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Department of Geography

Past Seminars

Housing Research and Science and Technology Studies

11th October 2005, 10:00 to 16:00, Durham University

Seminar outline The seminar will explore the application of science and technology studies (STS) theories within housing research. There is a growing body of work using STS concepts to investigate housing, encompassing a diversity of issues such as crime, health, ‘smart’ housing, the environment, and housing markets. Housing is judged to be a particularly relevant area to apply socio-technical ideas about the inseparability of social and technical spheres. Housing is durable, ubiquitous and capital-intensive, and decision making is heavily influenced by these material characteristics. In turn, the housing infrastructure reflects our culture, institutions and policies, thus providing a tangible material record of the past. Housing remains, however, surprisingly neglected in the STS literature, perhaps because it is such an essential part of everyday life that its influence is often overlooked. This interdisciplinary seminar will bring together for the first time those working on housing issues using STS theory, and will propose new directions for this important interdisciplinary area of research. Objectives • To explore housing research drawing on STS concepts; • To share ideas across the range of disciplines involved in housing research; • To consider how existing housing/STS research could be expanded in new directions. Discussion topics Topics of discussion on the theme of STS and housing include: • Housing design • Crime • Health • Housing markets and finance • Domestic technologies and ‘smart’ housing • Consumption and the environment • Innovation and the house building industry Seminar Programme The seminar will run from 10am-4pm on Tuesday 11th October 2005. In the morning there will be three short presentations by leading housing researchers, followed in the afternoon by small group discussions on a variety of themes. It will be held in the Department of Geography at Durham University. To register for the seminar please email Heather Lovell as soon as possible, as places are limited (Heather.Lovell@durham.ac.uk). The seminar is free to attend.

Contact Heather.Lovell@durham.ac.uk for more information about this event.

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