Editor’s note: If you’re interested in learning more about the position, and will be in DC for the anthropology meetings, be sure to come to the CASTAC business meeting! It runs from 10:00 AM – 11:15 AM on Saturday the 2nd. I’ll be talking about the past year at blog, and would be happy to hang around afterwards and answer any questions folks may have about the contributing editor role.
Contributing Editors are responsible for curating 4-5 posts from scholars and researchers in the field each year, and frequently also contribute to the blog themselves. We are especially interested in contributors eager to continue our podcast series, Down to a Science, and assist the editor with compiling biweekly roundups of interesting and relevant content from around the web. This is a great opportunity to get involved in CASTAC, and in the anthropology of science and technology more generally. We are open to a wide range of topical interests at the intersection of anthropology and STS, especially those that complement our existing ones. Work on information technologies, human-animal relations, biosciences and healthcare, disability, gender, and sexuality are of particular interest. CEs must commit to 4-5 post slots at the beginning of the year. Their responsibilities include communication with guest authors, initial editorial supervision, and managing the production process. This is a one-year renewable term.
Qualifications: Interest in or familiarity with blogging, CASTAC, anthropology, STS, especially from a scholarly perspective; strong written communication skills, especially writing about scholarly topics for broader audiences. Some knowledge of WordPress or similar platforms is helpful.
To apply: Please send a CV and a brief (one paragraph) description of relevant background, topical interests, and the type of posts you would contribute as an editor to lowrie.ian@gmail.com by FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2017.
About the Blog
Platypus, the CASTAC Blog was founded in 2012 by Jennifer Cool, Patricia Lange, and Jordan Kraemer, as members of CASTAC, and has become a model for scholarly blogging. Platypus aims to promote dialogue on theories, tools, and social interactions that explore questions at the intersection of anthropology and science and technology studies. We publish essays, reports, and reflections by researchers and scholars working at the intersection of anthropology and science and technology studies, on topics such as the anthropology of expertise, artificial intelligence, big data, biotech, climate change, digital media and communications, DIY bio and citizen science, energy, the environment, informatics, infrastructure, outer space, science communication, social networks, user experience, and wearables, to name a few. Through the blog, we seek to build a thriving discourse among a community of scholars concerned about the implications of scientific knowledge and technical systems for human beings and other forms of life. Our approach is interdisciplinary and inclusive. We encourage both regular and occasional contributions from students, faculty, and researchers within and beyond academia.
Please circulate widely!
