Global Community Committee

Background and Mission

In 1992 the Society for the History of Technology inaugurated the International Scholars program with these goals:

1. Foster a stronger international community for the study of the history of technology
2. Strengthen the society’s role as an international society for the history of technology
3. Identify and help non-U.S. historians of technology participate in the meetings and governance of the Society
4. Provide formal recognition for the work of non-U.S. historians of technology so that their respective governments and national academic communities might provide greater support for their society-related activities
5. Afford special recognition for younger, non-U.S. scholars as they begin their careers in the history of technology
6. Foster an international network of scholars in the history of technology that will benefit all members of the society

Nowadays the mandate of the Global Community Committee Committee is slightly different:

More attention is given to scholars from countries outside the U.S. and Western Europe, not only to foster their individual careers but also to support local networks and activities for and by scholars working on the history of technology. International Scholars shall act as ambassadors for the Society in their countries and regions, both by informing the Society about the state and developments of the history of technology in their regions, and by helping to disseminate information about the Society and its activities.

From Internationalization to Global Community

Much has changed since the days when SHOT was an almost exclusively US-based organization with (as some wryly noted) “a few foreign members.” We now have the privilege to include members from six continents, many of whom support local scholarly networks in the field. To reflect its commitment to continue broadening our membership in a spirit of epistemic and professional justice, in 2023 SHOT changed the name of this program to “Global Community Initiative.”

Supporting global events

Since 2006, the Society for the History of Technology has supported regionally-hosted conferences and meetings with grants. In addition to promoting the Society’s mission, the grants aimed at globalizing the Society’s intellectual terrain as well as geographically broadening its membership.

Global Community Scholars

Each year, SHOT designates selected Global Community Scholars for a two-year term. These scholars act as ambassadors for the society in their countries and regions, both by informing SHOT about the history of technology in their regions, and by helping to disseminate information about the society and its activities. In return, they receive priority for travel grant applications and a free two-year SHOT membership, which includes a subscription to Technology and Culture.

For a variety of reasons, the selection committee was unable to operate last year. It is now back up and running. To make up for last year’s lacuna, it will select up to 6 scholars for 2023-25. In keeping with the geographic directions of SHOT’s current community-building efforts, the selection this year will focus on scholars from Africa, Latin America, and South Asia.

We strongly encourage scholars from these parts of the world to apply. We also encourage members to nominate colleagues.

Applications and nominations are simple, consisting of the candidate’s CV and a brief (200 word) statement of interest in the appointment. Please send these materials as a single pdf to all the committee members simultaneously:

Professor Madhumita Saha, committee chair. [email protected].
Professor Damilola Adebayo. [email protected]
Professor Sonia Robles. [email protected]
Professor Yovanna Pineda. [email protected]

2023 Global Community Committee

Madhumita Saha, Chair
Damilola Adebayo
Sonia Robles
Yovanna Pineda

For more information, please contact the committee chair or Jan Korsten, SHOT Secretary, [email protected].

Current Global Community Scholars

November 23, 2023
SHOT is pleased to announce the 2024-2025 Global Community Scholars:

MUMTAZ ALAM is a citizen of Fiji. His work examined the intricate interplay between Fijian medicine, cultures, and history. Currently, he is working in Fiji National University. He writes, ‘My participation in the program enables cross-cultural insights and comparative discussions that broaden the scholarly community’s horizons.’

FELIPE TRUJILLO BILBAO is a Doctoral candidate at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.  He is writing his dissertation on the topic of the green revolution and technological change in water usage in engineers who traveled from Chile to the US for technical assistance during the Cold War. He writes, ‘I would be honored to be nominated for this endeavor and put all of my efforts in promoting the work of the SHOT in the region, as well as helping in any way I can in the next SHOT annual meeting, which is a responsibility I have began to felt after seeing how difficult it has been to maintain a group of non-native English students and scholars engaged with the History of Technology.’

JOSE G. ALVAREZ CORNETT is an independent scholar from Caracas, Venezuela with a background in Physics, Geosciences, and Asia-Pacific business. He created VES PROJECT, an independent research initiative to study the life of immigrant STEM professionals in Venezuela. He is a lecturer in the History of Science at the Faculty of Science of the Central University of Venezuela (UCV). He writes that he wants ‘To communicate to the international HST community, either in English or Spanish, the main characteristics of HST and SSST research work that has been carried out in Venezuela. Additionally, I would like to present to the SHOT community (1) the story of the outstanding role played by Venezuelan women in the development of technologies during the 20th century and the first quinquennial of the 21st century; (2) the Asian influence on science, medicine, and technology in Venezuela during the 20th century; and (3) the influence of Ukrainian immigration in the Venezuelan society in science, the arts, technology, and medicine (1949-1999).’

BLESSING J. EDET did his Ph.D. at the University of Uyo, Nigeria. His thesis is titled, “Nigeria’s First Division and Trench Warfare in the Nigerian Civil War, 1967-1970”.  Currently, he is a Lecturer at the School of Basic Studies (SBS) and the School of Continuing Education (SCE ) Department of History, University of Uyo. He hopes he ‘will contribute significantly to the SHOT debate on historicizing regional technologies as well as in achieving my long-term research goals.’

ADENIJI OWALE specializes in military history. He takes a keen interest in the role of technology in Nigeria’s security architecture up until postcolonial times. Currently, he is a doctoral student at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Nigeria. He writes, ‘As a SHOT Global Community Scholar, I aim to share insights and enrich the global discourse on technology’s historical impact.’

THAMARAI SELVAN KANNAN is a doctoral student at IIT-Madras, India. His areas of specialisation include History of Science, Technology, Craft and Education. The applicant writes, ‘I have volunteered for the online (2021) and in-person (2022) annual conferences of our society in supporting the over-all organizing team. Last year I have organized a panel with fellow PhD candidates especially who comes from global south.’

Previous Global Community (International) Scholars