Sociology of Risk and Uncertainty – Newsletter 01 of 2026

 
 
The preparations for the XXI World Congress of Sociology will begin shortly.
The XXI World Congress of Sociology, titled  Global Sociology in Turbulent Times,” will take place from 4–10 July 2027 in Gwangju, Korea. Congress Theme is Global Sociology in Turbulent Times, reflecting the pressing challenges and transformations shaping societies worldwide.
The Working Group WG04 (Sociology of Risk and Uncertainty) will open its Calls for Sessions in May 2026. Submissions will be accepted until 25 June 2026.
Further details will be shared soon—please be ready to submit your session proposals once the call is released.
 
More information on the World Congress: https://www.isa-sociology.org/en/conferences/world-congress/gwangju-2027/xxi-isa-congress-global-sociology-in-turbulent-times
 

 
 
 
 
Special issue of

Health, Risk & Society 

Volume 28 (3-4)

Sociotechnical imaginaries and practices of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare: revolutionising care or amplifying new risks?
Veronica Moretti & Francesco Miele

When the white coat meets the code: medical professionals’ negotiating with artificial intelligence, trust and boundary work
Laura Sartori, Marianna Musmeci, Sara Cannizzaro, & Chiara Binelli,

The risk of trust: AI narratives in breast cancer detection
Riccardo Pronzato, Marta Gibin & Antonio Maturo

Algorithmic reconfiguration of mental health care: risk, trust and vulnerability in Italian professionals’ accounts
Giulia Banfi & Noemi Crescentini


Imagining risk in AI-based neuroprosthetics: sociotechnical futures of care in Parkinson’s disease
Barbara Morsello & Stefano Vassanelli

Hybrid intelligence: understanding how AI reframes risk and uncertainty in dementia care
Veronica Moretti, Martina Consoloni, Francesco Miele & Ludovica Rubini

Recalibrating expectations in robotic and AI-enhanced care: trust, risk, and professional boundaries renegotiation
Eleonora Rossero & Linda Lombi

Artificial intelligence in European healthcare: risk perceptions and regulatory challenges
Juan Sebastián Fernández-Prados, Antonia Lozano-Díaz, Raquel Latorre-Martínez & María José Torres-Haro

 
 
 

SoRU Newsletter
 
The Sociology of Risk and Uncertainty (SoRU) newsletter is for members and others interested in the activities of the ESA Research Network (RN22) and ISA Thematic Group (TG04) on the Sociology of Risk and Uncertainty. 
SAVE THE DATE! 
 
The Mid-Term Conference of ISA WG04 Sociology of Risk and Uncertainty will take place from 20 to 22 January 2027 at the Research Center on Risk, Resilience and Recovery from Disasters (CIGIDEN) in Santiago, Chile.
Further information, including the Call for Papers, will be announced shortly.

Save the Date!

Esa Warsaw, from 25 to 28 August 2026

We look forward to welcoming you to ESA Risk 2026 in Warsaw, from 25 to 28 August 2026. We are pleased to announce that we have received an outstanding number of abstracts, with more than 15 active sessions already confirmed, promising a stimulating and engaging scientific programme.

 

Project!

UrbEaT (Urban greenery mitigates the effects of the urban heat island: a comparative study of Beijing and Warsaw) is a research project conducted in partnership between Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland, and two institutes in China: the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Yunnan University. 


 

RECENT BOOK, REPORTS, ARTICLES and MORE

Dixon, J., Leah, C., Craig, E. and Haines-Delmont, A., 2026. ‘I don’t think there’s many British African Caribbean men that talk positively about mental health services’: Risk, trust, racism and the Mental Health Act. Health, Risk & Society28(1-2), pp.1-19.

Siviş, S., Banks, J., Dixon, J., Redaniel, T., Scott, P. and Wilson, R., 2026. ‘Managing down’:‘pioneering’practice and professional discretion in the South-West of England care homes during the pandemic. European Societies, pp.1-22.
 
Pieri, E. (2026). “The Next Pandemic”. In Gillan, K and May, V (eds) Interrogating the Global Social Challenges. Bristol, UK: Bristol University Press, pp.75-88. 

Jens O. Zinn , Manuel Schulz (2026) A New Phenomenology of Risk and Uncertainty. Reflexive and Embodied Modes of Reasoning, Palgrave Macmillan

Balžekienė, Aistė; Budrytė, Paulina. Methodological solutions for interactive socio-spatial vulnerability dashboards for risk governance // Journal of risk research. Abingdon : Routledge; Taylor & Francis group. 2026, vol. Early Access, p. 1-18.

Balžekienė, Aistė; Telešienė, Audronė. Exploring clusters of perceived climate change risks and impacts across countries with different exposure // International journal of sociology. Oxon : Taylor & Francis. 2025, vol. 55, iss. 6, p. 431-452. 
 

 

Stay in touch!

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