Intensive workshop for PhD students by Jens Zinn „Researching Risk and Uncertainty”

2^nd-3^rd October, 2018

Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Kaunas, Lithuania

A two-day workshop precedes the Mid-term conference of RN22 that gives PhD students the opportunity to discuss their research with experienced risk scholars such as Prof. Jens Zinn and Prof. Anna Olofsson.

The PhD workshop will provide participants with a wider understanding of the theoretical foundations and practice of social sciences risk research. Dr. Jens Zinn will give introductory lectures into conceptual frameworks and research strategies on risk while most of the time will be used to discuss the research of the participants. The workshop is intended for PhD students in the social sciences interested in a sociological approach to risk.

Jens O. Zinn is Associate Professor in Sociology in the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Melbourne (Australia). He founded two international risk networks within the International Sociological Association (ISA) in 2006 (TG04) and within the European Sociological Association (ESA) in 2005 (RN22) and was President of these networks for many years. Most well-known publications are Social theories of risk and uncertainty with Blackwell (2008), Heading into the unknown: Everyday strategies for managing risk and uncertainty (2008) in Health, Risk & Society. With P. Taylor-Gooby he published Risk in social science (2006) with Oxford University Press.

Academic mentor:

Anna Olofsson: Professor in Sociology, Director of Risk and Crisis center, Mid Sweden University. She is a Board Member of the interdisciplinary research network ‘Society for Risk Analysis Europe’, the thematic group ‘Sociology of Risk and Uncertainty’ which is part of the International Sociological Association and member of the Scientific Council of the Swedish interdisciplinary research network ‘Riskkollegiet’. She has published on topics across sociological risk research in for example Current Sociology, Health, Risk & Society, Critical Discourse Studies, Risk Analysis and Environment and Behavior.

Further inquiries: riskworkshop2018@gmail.com

! The Mid-Term Conference „Complexities of Risk and Uncertainty” of the Sociology of Risk and Uncertainty research network (RN22) will take place on 4^th – 5^th October, 2018. More information you can find here.

Application

Please send a 1000 word extended abstract (exclusive references) which outlines your research project (Research problem, Aim/Hypothesis, conceptual framework, methodology/methods, research design, expected outcomes, key references) plus full name, institution, and the author(s) contacts to riskworkshop2018@gmail.com by 20^th May 2018. You will be notified of acceptance by 1^st June, 2018.

The number of participants is restricted to 16. All participants have to submit papers of 3000-5000 words by 31^st August 2018. Language of the workshop is English.

Fee

The fee of €200 (for members of ESA, €250 for non-members) includes coffee, lunch (Tuesday, Wednesday) and dinner (Tuesday evening), and course readings (electronic). The fee also covers the participation in Mid-term conference of RN22 “Complexities of Risk and Uncertainty”, to be held 4-5^th October.

After notification of acceptance, fee should be paid by 30 August, 2018.

Payment information

Please direct your payment to:

Beneficiary:

Name: Kauno technologijos universitetas

Beneficiary’s account or IBAN: LT387044060003104481

Address: K. Donelaičio g. 73, LT-44029 Kaunas, Lithuania

Beneficiary’s country: Lithuania

Beneficiary‘s Bank:

Name: AB SEB bankas

Address: Gedimino pr. 12, LT-01103 Vilnius, Lithuania

SWIFT code / BIC: CBVILT2X

Please specify in „Purpose of Payment (Details)“: KO055, ESA RN22 PhD, First Name Last Name

If you have any questions concerning payment, please contact Giedrius Žvaliauskas, e-mail: giedrius.zvaliauskas@ktu.lt

Venue

The workshop is hosted by research group Civil Society and Sustainability in the Faculty of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities at KTU (A. Mickevičiaus st. 37, Kaunas).

The Conference will take place in Kaunas, the second largest city in Lithuania and European Capital of Culture 2022. Kaunas is easily accessible directly by plane to Kaunas Intl Airport, or by train/ bus from Vilnius.

Kaunas has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. The city is situated in the central part of the country and is well-known for its unique historical monuments and the local basketball team, BC Žalgiris Kaunas. Kaunas nestles at the confluence of the two largest Lithuanian rivers, Nemunas and Neris.

Kaunas is one of the country’s most beautiful cities with a number of theatres, museums, parks and public open spaces. The centre of Kaunas is divided into the Old and the New Town. The Old Town is a remarkable archaeological monument and an architectural masterpiece incorporating Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles. It is a concentration of the ancient architectural monuments, such as the remnants of the 13th century castle, the impressive Town Hall, popularly known as the White Swan, and the Vilnius street, a characteristic trade street of the Middle Ages. The New Town is represented by the Laisvės alėja or the Liberty Avenue – a central pedestrian street often called the ‘Heart of Kaunas’ where numerous hotels, shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars are located.

Kaunas is famous for M. K. Čiurlionis Art Gallery, where you can find the unique collection of works painted by the famous Lithuanian painter and composer M. K. Čiurlionis. The conference venue is located in the centre of Kaunas and within walking distance to various interesting places.

More Information

For more information, see the official tourist information site or visit the Tourist Information Office at the Railway Station, the Bus Station, the hotel Park Inn Kaunas, the Town Hall and at the Kaunas International Airport.

Travel and accommodation

Getting to Kaunas

Travel from Kaunas airport to the conference venue: Kaunas Airport is located approximately 15 kilometres from the conference venue and can be reached by taxi at a cost of approximately €10 (~15 min.) or by bus for €1 (tickets can be bought from the driver). Bus No. 29 runs between Kaunas airport and the city centre Kaunas from the airport (see the route here). It will bring you right to conference venue in about 40 minutes. You have to get off at the stop ‘Gedimino g.’.
Travel from Vilnius airport to the conference venue: Vilnius Airport is located approximately 110 kilometres from the conference venue in Kaunas and can be reached by intercity bus or train at a price of €5-7 one-way. Travel from Vilnius Airport to Kaunas by taxi is at a cost of €150. Vilnius Airport approved taxi rank can be found just in front of the arrivals terminal. For more details on taxi fares click here.

Vilnius central bus and train stations can be reached in few different ways from the airport:

By taxi at a cost of €5-7 (see the route here) or by bus No. 1 (the stop is located in front of the airport arrivals hall) for €1 (see the route here).
By train at a cost of €0.72 as special train runs from Vilnius Railway Station to the airport on a regular basis (see train schedules here). A covered pedestrian walkway connects the Airport’s arrivals terminal to the railway stop.
The company TOKS offers a service to the residents and guests of Vilnius City – a drive by a minibus from Vilnius Airport to the central bus station and back (see schedule here). You will find minibuses just outside the arrivals terminal (Exit C).

Travelling from Vilnius bus/train stations to the conference venue in Kaunas

Vilnius-Kaunas bus will bring you to the Kaunas bus station which is approximately 2 kilometres away from the conference venue (bus schedules can be found here). The journey is quicker with the train. Vilnius-Kaunas train will bring you to the Kaunas train station which is also approximately 2 kilometres from the conference venue (train schedules can be found here). You can reach the conference venue by taxi at a cost of €5-7 (see the route from the train station here and from the bus station here) or by bus/trolleybus for €1. There are bus (No. 18, 23, 29, 35, 39, 42) and trolleybus (No. 1, 5, 7, 14, 15) services from Kaunas train/bus stations. Bus or trolleybus will bring you to the ‘Gedimino g.’ stop, which is approximately 5 minutes’ walk from the conference venue.

Accommodation

The venue is located in the city centre. Please find bellow recommended hotels that are located in walking distance from the venue.

Park Inn by Radisson Kaunas

K. Donelaičio g. 27, 44240 Kaunas, Lithuania

www.parkinn.lt/hotel-kaunas

Metropolis hotel

S. Daukanto g. 21, 44249 Kaunas, Lithuania

www.metropolishotel.lt

Hotel BEST BALTIC KAUNAS

A. Mickevičiaus g. 28 A, 44311 Kaunas, Lithuania

http://bestbaltichotels.eu/kaunas/en

Hotel Kaunas

Laisvės al. 79, 44297 Kaunas, Lithuania

www.kaunashotel.lt

Hotel Europa Royale

Miško g. 11, 44321 Kaunas, Lithuania

www.groupeuropa.com/europa_royale/kaunas_hotel

Kaunas City Hotel

Laisvės al. 90, 44251 Kaunas, Lithuania

http://kaunascityhotel.com/en

Best Western Hotel Santaka

J. Gruodžio g. 21, 44293 Kaunas, Lithuania

http://santakahotel.eu/EN/Kaunas

Alternatively, you can book other hotels. For more information please consult booking.com or our tourism information center www.visit.kaunas.lt/en.

Financial aid

Organisers will cover the participation fee for 2 PhD students from middle and low income countries (list is available here – list of countries). No travel bursaries are available. Please indicate in the application, if you would like to be considered for financial aid.