The Institute for the Study of Science, Technology and Innovation (ISSTI) at The University of Edinburgh and the AsSIST-UK Early Career Researchers (ECR) Group are pleased to announce the annual week-long writing retreat between 6th and 13nd February 2026.
The retreat will be hosted at the Grade-II-listed Eden House near Penrith, Cumbria, on the edge of the picturesque Eden Valley, just outside the Lake District.
To be eligible for the retreat, you must have a writing project to work on and be a Masters or PhD student, or early-stage academic, engaging in research in a topic relating to the broad fields of Science and Technology Studies (STS) and Innovation Studies.
There is no travel funding available, but as always, the attendance is free of charge.
Alongside writing, there will be opportunities for informal feedback and discussion of cross-cutting topics and issues, as well as film nights, nature walks, etc
Apply now – the deadline is 5th December 2025. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of the selection process by 15th December.
To apply for a space, please complete our online form below:
We are delighted to announce that the 2025 Andrew Webster PhD Prize is awarded to:
Dr. Ryan Shum (University of Exeter) for his thesis:
Caring for microplastics: a multi-sited laboratory ethnography
Ryan’s thesis examines the intractable challenge of microplastics in the UK, studying the ontological and epistemological complexities surrounding these synthetic polymers. The AsSIST-UK prize panel appreciated the study’s novel understanding of interactions between the emerging area of microplastics science, policymaking, and publics.
This thesis centred on the issue of microplastics in the UK examines the ontological and epistemological complexities surrounding these synthetic polymers. Microplastics (<5mm in diameter) have emerged as significant matters of concern across public and scientific communities due to their ubiquitous nature and the potential for chronic and transgenerational impacts. This study investigates microplastic entanglements through a multi-sited ethnography that follows these chemical-material traces in and out of scientific spaces. Conducted through a series of semi-structured interviews and ethnographic encounters, the objective of this study is to examine how research scientists generate knowledge about and come to care for microplastics in practice.
In doing so, the thesis aims to challenge dominant ways of understanding and responding to plastic pollution through an analysis centred on the materiality of microplastics. It maps the coming-together of this rapidly growing research community in the UK, scrutinises experimental practices assembled to sense these imperceptible objects, contends with imagined responses to microplastics and explores the uneasy task of managing them across divergent sites, namely, the laboratory and the beach. Throughout, the empirical attention stays close to the practical and ethical challenges faced by research scientists, policymakers, and citizens alike as they find ways of relating with a material that defies technoscientific methods of detection, resists normative solutions imagined to solve issues of waste and pollution and is here to stay into the long future.
The study underscores the need for a situated geographical approach to understanding microplastics that engages with the diverse and often compromised ways scientists attend to microplastics. At this contemporary moment when the question of how to respond to microplastics remains profoundly uncertain, this thesis offers a timely intervention that furthers understanding of the dynamic interactions between microplastic science, policy, and action in the face of this intractable challenge
We would also like to mention the highly commended runners-up:
Daniela Sclavo (University of Cambridge): Culture, Gender, and Flavour in the Conservation of Chile Pepper in Mexico, 1970s-present
Tomas Walker-Borsa (University of Oxford): Future Proof: The Meanings and Makings of ‘The Fibre Project’ on Haida Gwaii
The importance of developing socio-technical solutions through interdisciplinary collaboration is increasingly acknowledged by policymakers and research groups. However, fostering such collaborations remains challenging due to disciplinary boundaries and funding mechanisms that hinder their sustainable development.
The afternoon was followed by a morning workshop designed to strengthen interdisciplinary collaborations across policy, research, and commercialisation. The session featured two speakers: Dr Matjaz Vidmar, who presented Overcoming Ethical Challenges in Collaboration: Epistemic and Ethical Frameworks for Embedded Research – the PERIpatetic Approach, and Tomas Ulrichsen (IfM-UCI), who shared insights from the study Commercialising Social Science Research: Insights from the University of Cambridge, which identifies key barriers, enablers, and pathways to success. The study was conducted by IfM Engage in collaboration with the Policy Evidence Unit for University Commercialisation and Innovation.
Through panel discussions, a session on funding mechanisms, and a playful speed-dating and proposal-writing competition, participants explored how Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) and STEM fields can work together to shape ethical, innovative, and socially impactful research. The occasion welcomed 60 attendees and featured 14 speakers, 2 panels, and a seminar workshop with 2 presentations. Five interdisciplinary teams also submitted ideas through the speed-dating competition, beginning to draft a blueprint for future collaborative work.
Some takeaways of the experience
STEM researchers thrive on solving problems, while AHSS scholars excel at defining them. But not everything needs a ‘solution’ — sometimes, it’s the storytelling that reveals why it matters.
Disciplinary boxes shape how we work, what we prioritise, and what outcomes we produce. But we can move beyond labels, learn to understand each other’s needs, translate each other’s knowledge, and go much further together.
Collaboration takes learning. We may all be ‘researchers,’ but at times, it feels like we come from different countries, each with its own culture and language.
It’s not about departments or projects – it’s about people. Building relationships and trust takes time. The real measure of success? When partners want to work together again.
And the unspoken recipe for successful AHSS–STEM collaborations? Humility to accept different ways of seeing the world as valid. Willingness to be vulnerable and sit with discomfort. And equity — to make the ground equally ‘uneven’ for everyone.
About the STS Cambridge Network (SCaN)
Launched last summer by Dr Valeria Ramírez and Dr Louise Elstow, the network embraces a broad understanding of Science, Technology and Innovation Studies (STIS), spanning disciplines, schools, and departments across Cambridge. SCaN was created in response to the lack of intra-institutional mechanisms to support and connect STS and STS-adjacent researchers, both within the university and with wider regional and international STS communities. To receive updates from SCaN, you can join the Jisc mailing list stscambridgenetwork@jiscmail.ac.uk, or simply email mvr26@cam.ac.uk to be added.
Supporting organisations: Institute for Manufacturing, Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence (ITH), Think Lab, Postdocs of Cambridge Society, ECR Assembly – CRASSH, Postdoc Academy, and the Kavli Centre for Ethics, Science, and the Public.
The AsSIST ECR (Early Career Researchers) group brings together PhD students and post-doctoral researchers in the United Kingdom, working on science, technology, and innovation studies. We try to foster a supportive community for early-stage academics navigating the challenges of research careers. We aim to create a space where members can share experiences, discuss career anxieties, and learn from predecessors in the field. To achieve these goals, we organise bi-annual workshops that facilitate knowledge exchange and networking opportunities. Additionally, we host writing retreats, providing a dedicated environment for members to make progress on their research projects while benefiting from peer support. We are also launching a series of online workshops focused on developing key research skills.
The recent events:
ECR summer workshop in York
The AsSIST UK summer school is a space for early career researchers (ECR) to engage in activities that enhance professional development. Whether you are a postgraduate or a post-doctoral researcher, the event provides insights into the benefits and challenges of a career in research, inside and outside academia. And of course, the event also creates a space for networking enabling ECRs to build new relationships and connections among research colleagues in the field of Science, Technology and Innovation Studies (STIS).
The 2024 AsSIST UK summer school took place at The Hospitium, a venue located within the beautiful York Museum Gardens, in York city centre. Our attendees had the opportunity to hear about the professional experience and research journey of more senior colleagues and engaged in table discussions on popular topics of interest like publishing, applying for funding, and finding jobs outside academia, among others.
Event venue: The Hospitium, York
We concluded the event by announcing the Andrew PhD Webster Prize Award, followed by the 2024 Andrew J Webster Annual Lecture where Prof Jack Stilgoe discussed ‘The Organised Irresponsibility of AI’, both in memory of AsSIST-UK co-founder, Prof. Andrew Webster and in recognition of his unwavering commitment to supporting early career researchers.
The 2024 Andrew Webster PhD prize was awarded to Dr Benedetta Catanzariti (University of Edinburgh) for her thesis: Seeing Affect: Knowledge Infrastructures in Facial Expression Recognition Systems. Congratulations!
Winter writing retreat in Highlands:
ISSTI-AsSIST UK Early Career Researchers’ Winter 2024 Writing Retreat
The Winter Writing Retreat, organised and sponsored by ISSTI- AsSIST UK, took place at the historic Castle Brodie, offering participants both the physical and mental space to focus on their writing projects. This retreat gathered ECR scholars from STIS, including PhD candidates, post-doctoral researchers, and lecturers, who were at various stages of their academic careers. The picturesque setting of Castle Brodie, steeped in Scottish culture and heritage, provided a perfect backdrop for the week of intense writing and networking. We learned that participants worked on their PhD dissertations, journal articles, book chapters, and concept notes, while also getting to know each other and building connections.
The daily structure of the retreat revolved around both writing and socialising, offering participants the opportunity to share their plans, seek feedback, and bond with their peers. Having clear, realistic objectives in advance was crucial for making the most of the retreat. For example, first-time participants share how they benefited from the advice and instructions on preparing materials, tables, and notes in advance to ensure a productive writing experience during the retreat. Alongside writing, participants enjoyed moments of relaxation, cooking meals together, watching documentaries, and sharing funny videos, which added to the fun and camaraderie.
The retreat not only provided a focused environment for writing but also fostered a sense of community and support among participants. It facilitated the exchange of ideas, academic guidance, and constructive feedback on both writing and publishing. The experience was a balanced integration of productive writing sessions and meaningful connections, offering a unique opportunity for development in a supportive and inspiring setting. The organiser generously sponsored food and accommodations and looked after the well-being of the participants, further enhancing the sense of care and support to ECR in STIS.
ECR committee members:
Isaac Lemo, PhD Student at Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU), University of Sussex Business School
Pablo Molina Rossolino, PhD student at the Department of Sociology, University of York
Polina Chizhova-Wright, LUDeC PhD student in Curating and Architecture at Manchester Metropolitan University
Xiao Yang, PhD student at Institute for the Study of Science, Technology and Innovation, University of Edinburgh
This book provides an interdisciplinary series of essays on key social theorists of morality. It explores contributions to social moral theorising made by W. E. B. Du Bois, G. H. Mead, Jane Addams, Alasdair MacIntyre, Carol Gilligan, Seyla Benhabib, Kwame Anthony Appiah, and Jonathan Haidt. It thus seeks to integrate alternative voices at the “foundations” of sociological theorising about morality, while entering into dialogues with post-Enlightenment moral philosophy and contemporary moral psychology. In so doing, it engages with perspectives of pragmatism, virtue ethics, care ethics, feminist critiques, and moral foundations theory. The essays discuss key topics in social theories of morality, including moral action, socialisation, habit and reflexiveness, relationships, emotion, self, identity, racism and colonialism, universalism, and innateness. It centres crucial (but often overlooked) questions of moral power, and assesses the relationship between moral theorising and normative argument. The essays are conjoined by a running theme of moral agency—how it is constituted and how it is enacted—which orientates the book’s arguments and critiques.
“Owen Abbott’s Social Theorists of Morality is an excellent and much-needed work. His insightful account of morality goes beyond the standard theory canon and exploits synergies among sociological, psychological, and philosophical approaches. This is a must-read book for sociologists of morality, but also for sociological theorists, sociologists of culture, and social psychologists.”―Gabriel Abend, Professor of Sociology, University of Lucerne
“This is book is a tour de force. Focusing on a range of key thinkers, including neglected and marginalised voices, Abbott sets out key themes in the social theory of morality to establish what a properly ‘social’ account of morality requires. The clarity, breadth and depth of the analysis is remarkable.”― Wendy Bottero, Professor of Sociology, University of Manchester
We have always lived with ethically significant others, whether they are the pets we keep, the gods we believe in or the machines we are endowing with life. How should we treat them as our world changes? In Animals, Robots, Gods, acclaimed anthropologist Webb Keane provides a new vision of ethics, defined less by our minds, religion or society, and more by our interactions with those around us. Drawing on ground-breaking research by fieldworkers around the world, he explores the underpinnings of our moral universe. Along the way we investigate the ethical dilemmas of South Asian animal rights activists, Balinese cockfighters, Japanese robot fanciers – even macho cowboys. We meet a hunter in the Yukon who explains his prey generously gives itself up to him; a cancer sufferer in Thailand who sees his tumour as a reincarnated ox; a computer that gets you to confess your anxieties as if you were on the psychiatrist’s couch. With charm, wit and insight, Keane offers us a better understanding of our doubts and certainties, showing how centuries of conversations between us and non-humans inform our conceptions of morality, and will continue to guide us in the age of AI and beyond.
“Webb Keane has a marvellous ability to extend the scope of our moral compass not only to all varieties of human thought but also to the non-human beings with whom we share the biosphere. He is one of the world’s foremost and most thoughtful anthropologists. This book is a must-read, written with wit and clarity”—Professor Dame Caroline Humphrey
“The boundaries of our moral worlds are in flux as we rethink the claims made on us by animals, robots, humans on life-support, and AI. Webb Keane, the most important contemporary anthropologist of language and interaction, brilliantly guides us through the resulting murk. Drawing on research from around the world, and showing how people’s engagements with supernatural figures long ago raised questions of moral standing that we now apply to these other beings, this gracefully written book will make you think productively about your own life in ways you likely never imagined”—Joel Robbins
Just two month ago, Portable Cow crossed the Atlantic for the very first time. Photographer and anthropologist, Liz Hingley, and I, Camille Bellet, joined art historian, Emily K. Morgan, at the Iowa State University School of Design to present some of the findings from my Wellcome Trust-funded research on sensor technologies and human-cow relationships in farming in France and the UK.
Supported by the Center for Excellence in the Arts and Humanities at Iowa State University, we had the opportunity over a week to engage the Iowa State University and Ames communities in a discussion about human-cow relationships in farming. Through a series of glittering events—including an art exhibition, a symposium, a panel discussion, and interactive sensory workshops—Portable Cow sparked curiosity, even attracting the attention of the local press.
Originally conceived as a miniature exhibition contained within a bespoke 3D-printed box—including objects, archival documents and ethnographic observations I generated during my fieldwork, and Liz’s photographs—Portable Cow was designed to foster engagement and discussion in exhibition and workshop settings. This first exhibition in the United States took Portable Cow out of its box and into a gallery space, inviting visitors to reflect on cow lives, farmers’ experiences, and the human-cow bonds shaped by digital technologies.
Of course, Portable Cow is only just beginning! Liz and I are actively working on unboxing it in France, the UK, and beyond. If you would like to exchange ideas, discuss the project, learn more, or explore the possibility of hosting an exhibition or workshop within your group or institution, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me via email (camille.bellet@manchester.ac.uk). Portable Cow is only at the start of its journey—waiting to be discovered, shared, and to keep evolving.
Speaker: Professor Elizabeth Shove, Lancaster University
Date: 17 June 2025
Elizabeth is a Professor of Sociology at Lancaster University, where she researches the relation between consumption, everyday practice and ordinary technologies. The author or editor of twelve books, Elizabeth has a long and distinguished career, and is currently working on her latest book, on which this lecture is based.
