The 2024 Joint ICOHTEC-SHOT Annual Meeting will be held from July 9 to 14 at the Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez in Viña del Mar, Chile. This conference, organized by the International Committee for the History of Technology (ICOHTEC) and the Society for the History of Technology (SHOT), brings together scholars from various disciplines to discuss the history and impact of technology.
The meeting’s theme, “Reparando / Repair in the History of Technology,” highlights the multifaceted nature of repair, from technological fixes to social and emotional restoration, especially relevant to Chile’s history with seismic activity. The program includes a diverse range of sessions that address topics such as the ethics and politics of repair, environmental justice, indigenous knowledge, and the role of technology in societal resilience.
Several innovative session formats will be featured, including traditional paper presentations, round-table discussions, workshops, and poster sessions. The program committee has encouraged proposals that reflect diversity in terms of career level, gender, race, and geography, with sessions conducted in both English and Spanish. Notably, simultaneous translation will be available for plenary sessions and select session threads.
The preliminary program promises an engaging and broad array of topics, showcasing the work of early career scholars through the SHOT Joan Cahalin Robinson Prize and other awards. A pre-conference textile repair workshop will also be held at the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino in Santiago.
For more details on the program and registration, you can visit the official event page.
Overview
The 51st Annual Meeting of the International Committee for the History of Technology (ICOHTEC) will be held in conjunction with the Society for the History of Technology (SHOT) from July 9 to 14, 2024, in Viña del Mar, Chile. This marks the first joint meeting between ICOHTEC and SHOT in three decades, aiming to explore the theme “Reparando / Repair in the History of Technology.”
Theme and Significance
The conference theme focuses on repair and maintenance as central aspects of technological environments. It seeks to highlight the often overlooked labor and knowledge involved in repair, emphasizing its significance in sustaining technological systems and addressing societal issues. This thematic focus intends to shift perspectives within the history of technology, underscoring the importance of repair in various contexts.
Program and Participation
The program will feature a mix of traditional paper sessions, round-table discussions, workshops, poster sessions, and innovative session formats. The conference is bilingual, with sessions in both English and Spanish, and simultaneous translation provided for plenary sessions and select threads. Topics include the ethics of repair, environmental justice, indigenous knowledge, and the technological dimensions of crises.
Keynote Speakers and Special Events
The meeting will feature keynotes by prominent scholars, including Stuart W. Leslie, Sławomir Łotysz, Antoni Roca-Rosell. On the other hand, a Winter PhD School was made including a textile repair workshop, and an Open Lecture by Dr. Guillermo Guajardo Soto at the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino in Santiago, 8-9 July.
Organizing Committee
The organizing committee comprises international scholars with Diana Montaño (SHOT) as Chair and Magdalena Zdrodowska (ICOHTEC) as Associate Chair. Other committee members include Itty Abraham, José Ragas, Letícia Galluzzi, and Veronica Ramirez.
Logistics and Accessibility
Travel arrangements from Santiago to Viña del Mar are facilitated with dedicated teams at the airport to guide attendees. The conference also supported hybrid participation, allowing broader accessibility.
Conclusion
The 2024 ICOHTEC-SHOT Annual Meeting promises to be a significant event for scholars in the history of technology, fostering discussions on the critical theme of repair and its multifaceted implications.
Other report:
Roca-Rosell, A. Chile, “ICOHTEC, SHOT, TICCIH, julio 2024: La eclosión latinoamericana?” Quaderns d’història de l’enginyeria, 2024, vol. XXII, p. 205-217.
Download (Spanish)
For more information, visit the official event page.
History of Solar energy technologies. 
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