Science shops were established at universities throughout the Netherlands in the early 1970s with the avowed aim of democratizing science and contributing to social change. During the past few years, science shops have met with significant challenges. For one thing, they have had to adapt to various changes directly associated with the Dutch political climate, the organization of higher education, national research policies, and so on. Moreover, they have faced serious financial cutbacks. In their efforts to address these challenges, science shops have adopted various approaches, some of which have turned out to be more successful than others. Usually, the differences between the individual Dutch science shops are described and understood only in pragmatic terms, with respect to their internal organization and practices. This article, by contrast, argues that the different ways of coping with change should be understood as reflecting divergent, yet unarticulated, answers to the question of how science and technology can or should be democratized.

This paper proposes a model for a dynamic and constructivist perspective on generations. To study synchronous, contemporary interrelations between technology, media and generations, many different methodologies are available. Yet many historical, diachronic studies are marred by flaws and ambiguities in their use of ‘generation’ as a concept. To counter those problems, this paper argues for a process-oriented approach of generations – one which is modelled after Bolter and Grusin’s remediation. By distinguishing three mechanisms – immediate generation, immediate regeneration and hypermediate regeneration – the model of regeneration is linked to three theoretical concerns: the long-standing dilemmas in the sociological study of generations, the controversy around technological determinism in technology studies and contemporary challenges in research of ageing and youth cultures. The feasibility of the regeneration approach is elucidated by applying it to toys, especially educational toys. This paper also provides a methodology for the historical study of generations interacting with media and technology by recommending the combined use of three types of biographies as source materials.

In the emerging academic field of game studies, Roger Caillois’ Les Jeux et les hommes has already received the status of an obligatory reference. It is honoured as one of the few classic texts in game theory, but some also argue that it is not useful for analysing digital games. Caillois’ book is of particular interest for cultural theorists, though, because it presents a theory of games and play while also addressing the meaning of play. After analysing more closely why Caillois’ theory falls short when it is applied to digital games, we suggest a slight modification of its categories. Starting from the four game dimensions outlined by Caillois - competition, chance, simulation and vertigo - and his two modes of playing, paidia and ludus, we build on his theory by distinguishing two additional game characteristics, called repens and repositio. Both deal with the internal, temporal organization of a game. Repens is a specific characteristic of games that appeals to the player’s desire to discover, explore and get to know the surprises a game has in store and to make progress by learning from these surprises. Repositio denotes complementary experiences: having to retry, return, replay and repeat a certain action while getting better at it with every try. The balance, or unbalance, between repens and repositio, as characteristic elements of many digital games, determines to a large extent their attraction. Finally, repens and repositio are not only indicators of fun in the playing of digital games; they also hint at basic elements in learning theories and social theory. The study of the interplay between repens and repositio can help in clarifying the possibilities and limitations of digital games for learning purposes.

De mediahistorische benadering biedt een nieuw en interessant perspectief op afbeeldingen van vogels in de negentiende en twintigste eeuw. De geschiedenis van de ornithologie en van de vogelbescherming hebben zich de afgelopen decennia in een grote belangstelling mogen verheugen. De laatste jaren is een berg aan publicaties verschenen. Het feit dat de Nederlandse vogelbescherming kort geleden haar honderdjarig bestaan mocht vieren is daar ongetwijfeld mede debet aan. 1 Daar kwam de Boekenweek 2009 met als thema 'het dier in de letteren' nog eens bovenop. Voor het motto greep de Commissie Propaganda van het Nederlandse Boek (cpnb) terug op het gedicht 'De Mus' (1954) van Jan Hanlo: "Tjielp Tjielp!". De schappen van de Nederlandse boekhandels bogen in maart 2009 dan ook zowat door onder de last van het enorme aantal recent aan vogels gewijde publicaties. Tenminste, als die boeken niet op tafels lagen uitgestald, waartoe de fraaie omslagen uitnodigden. Kester Freriks' De valk. Over valkerij en wilde vogels werd gelouwerd als het mooiste boekomslag van 2009. 2

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