Oasis in the Void: An Artemis II astronaut took this picture of Earth from the Orion spacecraft’s window on April 2, 2026. (Image Credit: NASA)
Since SHOT’s founding in 1958, in the wake of the launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik in 1958, the complex and essential relationship between technology, politics, and policy has been fundamental to the work of historians of technology. Over the past seven decades, however, the explorations of this theme have taken many different forms. The recent dramatic shifts in global–and local–politics, policy, and economics have drawn attention to the concomitant upheavals in the history of technology, or rather to the approaches and conclusions of historians of technology. Are the pressing circumstances of our own contemporary moment a catalyst, an inflection point, or an invitation to revisit and reengage with foundational concepts in the history of technology?
The theme of the 2026 SHOT Annual Meeting is “Technology, Politics and Policy.” The goal is to initiate a substantive examination of all aspects of the embedded political, economic, and social values in our artifacts, institutions, and systems of governance that shape and are shaped by technology. It is also an opportunity to build upon our strengths in investigation and analysis of the past, to mobilize and engage with current challenges. As SHOT’s inaugural voluntary virtual conference, we hope that it will stimulate productive reflection on the technologies which permit this exchange of ideas beyond geographical borders, yet simultaneously rooted in the intimacy of individual places.
The virtual setting for this year’s meeting will create new opportunities to connect, collaborate, and build community across borders and time zones. Panels with familiar formats and themes featuring papers and roundtable discussions (including those marking anniversaries and milestones) will be a core part of the program. We invite creative proposals and experimental approaches that take advantage of the virtual setting to foster meaningful interaction, and strengthen our global scholarly community. We are particularly interested in proposals that create opportunities for graduate students and early career scholars to present their work and engage in meaningful intergenerational dialogue. We invite our museum and archives colleagues to contribute presentations that bring a museum object, archival document, a new exhibition, or historic landmark place into focus. In collaboration with publishers and editors, we will highlight books and articles, along with opportunities for discussion on the research, writing and publication processes. The virtual format also offers the opportunity to present and discuss histories of technology through works on film, soundscape and other creative narrative methods. Interactive workshops that focus on particular methods, pedagogy and the changing landscape of teaching and research (e.g. AI and other digital approaches) are welcome.
All sessions will be 60 minutes long with the possibility of multiple linked sessions. Additional details with regard to breaks and other activities (SIG meetings, in-person gatherings, etc.) will be announced separately.
Debbie Douglas, President
Ellan Spero, Chair, Program Committee
History of Technology in Action
Individuals and groups interested in finding others to develop a session together can submit an open session proposal to be posted on the SHOT website. f you would like to join an Open Session, please reach out to the organiser of that session.
Open Sessions