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European First Year Experience (EFYE) 2015 Conference
Keynote Monday 15th of June

Roger Strand: "Quality, Meetings and Transitions"

What defines a good first year experience? What defines a good FYE conference? In his classic novel "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance", Robert Pirsig claimed that quality is not to be sought in objects themselves but in the relationship between subjects and objects and, we would add, between subjects. Others conceive of quality as "fitness for purpose". What are the purposes of the first academic year - successful exams for all? What is the purpose of an academic encounter - professional networking; the exchange of knowledge; a violent change in perspective; a transition? In his lecture, Roger Strand will discuss concept of quality and apply them to FYE discourses and practices.

Keynote Monday 15th of June
Roger Strand is Professor and former Director (2005-11) of the Centre for the Study of the Sciences and the Humanities at the University of Bergen, Norway. Originally trained as a natural scientist (dr. scient., biochemistry, 1998), developed research interests in the philosophy of science and has worked on issues of scientific uncertainty and complexity. This has gradually led his research into broader strands of social research, philosophy and broader issues of policy, decision-making and governance at the science-society interface. Strand has coordinated two EU FP7 projects (TECHNOLIFE and EPINET) that addressed the need for a more dynamic governance of science in society. He has also coordinated a number of international research projects on similar subjects with funding from the Research Council of Norway. Strand is currently (2014) Chairman of the European Commission Expert Group on Indicators for Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) as well as commissioned by the Council of Europe to write a report on how the CoE should deal with the ethical challenges of new and emerging technologies.

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