The “Transformationssoziologie konkret” conference, organized by the Schader Foundation in collaboration with RWTH Aachen University, will take place from June 30 to July 1 at the Schader-Forum and focuses on examining the evolving role of sociology amid societal transformations such as digitalization, ecological shifts, and demographic changes. The focus is on the dialog about the self-perception of sociologists and their role between research, consulting and activism.
Samuel T. Simon’s presentation is titled “Die Rolle von Wissenschaftler:innen im Transformationskontext: Facilitation als Schlüssel zur inter- & transdisziplinären Wissenskoproduktion” and will be held on June 30 at 3 PM as part of “Session 4 Soziologie in der Transformation”.
The presentation explores the role of researchers not just as knowledge producers but as facilitators of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration in transformative societal contexts. Drawing on the concept of the facilitator as an embodied boundary object and embodied infrastructural practice within the tensions of sociomaterial entanglement, tacit knowledge, invisible labor in academic collaborations, I highlight how facilitation practices are essential infrastructures for aligning diverse epistemic cultures, navigating role ambiguity, and enabling collective knowledge production. Through his talk he wants to reframe facilitation as a critical sociomaterial and affective practice that supports transformative research by making collaboration itself more resilient, inclusive, and adaptive.
Further information on the conference can be found on the official website: https://www.schader-stiftung.de/veranstaltungen/aktuell/artikel/transformationssoziologie