Voices
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From January to May 2011, the IAS-STS graciously hosted me as a Research Fellow. It was also an honour to receive the Manfred-Heindler grant. Institute staff were welcoming and always ready to offer assistance – or to let me borrow their books! The Institute’s library provided me with a chance to access things I’d wanted to read for quite some time. The work facilities are beautiful as well. The offices for Research Fellows are full of sunlight and plants; they are splendid places to work.
My time at the IAS-STS was intellectually productive. I started researching and developing field work materials for a new research project about energy, emissions and ICT use. Feedback from colleagues at the work-in-progress seminar, and also at an STS seminar earlier in my stay, was illuminating. Meeting other researchers working on similar topics, especially related to sustainable computing and consumption, was really rewarding. I enjoyed sharing readings and talking about them with other fellows, as well as hearing about their projects. It was particularly interesting to share ideas with colleagues from other disciplines, and compare different disciplinary approaches to common research problems and issues.
Graz is a quiet city, but it is a good place for writing. After the heart-attack-inducing pace of London life, it was pleasant slow down. Sociable lunch times with IAS-STS colleagues were a highlight.
Sandy Ross, United Kingdom, IAS-STS Research Fellow 2010/2011
