Technological Forecasting and Social Change has issued a Call for Papers for a Special Issue in Honor of Prof. Robert U. Ayres, a key figure in the development of biophysical economics. Contributions can be submitted by the 30th of November 2017.

Technological Forecasting and Social Change, An International Journal published by Elsevier, provides a forum for discussing futures studies, technology assessment, and technological forecasting as planning tools as they interrelate social, environmental and technological factors. The Journal has been published since 1969, and features articles focusing on methodology and actual practice.

The journal recently announced the upcoming publication of a special issue in honor of Prof. Robert U. Ayres, on the occasion of his 85th birthday in 2017, and as a recognition of his many important contributions to research in technological forecasting and social change.

Robert U. Ayres is a physicist and economist, currently Novartis professor emeritus of economics, political science and technology management at INSEAD. He is also Institute Scholar at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Austria, and a King’s Professor in Sweden. He has previously taught at Carnegie-Mellon University, and as a visiting Professor at Chalmers Institute of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden. He is noted for his work on technological forecasting, life cycle assessment, mass-balance accounting, energy efficiency and the role of thermodynamics in economic growth. He originated the concept of “industrial metabolism”, known today as “industrial ecology” with its own journal. He has conducted pioneering studies of materials/energy flows in the global economy.

Ayres is author or co-author of 21 books and more than 200 journal articles and book chapters. His most recent books are Energy, Complexity and Wealth Maximization (Springer, 2016), The Bubble Economy (MIT Press, 2014), Crossing the Energy Divide with Edward Ayres (Wharton Press, 2010), and The Economic Growth Engine with Benjamin Warr (Edward Elgar, 2009).

Prof. Ayres has published many papers and book reviews in Technological Forecasting and Social Change from 1971 until 2006. His first paper in 1971 was titled “On the Sustenance of Technological Innovation”. His most recent paper appeared as a From My Perspective note “Turning point: The end of exponential growth?” in 2006. He was the guest editor of a special issue on Computer-Integrated Manufacturing in 1989 (vol 35, issue 2-3) setting the stage for Industry 4.0.

His former students, postdoctoral fellows, colleagues and researchers from all over the world are invited to contribute to this special issue within the entire scope of Technological Forecasting and Social Change or the research interests of Prof. Robert Ayres (cf. https://ruayres.wordpress.com/).

The deadline for submissions is 30 November 2017. All submissions will undergo the standard Technological Forecasting and Social Change peer-review process.

For more information please visit:
https://www.journals.elsevier.com/technological-forecasting-and-social-change/call-for-papers/special-issue-in-honor-of-prof-robert-u-ayres

The Special Issue of Technological Forecasting and Social Change in Honor of Prof. Robert U. Ayres is expected to be published in May 2018.