The conference Energy & Society will be held at Instituto de Ciências Sociais (Lisbon University), in Lisbon, Portugal, March 22 - 24,  2012.

Contemporary challenges of climate change, increased global energy demand, but also the rise of the cost of primary energy and the depletion of fossil fuel resources have placed the energy issues at the centre of political debate. The consequent impact in the society makes it timely and urgent to address the social aspects of energy policy. 

Yet, to date, social sciences have been slow to respond in addressing the range of important questions and issues regarding changes in the energy sector. This conference aims to bring together state-of-the-art research and thinking and to provide insights that may contribute to a better understanding of social science aspects in the energy field. 

The event will feature a keynote by distinguished Dr. Harold Wilhite, and will feature distinguished guests, such as Dr. John Randell (US) or Dr. Françoise Bartiaux (BE). In addition to thematic panels of regular paper presentations, the program will include a session for debating the development of the role of social sciences in the energy policy debate. The conference will provide an opportunity  for networking, and to establish international research and collaboration.

Bringing together scholars from Europe, and elsewhere, interested and/or currently working in social aspects of energy issues, this conference will formalize the international network "Energy and Society" originally founded in 2010, and will host its first a general assembly.

With the support of the European Sociological Association's Research Network on Environment and Society (RN12), the International Sociological Association Research Committee on Environment and Society, and ADENE, Agência para a Energia.

Abstract submission was open until November 20, 2011. Notifications of acceptance took place in December 2011. Authors from 24 countries submitted 116 abstracts to the conference.

Interested participants are invited to attend by sending an e-mail to ana.horta@ics.ul.pt. Participants attending the conference may register until March 19.

All participants will be required to pay a registration fee. The fee includes conference materials, participation certificate, lunch at the second day and coffee breaks. There will be an optional conference dinner on the second day.

Conference fees:
Registration until January 31: 30 euros
Registration after January 31: 50 euros
ESA members (registered until January 31): 25 euros
ESA members (registered after January 31): 40 euros
Optional conference dinner on the second day (registration until March 22): 20 euros

Venue:
The conference will take place on the Instituto de Ciências Sociais, in the campus of the University of Lisbon, located close to the city centre. Click here to see how to get to ICS: VENUE

Program Committee:

Luisa Schmidt, Universidade de Lisboa - Instituto de Ciências Sociais (Portugal)
Ana Horta, Universidade de Lisboa - Instituto de Ciências Sociais (Portugal)
Pia Laborgne, IWAR/TU Darmstadt and European Institute for Energy Research (Germany)
Françoise Bartiaux, Université Catholique de Louvain (Belgium)
Cigdem Adem, Middle East Technical University (Turkey)
Catherine Butler, Cardiff University - School of Psychology (UK)
Giorgio Osti, Università degli Studi di Trieste - Dipartimento di Scienze Politiche e Sociali (Italy)
André Schaffrin, University of Cologne (Germany)

Local organising committee:

Luisa Schmidt, Universidade de Lisboa - Instituto de Ciências Sociais (Portugal)
Ana Horta, Universidade de Lisboa - Instituto de Ciências Sociais (Portugal)
Joana Abreu, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa - Instituto Superior Técnico (Portugal)
Augusta Correia, Universidade de Lisboa - Instituto de Ciências Sociais (Portugal) 

Contact for information and registration:
Ana Horta
Instituto de Ciências Sociais
Universidade de Lisboa
R. Prof. Anibal de Bettencourt, 9
1600-189 Lisboa - Portugal
Tel.: 00 351 217804700

E-mail: ana.horta@ics.ul.pt


Conference  Program

Keynote Speakers

Organizing Commitee