[URBANTH-L] FUNDING: PhD in Sociospatial Effects of Video-Surveillance in Urban Nightscapes (Netherlands)

[Angela Jancius]

09/145 - PhD Socio-spatial effects of video-surveillance in urban
nightscapes:


The School of Management and Governance (SMG) is a growing school that
strives to hold a leading position in the field of business and social
sciences and to do joint education and research with the technical schools
of the University of Twente. The school focuses on management, governance,
innovation, technology and entrepreneurship. In all these fields, the
school provides bachelor, master and professional development programmes.
In addition, scientific and applied research is carried out in various
branches, such as health care, higher education, banking, and services
business. Research is accommodated within the university research
institutes: The Institute for Governance Studies (IGS), and the Centre for
Telematics and Information Technology (CTIT). The school has approximately
350 staff and 2,200 students.

The Department of Science, Technology, and Policy Studies (STÉTPS) takes
the assessment and governance of innovations and emerging technologies as
its central theme of teaching and research. STÉTPS considers in particular
strategic issues that require multidisciplinary approaches to developments
in science, technology, politics and society. Studies conducted within
STÉTPS link analytical and normative perspectives, and consider not only
technological innovations but also innovations in governance. The
Department of STePS consists of about 25 researchers, including PhD
candidates and junior researchers involved in research projects aimed to
understand the complex relationships between science, technology and
society. The department STÉTPS has a vacancy for a:

PhD position

Socio-spatial effects of video-surveillance in urban nightscapes

(1.0 fte)

Project

The emergence of video-surveillance technologies asks for a fundamental,
critical reflection on what is called the â?~surveillance societyâ?T. The
introduction of these novel technologies has major societal and ethical
consequences for citizens. Although surveillance technologies promise to
promote public safety for everybody, current practices of use suggest that
closed-circuit television (CCTV) may produce socially exclusive spaces.
Based on empirical studies, this research project aims to generate
recommendations about how video surveillanceâ?Ts potential to produce
socially inclusive and heterogeneous spaces in and around nightlife
districts can be maximized. This research is a collaborative project
between the University of Twente and Utrecht University. The research team
includes two PhD candidates and one postdoc researcher.

Tasks

The PhD candidate will conduct a study of the actual surveillance
practices in four nightlife districts in Dutch centers. Together with the
other PhD candidate you will examine how urban nightscape visitors
practically and emotionally respond to video-surveillance. The main focus
of this PhD project concerns an investigation of whether and how CCTV
operators practices contribute to processes of marginalization and
exclusion.

Profile

You have a master degree in one of the social sciences (e.g. technology
and culture, sociology, human geography, media studies) and affinity with
societal problems related to the introduction of surveillance technologies
in public spaces. You are motivated and able to work independently as well
as in collaborative projects. Knowledge of Dutch language is a
pre-requisite.

Employment conditions

We offer a challenging position in a stimulating environment. As a PhD
candidate you will be appointed in a full-time position for a period of
four years, at the end of which you must have completed your PhD thesis.
The gross monthly salary for a PhD increases from EUR 2042,- in the first
year to EUR 2612,- in the final year (in accordance with the Collective
Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities). In addition, the University of
Twente offers additional attractive employment conditions. The education
part of your appointment will take place in the context of the Dutch
Graduate School Science, Technology and Modern Culture
(http://www.wtmc.net ).

Information and application

For more information and extended description of the research project, you
can contact prof. dr. N.E.J. Oudshoorn (phone: +31 53 4893353, e-mail:
n.e.j.oudshoorn at utwente.nl . Please send your written application including 
a full resume, before July 20th, 2009 to the University of Twente, School of 
Management and Governance, attn: prof. dr. P.J.J.M. van Loon, Dean, P.O. 
Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, the Netherlands, stating application number 
09/145. It is also possible to send your application by e-mail to 
mbsollicitaties at mb.utwente.nl . For further details relating to
this position, see www.mb.utwente.nl/vacatures
<http://www.mb.utwente.nl/vacatures>  or http://www.mb.utwente.nl/steps/