The aim of the symposium is to examine technology in a multidisciplinary framework. The key questions are how technological development has interacted with design, architecture, the arts as well as popular culture and whether we can regard industrial culture as a melting pot of various influences. Reflecting on the theme of the previous conference we hope also to explore the role of consumers in this dialogue.

The symposium programme will include scientific and plenary sessions, poster presentations, excursions, social events such as receptions and a banquet, and possibly pre- and post-conference trips. The premises of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya will serve as venues for this meeting.

ICOHTEC welcomes individual paper and poster proposals as well as the submissions of sessions to this symposium. The programme committee suggests the following subthemes for the consideration of contributors:

TECHNOLOGY – AUTONOMOUS, COMMUNICATING OR INTEGRATED POWER IN HISTORY
DOES TECHNOLOGY DRIVE THE ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE?
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE IN TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT
SOUL OF TECHNOLOGY: PERSONIFICATION OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS
TECHNOLOGY AND CONCEPTIONS OF BEAUTY
COMPONENTS OF INDUSTRIAL CULTURE
TECHNOLOGY IN MAKING ENVIRONMENTAL ATMOSPHERES
TASTE OF THE INDUSTRY
CONSUMERS’ IMPACT ON THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN TECHNOLOGY, ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE
TECHNOLOGICAL LITERACY

The committee will also consider submissions not directly related to the symposium theme as long as they can be regarded to be related to the history of technology broadly defined.

PROPOSAL GUIDELINES

The symposium covers all periods and all areas of the globe. In keeping with a cherished tradition of the field, the meeting is open to scholars from all disciplines and backgrounds. We especially en-courage graduate students to participate in the symposium and submit their proposals (limited travel grants will be available).

Because we aim at quick and equal processing of submissions, paper or poster proposals must be submitted in English. Nevertheless, besides English also French, German, Russian and Spanish are acceptable for paper and poster presentations at the symposium, but the organizers will not provide simultaneous translation during the conference.

We urge contributors to consider organizing a full session of three or more papers. Individual paper submissions will also be considered. In addition, it is possible to propose papers and sessions unrelated to the general theme as well. They can be presented in "Special topics" sessions.

For further information, see the full call for paper: http://www.icohtec.org/annual-meeting-cfp.html or contact Jan Kunnas, the chair of the programme committee: jan.kunnas@eui.eu

The final deadline for all submissions is Tuesday 31 January 2012.