We are inviting academic editorial contributors to a new reference work on
consumption and waste, or the social science of garbage.

Archaeologists and anthropologists have long studied artifacts of refuse
from the distant past as a portal into ancient civilizations, but examining
what we throw away today tells a story in real time and becomes an
important and useful tool for academic study. Trash is studied by
behavioral scientists who use data compiled from the exploration of
dumpsters to better understand our modern society and culture. Why does the
average American household send 470 pounds of uneaten food to the garbage
can on an annual basis? How do different societies around the world cope
with their garbage in these troubled environmental times? How does our
trash give insight into our attitudes about gender, class, religion, and
art? The Encyclopedia of Consumption and Waste explores the topic across
multiple disciplines within the social sciences and ranges further to
include business, consumerism, environmentalism, and marketing. Each
article ranges from 600 to 3,000 words. We are now making assignments due
July 1, 2010.
	
This comprehensive project will be published by SAGE Reference and will be
marketed to academic and public libraries as a print and digital product
available to students via the library’s electronic services. The General
Editor, who will be reviewing each submission to the project, is Dr.
William Rathje, emeritus University of Arizona, the top scholar in the
field.

If you are interested in contributing to this cutting-edge reference, it
is a unique opportunity to contribute to the contemporary literature,
redefining sociological issues in today’s terms. Moreover, it can be a
notable publication addition to your CV/resume and broaden your publishing
credits. SAGE Publications offers an honorarium ranging from SAGE book
credits for smaller articles up to a free set of the printed product or
access to the online product for contributions totaling 10,000 words or
more.

The list of available articles is already prepared, and as a next step we
will e-mail you the Article List (Excel file) from which you can select
topics that best fit your expertise and interests. Additionally, Style and
Submission Guidelines will be provided that detail article specifications. 

If you would like to contribute to building a truly outstanding reference
with the Encyclopedia of Consumption and Waste: The Social Science of
Garbage, please contact me by the e-mail information below. Please provide
a brief summary of your academic/publishing credentials in related issues. 

Thanks very much.
Joseph K. Golson
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