Knowledge, Fear, and Conscience: Reasons to Stop Flying Because of Climate Change

Much research on the societal consequences of climate change has focused on inaction, seeking to explain why societies and individuals do not change according to experts’ recommendations. In this qualitative study, we instead consider people who have changed their behaviour for the sake of the climate: They have stopped travelling by air. We first asked them to elaborate their rationales for the behaviour change. Then, using topos theory to find thought structures, we analysed their 673 open-text answers. Several themes emerged, which together can be regarded as a process of change. Increased knowledge, primarily narrated as a process by which latent knowledge was transformed into insight, through experience or emotional distress, was important. Contrary to certain claims in the literature, fear stimulated change of behaviour for many in this group. Climate change was framed as a moral issue, requiring acts of conscience. Children were invoked as educators and moral guides. Role models and a supportive social context played an important part. Alternatives to flying were brought forward as a motive to refrain from flying. Only a few mentioned shame as momentous. Instead, stopping travelling by air invoked a feeling of agency and responsibility, and could also result in a positive sensation

Annual Report 2012-2014

FOR A NUMBER of years the Division of History of Science and Technology, KTH issued an annual report listing our publications and conference participation, seminars and visits as well as teaching and PhD training. These reports have proven valuable for many reasons, not the least as both personal and institutional reference over time. We can now look at these documents and compare, see patterns and remember. In this report, we have tried to take a step further, including some discussion and reflection. THE LAST FEW years have been transformative in many ways and the Division has grown in scale and in scope. In 2011 the name was changed to the Division of History of Science, Technology and Environment and we have doubled the turnover since 2005. We are in the middle of our second strategy and it is valuable to try and both summarize and look forward in a more concerted way. The report at hand therefore covers the years 2012-2014, but also makes references back in time as well as towards the future. It functions not only as a catalogue of achievements but also as an opportunity to reflect on what we have done and how we can continue doing research, teach and interact with society in a way that ensures not only high quality but which is also sustainable. Growing is great in many ways, but to also keep the things we value is a challenge. A FEW THINGS should be noted. During this period Martin Emanuel, Ingemar Pettersson and Anna Åberg defended their theses for the doctoral degree and Petra Bauer and Carlos Viktorsson defended theirs for the licentiate degree. Per Högselius was promoted to associate professor and Sabine Höhler became Docent at KTH. Marco Armiero was hired as director for the KTH Environmental Humanities Laboratory and Miyase Christensen appointed Guest Professor in Media and Communication Studies. You can read more about them and other things in the following pages. I WOULD LIKE to thank all coworkers for their respective contributions to this text, and most of all I want to stress the work done by Susanna Lidström. It has been an interesting and learning experience to try and put this together and I hope you will find it worthwhile reading. STOCKHOLM AUGUST 1 ST 2015 Nina Wormbs Head of DivisionQC 20210607</p

Technology-dependent commons: The example of frequency spectrum for broadcasting in Europe in the 1920s

The aim of this paper is to test the design principles, identified as crucial for institutions governing long enduring common pool resources, on the use of the electromagnetic spectrum, a peculiar resource in many respects. The case is the medium wave band for broadcasting in Europe in the 1920s. As the spectrum is a resource dependent on technology for its use, the aim is also to investigate the influence of technology on the governing institutions

Annual Report 2011

QC 20210607</p

Technology-dependent commons: The example of frequency spectrum for broadcasting in Europe in the 1920s

The aim of this paper is to test the design principles, identified as crucial for institutions governing long enduring common pool resources, on the use of the electromagnetic spectrum, a peculiar resource in many respects. The case is the medium wave band for broadcasting in Europe in the 1920s. As the spectrum is a resource dependent on technology for its use, the aim is also to investigate the influence of technology on the governing institutions

Annual Report 2012-2014

FOR A NUMBER of years the Division of History of Science and Technology, KTH issued an annual report listing our publications and conference participation, seminars and visits as well as teaching and PhD training. These reports have proven valuable for many reasons, not the least as both personal and institutional reference over time. We can now look at these documents and compare, see patterns and remember. In this report, we have tried to take a step further, including some discussion and reflection. THE LAST FEW years have been transformative in many ways and the Division has grown in scale and in scope. In 2011 the name was changed to the Division of History of Science, Technology and Environment and we have doubled the turnover since 2005. We are in the middle of our second strategy and it is valuable to try and both summarize and look forward in a more concerted way. The report at hand therefore covers the years 2012-2014, but also makes references back in time as well as towards the future. It functions not only as a catalogue of achievements but also as an opportunity to reflect on what we have done and how we can continue doing research, teach and interact with society in a way that ensures not only high quality but which is also sustainable. Growing is great in many ways, but to also keep the things we value is a challenge. A FEW THINGS should be noted. During this period Martin Emanuel, Ingemar Pettersson and Anna Åberg defended their theses for the doctoral degree and Petra Bauer and Carlos Viktorsson defended theirs for the licentiate degree. Per Högselius was promoted to associate professor and Sabine Höhler became Docent at KTH. Marco Armiero was hired as director for the KTH Environmental Humanities Laboratory and Miyase Christensen appointed Guest Professor in Media and Communication Studies. You can read more about them and other things in the following pages. I WOULD LIKE to thank all coworkers for their respective contributions to this text, and most of all I want to stress the work done by Susanna Lidström. It has been an interesting and learning experience to try and put this together and I hope you will find it worthwhile reading. STOCKHOLM AUGUST 1 ST 2015 Nina Wormbs Head of DivisionQC 20210607</p

Annual Report 2011

QC 20210607</p

Environing Technologies : A Theory of Making Environment

The central proposal of this article is that environing technologies shape and structure the way in which nature becomes environment, and as such used, perceived and understood. The argument builds on the understanding that environment is the result of human intervention.Technology is here understood broadly as a terraforming practise, materially and conceptually. We suggest that the compound environing technologies enable us to see environmental change on multiple scales and in new registers. That technologies alter the physical world is not new; our contribution focuses on the conceptual, epistemological, economic and emotional appreciation of systems and aggregates of technologies that is part and parcel of material change. The environing technologies that enable such articulation and comprehension hold potential in the future transformation that our societies need to undergo to overcome the crisis of environment and climate.QC 20181217</p