EASTS

Science, Technology and Society Studies (STS) emerged in North American and Western Europe in the late 1960s and has achieved astonishing growth of scholarship since then. As an interdisciplinary approach to study the dynamic interplay of technoscience and society, researches of history, philosophy, sociology and other social studies contribute to this emerging field. STS theories and methods not only offer new perspectives to the understanding of science and technology changes, but also raise new issues to mainstream disciplines of humanities and social sciences with a fresh perspective on science and technology. Institutionally, university-based STS programs have been formed in many leading universities, and international scholarly associations like Society for Social Studies of Science (4S) , and European Association for the Study of Science and Technology (EASST) were established. Several STS journals have been set up. In addition to academic concerns, STS scholars have engaged with public policies and emphasized the importance of politics as one of the tops in STS agenda. STS keeps growing.

The recent rapid growth of STS in East Asian countries shows that expansion of STS is not limited within the core geographical areas. The East Asian STS Network was formed in the late 90s, through which STS scholars exchange ideas and learn from each other frequently. The East Asian STS conferences are regularly held in countries such as Japan , South Korea , China , and Taiwan ; the sixth East Asian STS conference will be held in Japan this year 2006. Some exciting research collaboration such as on colonial science has been formed. Each country in East Asian has been developing their respective STS activities. Japanese STS scholars have actively formed national STS societies and research groups, published Japanese STS journals, and held international STS conferences. The announcement that 4S annual meeting will be held in Japan in 2010, first time in Asia , demonstrates the international recognition of the success of Japanese STS. In South Korea , STS flourishes with the growth of STS research and teaching programs in some prestigious universities plus the foundation of a national STS society. Korean STS scholars' important contribution to policy-making has been highly recognized by government as well as by activists. For example, STS scholars play a dominating role on the Korean ELSI programs on Human Genomics, and also work closely with NGOs to offer critical perspectives on bioethics.

In Taiwan, STS community expands quickly, partly as a result of the institutional support from the Ministry of Education, National Science Council, and National Industry and Technology Museum. Through various colloquium programs in the universities, conferences and workshops, STS website, email network, and the publishing of the Taiwanese journal Technology, Medicine and Society , have all contributed to the rapid development of STS in Taiwan . It is worth noting that there is growing interest in the Western society in studying technoscience in East Asia , possibly due to the important issues of globalization of science and technology, as well as the increasing attention to the perspective of colonial and postcolonial technoscience .

We strongly believe that East Asian STS will offer fresh STS perspectives because of her special local experiences, sharing similar cultural and colonial history, similar meteorological and biological makeup, and similar global positions with respect to the West. For example, the democratization of science and technology policies, and the distinctive colonial and postcolonial experiences of science and medicine, which has long been developing in Japan and other East Asian newly industrialized countries, has attracted scholars and policy-makers around the world to discuss and appreciate. No doubt, East Asia has a lot to offer for the STS communities worldwide.

With the exciting prospect of East Asian STS, an East Asian STS international journal could play a crucial new role in promoting STS studies not only in East Asian, but also around the world. Although currently there are several well-established STS journals in English-speaking world, they are mostly published in American and European countries, aiming at academic members in the western society as their main readers. Taiwan , located at the intersection of North East Asia and South East Asia , can serve as a coordinator to facilitate the growing efforts and networks from North East Asian STS communities, and the potential enrollment of South East Asian STS into an internationally open and inclusive East Asian STS community. The idea of starting a new journal gains strong support and encouragement from the East Asian STS community, as well as from some Western STS scholars. After discussing with STS scholars in South Korea , Japan , Taiwan , China , and the West, we decide to name this journal East Asian Science, Technology and Society: an International Journal . The proposal of starting this new journal has been accepted by the National Science Council in Taiwan . This English journal plans to be published quarterly each year, but starts from publishing two issues in 2007, and then aims for four issues in 2008. The type of articles will include research, review, book reviews, critical notes, and so on. The journal will also publish special issues. We are currently forming an East Asian and international editorial board, and regularly storm-braining EASTS ideas.

To prepare for the beginning issues, we will hold an international conference for this journal, currently set in early August of 2006. The papers presented in the conference will be reviewed and published in the first two issues in 2007.

c 2007 National Science Council, Taiwan