News
12-14 June 2008
Université Stendhal Grenoble III
UFR d’Etudes Anglophones CEMRA 3016
International conference
Women of science: figures and representations in Anglo-Saxon culture from 19th century to present.
Scientific knowledge has always been, both empirically and politically, a masculine stronghold. Since the mid-19th century, however, despite institutional and cultural resistance, women have progressively gained access to scientific studies and careers. The first theme of study will focus on emblematic female scientists of the 19th and 20th centuries. Papers may concentrate on historical, social and political analyses of how, why and when women "infiltrated" the scientific world and (re-) appropriated scientific discourse at different moments in History. Another possible approach is to analyse the reactions of the scientific community/ the press… to such women. The second theme of study will be devoted to fictional representations: how does the popular culture construct and vehicle images of women of science? From the famous scientist's wife/daughter to the androgynous cyborg of feminist science-fiction, to what extent have these representations evolved over time? What impact did the feminist movement of the 1970s have on how women are seen and how they see themselves in relation to the sciences? Papers which include studies of television, cinema and various genres of pulp-fiction will be welcome.

Keynote speaker: Joan Slonczewski, professor of microbiology at Kenyon
College (Ohio) and author of 6 science fiction novels

Deadline for submissions: January 10 2008
Please send a 300- to 350- word abstract (in French or in English) to the co-chairs
Donna.Andreolle@u-grenoble3.fr
Véronique.Molinari@u-grenoble3.fr
And to the research secretary
Agnes.Vere@u-grenoble3.fr with the heading «WS abstract, copy»