The symposium theme, "Transforming Economies and Civilizations: The Role of Technology," emphasizes technology over “la longue durée.” A variety of topics lend themselves particularly well to treatment with the “longue durée” in mind, and the committee suggests a number of topics to contributors (see below).

Proposals for PAPERS should include: (1) a 250-word (maximum) abstract in English; (2) a short CV (1-page maximum). In addition to describing the topic being discussed, abstracts should include the approaches, research questions, arguments or hypotheses employed by the author. In order to permit discussion, presenters will have 20 minutes to deliver papers.

Proposals for SESSIONS should include the following: (1) an abstract of the session (250 words maximum); (2) a list of the proposed session papers; (3) abstracts for each paper (250 words maximum); (4) short CV (1 page maximum) for each author. ICOHTEC sessions customarily include a chairperson, but no separate commentator. Sessions should include a minimum of four speakers, and may include several parts extending for several days.

Please send all proposals for SESSIONS and PAPERS by email to James Williams, Program Committee Chair. Please use fax only if email is not available. Or send via regular mail, postmarked by 1 February 2006.

Other members of the committee include Ernst Homburg, The Netherlands; Sue Horning, U.S.A.; Alex Keller, U.K.; Wolfgang Koenig, Germany; and Timo Myllyntaus, Finland. - Energy systems (wind, watermills, steam power, nuclear, etc.) water systems, sanitary systems, and other utilities

- Changes in communication and media technologies, with the associated social, economic and cultural aspects

- Transportation, such as the development of sea transport and railroads in creating trans-local and “global” economies, and their role in cultural exchange and cross-fertilization

- Long-term developments in the use of materials, such as pigments, ceramics, and dyes; iron and steel.

- Comparisons of Chinese, pre-Columbian American, African, and European technologies, and changes therein under the influence of cultural and economic contact

- Issues inspired by scholarly approaches in ethnology, ethnography and anthropology, which have resulted in topics dealt with in “modern cultural history” (e.g., the body, youth, old age, birth, death, the senses, health, illness)

- Medicine, public health, and the evolution of medical technologies

- Developments in military technologies

- The survival of “old” technologies and the revival of “obsolete” technologies

- Implicit knowledge, embodiment, and similar themes

- Technical “revolutions,” such as the Agricultural Revolution, the Technical Revolution of the Middle Ages, the Industrial Revolution, and the Information Revolution

Proposals for two sessions are already in preparation: one on sound, noise, and music and a second on gunpowder.

As with all ICOHTEC symposia, it is possible to propose sessions and individual papers on topics other than those suggested by the program committee.

Please check the ICOHTEC Website www.icohtec.org for continuing information, dates, and deadlines.

Graduate students who are SHOT members are eligible for travel support. See guidelines at .