The purpose of calling for open panel proposals is to stimulate the formation of new networks around topics of interest to the STS community and to facilitate the organization of exciting paper sessions.
Open panel chairs will have significant responsibility in the composition of their panels. Please note, in submitting a proposal, you are volunteering to review papers, organize one or more sessions, and chair or recruit chairs for sessions of papers related to your topic. An open panel may extend across up to four sessions of five papers each (i.e. a total of maximum 20 papers).
An open panel proposal consists of an abstract up to 250 words, including a brief discussion of its contribution to STS, and, if relevant, to the theme of the 2021 conference. (See examples of open panel topics from last year here). Open panel topics, once accepted by the Program Committee, will be included in the general call for papers that will open on January 17th. At that time, authors may nominate their papers for one or more panels.
Open Panel proposals should be submitted via the conference submission page by January 10th. (Log in with your 4S credentials.)
The general call for individual papers, closed panels, posters and Making and Doing presentations will open January 17 and close March 8th.
Open panel chairs will have the lead in regards to the selection of papers, but because of the need to distribute paper submissions over many sessions, the Program Committee will reserve the right to make final decisions over which papers will be included in each panel.
Remember that there are guidelines to the number of roles you can take at the conference, you can find the details here.