SSH Energy 2025

Call for contributions

The 5th Swiss Social Sciences and Humanities Energy Research Workshop (SSH Energy 2025) is an opportunity for researchers, modellers, practitioners, and policymakers to share perspectives and insights on the societal implications, discourses, and transformation processes required to transition to a more sustainable and equitable energy system. The 2025 edition seeks to learn from SSH energy initiatives with interdisciplinary (that integrate different disciplinary perspectives) and transdisciplinary (engaging with societal actors) approaches into energy transitions.

To make this critical energy transition, integrating social sciences and humanities into energy research is vital, but just how we do that is the most important question that can bring research to impact transformative change. Inter- and transdisciplinary research address the complexities of integration. They aim to move beyond knowledge production by fostering collaboration and diverse perspectives essential for meaningful change.

Growing from the discussions of the SSH Energy 2024 workshop, the 2025 edition addresses questions related to: (i) How does SSH Energy research integrate different practices and world views? (ii) Who participates? And (iii) What values guide us that affect the reception, social legitimacy and political utility of our energy research?

The workshop is framed within the project “Co-Evolution and Coordinated Simulation of the Swiss Energy System and Swiss Society" (CoSi), funded by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SWEET programme). CoSi seeks to continue consolidating a platform for exchange to link various disciplines, develop a common understanding, and achieve a co-creation process with stakeholders. As a bridge-maker, CoSi gathers and intermingles different stakeholders and energy research communities to co-design sustainable and innovative energy transition approaches.

We look forward to welcoming all scholars within and beyond social sciences, humanities, arts and inter- and transdisciplinary research, energy modellers, practitioners, and policymakers keen to engage in these discussions. Early career researchers are especially welcome to participate.

Important Dates

• 20.01.25 - 21.03.25: Abstract submission 
• 04.04.25: Notice of acceptance 
• 04.04.25 - 30.05.25: Registration

Aims

• Consolidate and enrich the ongoing dialogues on the important role of Social Science and Humanities in energy research to generate an empirical research agenda.
• Provide the space to trial run workshop formats and share experiences of integrating SSH in energy research.
• Create an open dialogue setting for constructive feedback on SSH energy research.
• Nourish the community of practice of SSH energy researchers, potentially fostering new collaborations.
• Provide a platform for early career researchers.
   

Call for contributions

We invite participants and contributors from all fields of research related to the Swiss energy transition. Contributions that integrate an SSH perspective or contributions from SSH scholars will get priority. Please indicate how your submission aligns with the streams and questions as well as the contribution format (below). We have a limited number of slots for each format as we also intend to prioritise opening plenty of space for discussions and informal exchanges.

Streams and questions

We aim at bringing together rich case studies from Swiss and international projects and programmes to generate new conceptualizations of energy initiatives fruitfully integrating the arts, humanities and social sciences with an inter- or transdisciplinary approaches.
We invite participants to explore topics ranging from and expanding the following:

• Methods and tools for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaborations in energy research: what works best (cases and practices), how can we use it (specific tools and methodologies) and at which part of the research process to make it the most impactful (problem framing, analysis, dissemination)?
• Culture-focused and social aspects in energy transitions: What are the potentials of integrating cultural approaches to energy research? What is the role of culture, values and emotions in shaping energy behaviours and policies?
• Arts in energy research: What is the role of the arts and creativity in energy research and how can it ensure inclusion and hope? How art makes the transition more relatable, innovative, and inspire collective action?
• Co-producing energy models: What is the role of stakeholder and public-oriented approaches in knowledge creation to inform energy policymaking? How can we account for the inclusivity and transparency of the models design process?
• Meaningful SSH integration in energy modelling: How can we harness "SSH energy" to enrich or challenge energy models and rethink models’ mechanisms? How to plan integration, implement it, and account for the multidimensionality of the process?
• Justice in energy research: How are justice or well-being-oriented frameworks shaping energy research? How different justice frameworks are being used to guide equitable policymaking?
• Power and asymmetries: counterbalancing (de)politicization of energy research and modelling. How can we use the critical reflection on energy models for the benefit of the transition? How we can embrace the public role of SSH in energy research in democratizing the transition process?
  
  

Note: we will have one paper session focused on stakeholders, where we will invite stakeholders to attend. Please specify in your submission whether your paper can be adjusted to present to a non-scientific audience, focusing on policy, industry, civic engagement, etc.

Contribution formats

• Paper presentations limited to 15 minutes. Convenors will group presentations into sessions lasting 90 minutes. Sessions feature multiple presentations with discussion time. Please submit a title and abstract (250 words).
• Micro-workshops host a 1.5 hour workshop session in an cozy setting with around 7 participants. Workshop formats must be hands-on, and allow participants to explore a method, tool or concept. Please add a brief outline of the activity and materials needed (250 words).
• Installations with accompanied by explanations or questions, present complex ideas or critical questions in an aesthetically compelling way to encourage dialogue on SSH Energy research. Surprise participants with your out-of-the-box exhibits!
  For installations, contact Stephanie Briers to confirm feasibility.
• Poster sessions offer a space to pitch a variety of topics around printed posters (150 words).

Important information

The workshop will take place in-person at ETH Zurich. Online participation is not possible. Participants with no presentations are also welcome to attend!

Capacity: 80 places, first come first serve. Priority given to contributors.

Fees: free of charge for all participants

Venue: ETH Zurich, PBLabs, D-Floor, RZ building, Clausiusstrasse 59, 8006

Contact: Dr Stephanie Briers, CSTS Group, TdLab (stephanie.briers@usys.ethz.ch)

Dates:

• 20.01.25 – 21.03.25: Abstract submission
• 04.04.25: Notice of acceptance
• 04.04.25 -30.05.25: Registration
• 16.06.25-17.06.25: SSH Energy Workshop
  

Organizing committee

The 5TH Swiss Social Sciences and Humanities Energy Research Workshop (SSH Energy 2025) is organised by the Cultural Studies of Science and Technology Group (CSTS, Transdisciplinarity Lab), ETH Zurich and the Cosi Consortium.

• PD Dr. Bianca Vienni-Baptista (CSTS Group lead, ETH Zurich)
• Dr. Stephanie Briers (CSTS Group, ETH Zurich)
• Konstanty Ramotowski (CSTS Group, ETH Zurich)
• Paula Winkler (CSTS Group, ETH Zurich)
• Victoria Herbig (CSTS Group, ETH Zurich)