What Academic Publications Does 4S Produce?

The Society for the Social Studies of Science (4S) produces and maintains several publication and communication channels, most prominently the journal Science, Technology, & Human Values (STHV), along with Engaging Science, Technology and Society and the 4S Blog: Backchannels. These outlets serve different purposes: STHV is the long-running scholarly journal, Engaging Science, Technology and Society is an additional publication channel listed on the site, and Backchannels is the society's blog for shorter, timely STS writing. If you are looking for peer-reviewed STS research, STHV is the primary destination; if you want news, commentary, and short-form academic writing, Backchannels is the relevant channel.

Science, Technology, & Human Values (STHV)

STHV is the flagship journal highlighted on 4sonline.org. According to the site, it has provided a forum for cutting-edge research and debate in the field of science and technology studies for more than forty years.

• Positioning: A long-established core journal in science and technology studies.
• Content type: Research articles and debate, including work on sociotechnical concerns.
• Example article shown on the site: "Consolidating the Strata: Geoscience and Underground Territory in South Korean Radioactive Waste Disposal" by Sungeun Kim (Department II, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Berlin, Germany), listed as Science, Technology, & Human Values, Ahead of Print. The excerpt notes that in South Korea, the nation with the world's highest density of nuclear power plants, the disposal of high-level radioactive waste has become a pressing sociotechnical concern.
• Access point: The homepage provides a "Learn More About STHV" link leading to the journal's detail page.

Engaging Science, Technology and Society

Engaging Science, Technology and Society appears on the site as one of the 4S publications, listed alongside STHV under the "4S Publications" heading. The provided page evidence confirms it as a publication channel but does not include further descriptive detail about its scope, frequency, or submission process.

4S Blog: Backchannels

Backchannels is the society's blog, used for sharing and disseminating STS news and research, including work from and about the Global South, in the form of short academic writings.

• Content type: Short academic posts, news, and commentary rather than full-length journal articles.
• Example post shown on the site: "Chronicity and Its Social Lives: Reflections on Everyday Experiences of Osteoarthritis" by Perseverence Madhuku, which discusses tensions between biomedical, social, and personal understandings of ageing, immobility, and care in Zimbabwe through a case study of osteoarthritis.
• Editorial opportunities: The site includes a call for Assistant Editors for 4S Backchannels (Global South), seeking STS graduate students, postdocs, or early career scholars from or based in the Global South (especially Africa, the Middle East, Asia) to contribute as assistant editors. The role involves sharing and disseminating STS news and research through short academic writings and encouraging potential authors to contribute.

How to Navigate to Each Publication

From the 4sonline.org homepage, the "4S Publications" section presents the publications directly:

1. Locate the 4S Publications heading on the homepage.
2. Select Science, Technology, and Human Values to reach the STHV description and the "Learn More About STHV" link.
3. Select Engaging Science, Technology and Society to view that publication's entry.
4. Select 4S Blog: Backchannels to read blog posts and calls such as the Assistant Editors opportunity.

Choosing the Right Outlet

If your goal is to read or cite established STS scholarship, start with STHV. If you want shorter, current writing or are interested in editorial contributions, Backchannels is the appropriate channel. The site's "Latest 4S News" section also surfaces related calls and deadlines, such as the InterAcademy Partnership competitive grants call (published Oct 18, 2024; deadline Dec 2, 2024), which may be relevant if your interest extends beyond publications to funding and collaboration opportunities.