WINIR Young Scholars Pre-Conference on Technology & Institutional Change

Technological development has become a driving force in shaping and transforming societies, revolutionizing their structures, processes, and governance mechanisms. The complex dynamics between technology and institutional change, and the socioeconomic, legal, political, and ethical challenges and opportunities associated with the transformative power of technology, today constitute vital areas of interdisciplinary research, involving economics, geography, law, sociology, philosophy, politics, among other disciplines.

A workshop for young scholars exploring these topics will be held on 19 September 2023. It will precede the WINIR Conference on Institutional Innovation & Evolution, which will be held on 20-23 September 2023. Both events will take place at the spectacular late Baroque Monastero dei Benedettini, which currently houses the University of Catania’s Department of Humanities.

Young scholars currently enrolled on a PhD or doctoral research program in any relevant discipline are encouraged to apply. Successful applicants will be invited to present their research to a supportive audience of peers and senior scholars and receive constructive conceptual and methodological feedback. They will also be granted free admission (including hospitality) to the main WINIR Conference.

A limited number of partial travel stipends and shared accommodation for the duration of the pre-conference and main conference will be awarded to selected participants.

Application process
Applicants are requested to complete the online submission form, stating whether a travel stipend and shared accommodation are required, and upload:

(1) An abstract of no more than 400 words highlighting the main research question(s) in connection with one of the priority themes for institutional research identified here. Abstracts should make explicit reference to concepts and theories related to the study of institutions and include 3-5 keywords, as well as a one-paragraph bio specifying the applicant’s discipline and university.

(2) An up-to-date CV.

The above should be submitted as PDFs labelled LastName.FirstName.AbstractBio.pdf and LastName.FirstName.CV.pdf.

Key dates
30 June 2023: abstract submission deadline
14 July 2023: notifications of acceptance
18 August 2023: final papers due

Any questions or concerns should be directed to [email protected].

*About WINIR Young Scholars *
WINIR Young Scholars (WYS) aims to identify and promote the next generation of institutional scholars from diverse geographies, sociocultural contexts and disciplines. Its major activities are directed towards creating an inclusive and supportive space for young scholars to receive guidance and mentorship in their journey toward establishing themselves as knowledge creators and navigating the academic job market.

WYS is a collaboration between the World Interdisciplinary Network for Institutional Research (WINIR), the Law as Science Project, and the Young Scholars Initiative (YSI) of the Institute for New Economic Thinking.

Convenors: Christina Mosalagae (University of Turin, Italy), Nikhilesh Sinha (Hult International Business School, UK) & Vanessa Villanueva (University of Illinois, USA & Roma Tre University, Italy)