[STS-Africa] International Symposium - Biomedical Technologies in Sub-Saharan Africa: Technology Transfer, Transnational Networks and Appropriation of Practices

[Luisa Reis de Castro]

International Symposium

Biomedical Technologies in Sub-Saharan Africa:
Technology Transfer, Transnational Networks and Appropriation of Practices

24-25 March, 2014 Lisbon, Portugal at

Center for African and Brazilian Studies Higher School of Social and
Political Sciences University of Lisbon

Rua Almerindo Lessa - 1300-663 Lisboa

Globalization and development in the field of medicine and health in
African contexts are closely bound up with the distribution, use and
embedding of biomedical technologies, like ultrasound ma- chines,
amniocentesis, radiation and chemotherapy, technologies for assisted
reproduction or for organ transplantation, telemedicine, CT scans,
X-ray and blood testing equipment (e.g. for HIV/AIDS), to name but a
few. These technologies are disseminated by different actors (such as
institutions, associations, private corporations and individuals)
within certain global power geome- tries and linked (health) policies
and in a context of growing middle and higher income classes in
sub-Saharan Africa - aspects influencing how these technologies are
locally applied. These travelling technologies often encompass the
transfer of artifacts and things, specific knowledge and skills,
treatment and counseling practices into various health domains. Next
to affecting clinical organiza- tion and practices, biomedical
technologies potentially have an enormous impact on patients’ and
users ́ understandings and experiences, as well as the meanings they
attach to health, illness and care. In addition, technologies may
affect the way patients relate and interact with each other, with
healthcare providers, their relatives or policy makers. Conversely,
locally specific configurations of socio-cultural, economic,
historical and health policy aspects interact and influence form and
praxis around these technologies in subtle or more obvious ways.
Providers and users are creative in adopting technologies to local
needs or re-organizing associated issues, like hygiene in operation
theatres or criteria for the use of ultrasound machines. Not to
forget, new (bio)socialities and prac- tices around biomedical
technologies may emerge, like self-support groups and social
movements. So far, the above raised topics, dynamics and processes
around the transfer and use of technologies to sub-Saharan Africa are
still a rather under researched area.

The aim of this symposium

This international symposium wants to make a substantial contribution
to further explore the issues surrounding the transfer and use of
biomedical technologies in sub-Sahara Africa. Therefore, we want to
bring together scholars providing historical and ethnographic insights
into the various ways in which the transfer and use of different
technologies in arenas of health and biomedicine in Sub- Saharan
Africa take shape. We aim to exchange our research results with other
scholars interested in similar topics in Sub-Saharan Africa. We intend
to explore various phases of the transfer and use of different
biomedical technologies, their characteristics and their impact on
health related practices, understandings and relationships, from a
variety of angles, empirical and theoretical. In particular we are
interested in papers providing insight in:

• different ways in which biomedical technologies and associated
knowledge and skills travel: how these formats specifically impact on
clinical practices and the organization of treatment and care
arrangements, counseling practices and ethical procedures

• the mobility of health staff and patients within and to sub-Saharan
Africa; existing and emerging transnational networks, resulting from
and affecting the transfer and use of bio- medical technologies
(North-South, South-South, and South-North movements)

• how locally specific aspects (in socio-cultural, economic,
religious, historical and political terms) shape implementation and
praxis of those technologies; how they influence the im- plementation,
form and praxis of and around biomedical technologies

• how different logics and regimens of knowledge and practice interact
when biomedical technologies travel and become embedded in new
contexts; resulting kinds of appropria- tions, knowledge and forms of
relations

• creative adoptions by patients and users of biomedical technologies;
how they make sense of biomedical technologies; resulting
appropriations, production of knowledge and new forms of relations

• which forms of organizational and entrepreneurial options, of
training and educational for- mats emerge through the use and
implementation of biomedical technologies within sub- Saharan Africa;
accompanying networks and connections on transnational levels; their
im- pacts on biomedical practices and health arenas in sub-Saharan
Africa

This list is not exhaustive; we also appreciate contributions to
further linked topics or more theoreti- cal oriented papers on issues
around the transfer of biomedical technologies.

Format of the symposium
Depending on the abstracts accepted, we will group the papers along
thematically and theoretical lines into 3-5 panels. Cristiana Bastos
and Marcia Inhorn will give keynote lectures and handle the final wrap
up of the panels and discussions.

How to apply

Scholars and researchers from various disciplines (anthropology,
sociology, African Studies, History) are invited to send abstracts
(max. 300 words) to Inês Faría inesdffaria at gmail.com and Giulia
Cavallo giulia.c at hotmail.com before October 30, 2013. Acceptance of
abstracts will be notified by November 20, 2013. Participation in the
international symposium will be cost free, but no travel funds are
available.

The organizers

This international symposium is organized by the research team of the
project Dynamics and differ- ences of Assisted Reproduction in
Sub-Saharan Africa: Technology transfer, transnational networks and
appropriation of practices funded by the Portuguese Foundation for
Science and Technology (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia) and
hosted by the Centre for African and Brazilian Studies (CEAB) at the
School for Social and Political Sciences (ISCSP) at the University of
Lisbon. (See also http://ssaart.wordpress.com). The research team
consists of:

Viola Hörbst, head of the research group – CEAB-ISCSP, University of
Lisbon; Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic
Diversity, Göttingen

Trudie Gerrits, researcher - Amsterdam Institute of Social Science
Research, University of Amsterdam

Inês Faría, researcher - CEAB-ISCSP, University of Lisbon
Giulia Cavallo, researcher - CEAB-ISCSP, University of Lisbon
Cristiana Bastos, consultant – Instituto de Ciências Sociais,
University of Lisbon Marcia Inhorn, consultant – Department of
Anthropology, Yale University