES AT BTH 

Decision on the closure
On October 22nd, 2015, a decision (D119/15 Dean’s decision) was made to close the PhD program in TechnoScience Studies at BTH.

Reasons for closure
”The goal is to develop a complete research and educational environment in the field of media technology, where current research in TechnoScience Studies can be integrated. Due to this, the PhD program of TechnoScience Studies is discontinued.”

It is worth noting that as of 2023, no research unit in Media Technology exists at BTH.

Recruitment of 2 full professors
In November 2015, there was a recruitment announcement (2015 11 24) for two full professor positions:

1. Professor in Media Technology with a focus on design in digital media at BTH. The role involves shaping and reality-producing processes where digital, physical, and social materials are combined to create desirable outcomes.
2. Professor in Media Technology with a focus on digital infrastructure. The role entails utilizing techniques, frameworks, and methods that enable or restrict design work in various forms of media technology.

The entire recruitment process received full support from the responsible dean and the vice-chancellor of BTH. Everything was in place to fill these two professor positions with evaluated applicants who possessed scientific competence, including expertise in feminist technoscience, and for the vice-chancellor to sign the appointments.

However, in December 2016, the vice-chancellor of BTH abruptly halted the appointment of these two professorships, leading to the resignation of the head of the department.

The department was subsequently ’led’ by an acting head of the department, who also served as the newly appointed campus rector. Uncertainty loomed regarding the future of academic education.

Campus issue and the vice-chancellor of BTH quits early
Furthermore, there was a campus issue that led to the vice-chancellor proposing the closure of the Karlshamn campus in early May 2017. The campus rector, appointed for six months to strengthen the development of the BTH campus in Karlshamn, fully supported this decision. However, by the end of May 2017, the vice-chancellor of BTH was compelled to backtrack, and the BTH campus in Karlshamn was ultimately preserved.

The acting head of the department, as well as the campus rector, decided to take a leave of absence to go to the United States, and a new acting head of the department was appointed. On June 16, 2017, the vice-chancellor announced his decision to resign and requested the university board to initiate the recruitment process for a new vice-chancellor.