May 2012 - Air-L - lists.aoir.org

Full program, DiGRA Nordic 2012
by Frans Mäyrä 08 May '12

08 May '12

Dear all, The full program for DiGRA Nordic 2012 is now available online: http://digra-nordic2012.org/program/ The registration deadline for non-speaker participants has been extended until 30th of May: http://digra-nordic2012.org/registration/ Note that some of our hotel discounts have now already expired, so we recommend you book your accommodation asap: http://digra-nordic2012.org/venue/ Welcome to Tampere, - Frans > -----Original Message----- > From: Frans Mäyrä [mailto:frans.mayra@uta.fi] > Sent: 19. huhtikuuta 2012 10:28 > To: 'Games Research Network'; 'aoir list'; finland(a)digra.org > Subject: Call for Participation, DiGRA Nordic 2012 > > Dear all, > > DiGRA Nordic 2012 is now open for registrations: > > http://digra-nordic2012.org/registration/ > > You can access the draft program (with timetables and keynote titles) from > here: > > http://digra-nordic2012.org/program/ > > The full program will be made available as soon as all speakers and sessions have > been confirmed. Note that the deadline for speakers' registrations is Monday, 23 > April, 2012. The deadline for participants registration is Monday, 14 May, 2o12. > > There is information about hotels, travel arrangements and the venue available at > the conference website: > > http://digra-nordic2012.org/venue/ > > Welcome to Tampere! > > - Frans > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Frans Mäyrä [mailto:frans.mayra@uta.fi] > > Sent: 23. tammikuuta 2012 15:33 > > To: 'Games Research Network'; aoir list; finland(a)digra.org > > Subject: DiGRA Nordic 2012 Call for Papers (updates) > > > > DiGRA Nordic 2012 Local and Global: Games in Culture and Society > > 6-8 June 2012, Tampere, Finland > > > > - Updates! We can now announce all four conference keynote names > > note > also > > the updates to submission and registration information (below): > > > > * Nick Montfort is associate professor of digital media at MIT and > president of the > > Electronic Literature Organization. He develops text generators and > interactive > > fiction and has participated in dozens of literary and academic > collaborations. > > Montfort co-edited The New Media Reader and The Electronic Literature > > Collection Volume 1 and wrote Twisty Little Passages: An Approach to > Interactive > > Fiction, Racing the Beam: The Atari Video Computer System (with Ian > Bogost), > > and Riddle & Bind. His next book, 10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO > > 10, > is > > a collaboration with nine other authors about a one-line Commodore 64 > BASIC > > program. > > * Kristine Jørgensen is associate professor in media studies at the > University of > > Bergen. She has published articles on game sound, the user interface > > in > games, > > the player role, games research methods, the Norwegian game industry, > > and > game > > narratives. She is the author of A Comprehensive Study of Sound in > Computer > > Games, and is currently writing a book on game user interfaces. > > * Espen Aarseth is principal researcher at the Center for Computer > > Games Research, IT University of Copenhagen, and adjunct professor at > > the > Department > > of Media and Communication, University of Oslo. He is also co-founding > Editor- > > in-Chief of the journal Game Studies, founder of the Digital Arts and > Culture > > conference series, and co-founder of the Philosophy of Computer Games > > conference series, and author of Cybertext: Perspectives on Ergodic > Literature > > (Johns Hopkins UP 1997), a comparative media theory of games and other > > aesthetic forms. > > * Minna Ruckenstein is a Senior Researcher at the Finnish National > Consumer > > Research Centre in Helsinki and the President of the Finnish > Anthropological > > Society. Her ethnographic research has focused on childrens uses of > virtual pets > > and virtual worlds. Recent articles contribute to the study of > > childhood > from the > > perspectives of money, value creation and innovation. > > Published books include co-edited Rahan kulttuuri [The Culture of > > Money] > > (2009) and co-written Forget Innovation (2011). In 2011 she received > > the ITRA/BTHA and Brio prizes. > > * Also: the updated conference submission template is based on the > > DiGRA > > 2011 format you can download the paper template from here: > > http://digra-nordic2012.org/submission/ > > * Registration information is available from here: > > http://digra-nordic2012.org/registration/ > > > > - Overview: The study of games, players and related phenomena has > > expanded strongly both in its academic as well as in geographical > > range during the > last > > decade. The DiGRA Nordic 2012 conference aims bring together Nordic > > and > non- > > Nordic games researchers to discuss the cultural and social context of > games and > > play from multiple perspectives, including reflections of local and > > global > in game > > cultures. Year 2012 is the tenth anniversary of the Tampere Computer > > Games > and > > Digital Cultures (CGDC 2002) conference, providing also an opportunity > > to > reflect > > on the last decade of developments in Nordic game studies, as well as > > its > wider > > international scope. The conference will be open to themes related to > non-digital, > > as well as digital games and their different forms of play. > > > > - Review process: the conference accepts full paper submissions, which > will be > > handled in anonymous peer review. There are Theme Chairs who oversee > > the reviews in specific paper categories. There will be online > > publication of > accepted > > papers in the DiGRA Digital Library. > > > > - Venue: The conference will take place in Tampere, Finland, and will > > be > jointly > > hosted by Universities of Tampere, Jyväskylä and Turku. The modern > facilities of > > the new Technopolis building and the University of Tampere campus > > provide > the > > venue for plenary keynote sessions and paper sessions in parallel rooms. > There > > will be also social and other program available during the event. > > > > - Suggested themes and Theme Chairs: the conference has dedicated > > Theme Chairs who head the selection submissions as the meta-reviewers > > for the > key > > themes in the conference: > > > > * local/global in game cultures (Chair: Thorsten Quandt) > > * historical perspectives into digital gaming (Chair: Melanie > > Swalwell) > > * social player studies (Chair: Torill Mortensen) > > * games industry (Chair: Mirva Peltoniemi) > > * design of games (Chair: Annika Waern) > > * gamification and gameful design (Chair: Sebastian Deterling) > > * gambling vs. gaming studies (Chair: Pauliina Raento) see also the > special > > workshop program > > (http://digra-nordic2012.org/seminars-and-workshops/) > > * games as art (Chair: Simon Niedenthal) > > * critical approaches to game studies (Chair: Jonas Linderoth) > > * games as media and communication (Chair: Marko Siitonen) > > * other (the conference submissions are not limited to the above > > themes) > > > > - Organisers: The conference will be hosted jointly by the Finnish > > DiGRA > chapter, > > coordinated by Dr Olli Sotamaa and the Creation of Game Cultures > > research project, coordinated by professor Frans Mäyrä. Assisted by > > the review > board and > > local organising team, the main organisers are: > > > > * Review Chair: professor Raine Koskimaa > > * Program Chair: professor Jaakko Suominen > > * Local Chair: professor Frans Mäyrä > > > > - Dates: > > > > * deadline for full papers, panels and alternative forms: 13 February > > 2012 > > * authors are informed of review: 2 April 2012 > > * final paper submission deadline: 7 May 2012 > > * conference dates: 6-8 June 2012 > > > > - Contact details: You can find more, up-to-date information in > http://digra- > > nordic2012.org. The email contact address for the organising team is: > > digranordic2012 [at] gmail.com. For more information about other > > Nordic > DiGRA > > activities, go to: http://www.nordic-digra.org/ > > > > Welcome to Tampere! > > > > - Frans > > > > -- > > Frans Mäyrä, Professor, Digital Culture & Game Studies > > ** Information Studies and Interactive Media INFIM/TRIM > > ** School of Information Sciences SIS ** > > ** 33014 University of Tampere, Finland ** > > frans.mayra(a)uta.fi / fransmayra(a)gmail.com / frans(a)unet.fi > > ** gms 050 3367650 / fax 03 3551 7503 www.uta.fi/sis/ > > www.fransmayra.fi www.unet.fi www.uta.fi/~frans.mayra > > > >

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Final call: Carl J. Couch Internet Research Award 2012
by Mark D. Johns 07 May '12

07 May '12

CALL FOR AWARD APPLICATIONS Carl J. Couch Internet Research Award 2012 Sponsored by the Carl Couch Center for Social and Internet Research http://www.cccsir.com/ *Application deadline is EXTENDED to May 20, 2012* The Carl Couch Center issues an international call for student-authored papers to be considered for Carl J. Couch Internet Research Award. The Couch Center welcomes both theoretical and empirical papers that (1) apply symbolic interactionist approaches to internet studies, (2) demonstrate interactive relationships between social interaction and communication technologies, and/or (3) develop symbolic interactionist concepts in new directions. Papers will be evaluated based on the quality of (1) mastery of symbolic interactionist approaches and concepts, (2) originality, (3) organization, (4) presentation, and (5) advancement of knowledge. Those contemplating entering should note that an interactionist approach demands thoughtful analysis, and not mere description, of human interactions. Evaluation will be administered by a Review Committee of four: Mark D. Johns, Luther College, Decorah, Iowa Lori Kendall, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Annette Markham, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Lois Ann Scheidt, Indiana University, Bloomington Competition is open to graduate or undergraduate students of all disciplines. Works that are published or accepted for publication are not eligible for award consideration. Entries should be in English and not exceed 30 pages (approximately 7500 words) in length, including references and appendices. Limit of one entry per student per year. The top paper will receive Couch Award to be presented at the 2012 meeting of the Association of Internet Researchers (aoir.org) at the University of Salford, (near Manchester) UK. The top paper will be awarded a certificate and a cash prize of $300 US and the author will be invited to present their work at a session of the AoIR conference, October 18-21, 2012 in Salford. Candidates should send a copy of their paper, with a 100-word abstract, electronically to Mark D. Johns at mjohns(a)luther.edu Application deadline is EXTENDED to May 20, 2012. Notification of award will be sent by June 15. Those with questions or comments about Couch Award application, please contact: Mark D. Johns Luther College Study Centre Nottingham, UK UK phone: (44) 115-929-2721 US phone: 563-387-1347 E-mail: mjohns(a)luther.ed

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History of 'Home' in internet browsers
by Sue Thomas 07 May '12

07 May '12

Hi I wonder if anyone can help? I'm trying to track down when and why it was decided to use the term 'Home' and its accompanying icon in web browser design. Does anyone have any information on that? We have got so used to it that it's almost invisible in our consciousness, but Home is not default in every part of the world. In the Middle East for example, that function is called the Main Page, not the Home Page. I'm thinking that 'home' is probably an American concept in this context. I'd also like to collect more equivalencies from non-English speaking countries, so please do get in touch if your country's browser features something other than 'home'. I'd be most grateful for your thoughts on the above. Please reply backchannel to sue.thomas(a)dmu.ac.uk Many thanks Sue _________ Sue Thomas Research Professor of New Media IOCT/Faculty of Art, Design and Humanities Clephan 1.01d, De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK +44 (0)116 207 8266 w: http://www.technobiophilia.com <http://www.technobiophilia.com/> Technobiophilia: Nature and Cyberspace e: sue.thomas(a)dmu.ac.uk <mailto:sue.thomas@dmu.ac.uk> t: @suethomas <http://www.twitter.com/suethomas> g: +suethomas <https://plus.google.com/110733806086330324299/>

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New Marxian Times! Reflections on the 4th ICTs and Society Conference “Critique, Democracy and Philosophy in 21st Century In-formation Society. Towards Critical Theories of Social Media”.
by Christian Fuchs 06 May '12

06 May '12

Fuchs, Christian. 2012. New Marxian Times! Reflections on the 4th ICTs and Society Conference “Critique, Democracy and Philosophy in 21st Century Information Society. Towards Critical Theories of Social Media”. tripleC – Journal for a Global Sustainable Information Society 10 (1): 114-121. http://www.triple-c.at/index.php/tripleC/article/view/411

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2nd CFP: CyberOrient: The Net Worth of the Arab Spring
by Vit Sisler 05 May '12

05 May '12

2nd Call for Papers **apologies for cross posting** “The Net Worth of the Arab Spring” Call for Papers - Special Issue CyberOrient: Online Journal of the Virtual Middle East Editor-in-Chief: Daniel Martin Varisco Guest Editor: Ines Braune Submission deadline: 31 May 2012 Aim As the first anniversary of the “Arab Spring” nears, several long-standing dictators have been toppled, protests still continue in other countries and new governments are being formed. Arguably, throughout this last year digital media have played an important, if not defining, role through Twitter, Facebook, blogs and the extensive news coverage in cyberspace. This is a call for papers across disciplines aiming for critical and evidence-based evaluation of the use of social media in the Arab Spring, the coverage of the Arab Spring in cyberspace and beyond, and the remediation and appropriation between social media and traditional media outlets, including satellite TVs and the press. First-person and ethnographic accounts are welcomed, but CyberOrient welcomes contributions from any field. About CyberOrient CyberOrient (http://www.cyberorient.net/) is a peer-reviewed journal published by the Middle East Section of the American Anthropological Association in collaboration with the Faculty of Arts of Charles University in Prague. The aim of the journal is to provide research and theoretical considerations on the representation of Islam and the Middle East, the very areas that used to be styled as an “Orient”, in cyberspace, as well as the impact of the internet and new media in Muslim and Middle Eastern contexts. The articles will be published online with free access in early autumn, 2012. Submission Articles should be submitted directly to Ines Braune (ines.braune(a)uni-marburg.de) and Vit Sisler (vit.sisler(a)ff.cuni.cz) -- Vit Sisler, Ph.D. Charles University in Prague Faculty of Arts & Philosophy Institute of Information Science and Librarianship New Media Studies http://uisk.jinonice.cuni.cz/sisler/

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Call for Papers: Participations special issue: The Fan Studies Network: New Connections, New Research
by Lucy Bennett 05 May '12

05 May '12

*Apologies for cross-posting* Call for Papers: Participations special issue: The Fan Studies Network: New Connections, New Research Formed in March 2012, the Fan Studies Network (http://fanstudies.wordpress.com/) was created with the idea of cultivating a space in which scholars of fandom could easily forge connections with other academics in the field, and discuss the latest topics within fan studies. Having attracted close to 200 members, the network is already fostering a sense of community and engendering fruitful debate. We intend to capture this dynamic intersection of scholars working in the field, and present it in a special issue of Participations: Journal of Audience & Reception Studies (http://www.participations.org/) Although fandom has been, to a degree, widely studied, the influence of the Internet and social media on fandom is resulting in scholars questioning and ruminating on how these platforms are presenting new challenges and how their influence can be understood. In this issue we will present a snapshot of the current state of the field and the topical themes that are presently being debated within this. Thusly, the issue will provide a platform for new scholarly collaborations between FSN members, demonstrating the possibilities for new modes of research. We encourage new members to the network and welcome proposals for articles on, but not limited to, the following possible topics: - Fan use of social media platforms - Fan practices - Activism and fandom - Producer-audience interactions - “Underrepresented” fan cultures - New modes of fan fiction New collaborations between network members, in addition to individual submissions, are particularly encouraged in order to reflect the FSN’s aims at strengthening the way in which knowledge is shared across the field. We also invite shorter pieces for a forum section. These will be 2,000 words maximum, non-peer reviewed debates between scholars on particular issues. Aiming for a more conversational mode, we welcome proposals for themes that may include: - Acafandom - Fan studies methodologies - Offline fandoms - The “next generation” of fan studies - Defining “fandom” - The ethics of fan studies - Fandom and brands Please submit article proposals or forum provocations of no more than 300 words, along with a 200 word biographical note to both Tom Phillips (T.Phillips(a)uea.ac.uk) and Lucy Bennett (Bennettlucyk(a)gmail.com) by 2 July 2012. Please also contact us with any queries or requests for further information. Completed articles will have a submission deadline of 10 December 2012 and you must be a member of the network to participate. Please note that Participations operates an open-refereeing policy. For more information see the website (http://www.participations.org/submission_guidelines.htm)

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CFP Special Issue of JCMC
by Sun Sun LIM 03 May '12

03 May '12

* Apologies for cross posting * Call for papers: Special Issue of the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication >From SMS to Smartphones: Tracing the Impact of the Mobile Phone in Asia Publication date: October 2013 The mobile phone has had a discernible impact on Asia, given its affordability, versatility and ubiquity as the key platform for computer-mediated communication. It has been widely deployed in virtually every aspect of everyday life, be it in commerce, politics, governance, education, religion, entertainment or recreation. The diversity and complexity of this fast-growing region has birthed innovative and ground-breaking applications of the mobile phone. While basic feature phones are already a mainstay in both rural and urban Asia, the smartphone is now rapidly diffusing through the region at a rate exceeding the rest of the world. Bringing the idea of the ubiquitous web to fruition, the smartphone's heightened connectivity and thriving app market are enabling yet more revolutionary uses of the mobile phone. While the rising adoption of the smartphone burgeons with potential for civic action, commercial enterprise, employment and educational opportunities and social service provision, challenges are also emerging for consumers, industries and governments alike. The early phase of mobile communication research was influenced by studies and theorization from North America and Europe. Spurred on by the wide diffusion of mobiles globally, research is now very much seeking to understand the international underpinnings of this form of mediated communication, especially as it increasingly blurs the lines between computers, Internet, and phones. Over the past decade, Asian research has been important in addressing the rapid diffusion, transformation, and shift in mobiles. Such research is growing, but is still relatively incipient. Against this backdrop, this special issue seeks to bring together the latest research findings, regional understandings, conceptualizations, and theories of the mobile in Asia. Article proposals are sought for topics including but not limited to the following: * does a digital divide exist in Asia with regard to mobile phone penetration and usage trends and if so, how can and should they be remedied? * what are the implications of the development of mobiles - especially smartphones and mobile Internet - for contemporary media in Asia? * how is the growing proliferation of the smartphone facilitating unprecedented forms and scales of communication? * how do issues of broad infrastructure provisions and market pricing influence the behaviour of mobile phone users? * how are the location based services offered by smartphones altering user behaviour and lifestyles? * how does mobile Internet use complement and possibly complicate fixed location Internet use? * what implications does the growth of smartphone apps have for the cultural complexion of Asian countries? * how is the mobile phone serving the needs of marginalised communities in Asia? * to what extent do smartphones and the behaviour which they enable test the boundaries of existing regulatory frameworks? * how does the rising ubiquity of the smartphone and by implication, that of always-on, always-available Internet access challenge prevailing theoretical frameworks relating to inter alia, technology acceptance, mobility, communication, social influence and identity? Please submit an 800 word abstract and a 100 word biographical note to both special issue editors as an e-mail attachment no later than 30 June 2012. Authors of accepted abstracts will be notified by 15 July 2012 and invited to submit a full paper. Manuscripts should be no more than 8,000 words, including notes and references, conform to APA style, and submitted by 30 October, 2012. All papers will be subject to anonymous peer review following submission. Important dates Deadline for abstracts 30 June 2012 Decisions to authors 15 July 2012 Full paper submission 30 October 2012 Decisions 30 January 2013 Revised paper submission 30 April 2013 Final proofs 30 June 2013 Issue publication October 2013 Special issue editors Sun Sun LIM, National University of Singapore, sunlim(a)nus.edu.sg Gerard Goggin, University of Sydney, gerard.goggin(a)usyd.edu.au

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CFP：Social Media, Digital Network and Globalization: 2012 China New Media Communication Conference, Macao International Conference，Dec 6 - 8, 2012
by meiwu＠umac.mo 03 May '12

03 May '12

Call for Papers Social Media, Digital Network and Globalization: 2012 China New Media Communication Association Annual Conference, Macao International Conference Macao SAR, China Dec 6 - 8, 2012 2012 China New Media Communication Association Annual Conference, Macao International Conference, co-organized by the Department of Communication, University of Macao and China New Media Communication Association (CNMCA) will be held in Macao, a charming enclave of Eastern and Western cultures. We sincerely invite colleagues from all parts of the world to come to Macao, and share with us your ideas about communication and social media. Purpose Accompanied by the development of high technology and the formation of knowledge economy, digital network technology has given rise to social media, which leads to a great transformation of our pattern of communication, mode of production, style of life and even way of thinking. A digital network society has emerged on the horizon. Digital social networks speed up the globalization and exert great influence on social life and production around the world. Internet-based virtual spaces have become an indispensable communication environment for further globalization. Against the backdrop of globalization?some crucial issues arise. How does digital network technology reconstruct global society? How do new media influence our concept of time and space, our daily lives and the environment around us? How do social media enhance citizens? participation and influence group actions? Where is global communication technology heading for in the future? CNMCA is the only national academic organization in China specialized in computer-mediated communication studies. Starting in 2004, its annual conference was held in various cities in Greater China including Beijing, Nanjing, Wuhan, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. It has become the top academic convention in China on new media communication studies. The Organizing Committee of the conference is now calling for papers from both Chinese and international scholars, media professionals and graduate students. The conference offers Best Student Paper Awards to papers contributed by graduate students of CNMCA members. The winners of the Best Student Paper Awards will receive travel subsidies to come to Macao for the conference. Themes The central theme of the conference: Social Media, Digital Network and Globalization. Related issues include, but are not limited to: ? Development of new media and social media ? New media and cultural and creative industries ? New media and civil society ? New media, culture and globalization (including intercultural communication) ? Advertising and brand communication in relation to new media ? New media and transformation of traditional media ? Other related topics Conference Organizers ? Department of Communication, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Macao ? China New Media Communication Association ? Co-organizer: Macao Association for Internet Research (MAIR) ? Other sponsors: ERS e-Research Lab and major new media companies in China and Macao (TBD) Dates and Venue ? December 6-8, 2012 ? Conference Venue: University of Macau Languages Chinese and English. The conference will be held in parallel sessions of Chinese and English. It will establish special forums and a round table discussion in English and Chinese to encourage a cross-cultural dialogue and debate for scholars at home and abroad. Paper Submission ? The paper submitted must be original and unpublished work, which has not been submitted for publication elsewhere. ? The paper should be presented with clear arguments, refined text, reliable data, clear charts and normative format. ? The paper should be limited to 5000~10000 words with an abstract of 300-400 words. ? The paper should bear the author?s name, position, organization, mailing address, email address, contact numbers. ? All papers should be submitted electronically to: 2012newmediacon(a)gmail.com ? All papers submitted, no matter accepted or not by the Conference, will not be returned. ? All papers will be reviewed by a review committee under the Conference Organizing Committee. ? In addition to the conference proceedings, a selection of best papers may be published as a special issue in a possible collaboration with an international journal in media and communication technology. Important Deadlines: Abstracts & final papers should be submitted via e-mail to the following address: 2012newmediacon(a)gmail.com ? Abstract submission deadline: July 15, 2012; ? Abstract acceptance notice: July 31, 2012; ? Final paper submission deadline: September 20, 2012; ? Full paper acceptance notice: September 30, 2012. Conference Registration ? Scholars?RMB600?mainland China??US$150?Overseas? ? Students?RMB200?mainland China??US$50?Overseas? Conference Website ? http://www.umac.mo/fsh/comm/newmediaconference Wu Mei, Ph.D. Associate Professor Programme Coordinator of Bachelor of Social Sciences in Communication Department of Communication Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities University of Macau Taipa, Macau Tel: (853) 83978994 (O) Fax: (853) 28838312 E-Mail: meiwu(a)umac.mo

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Major evaluation report on inclusive social media released, online event
by Steven Clift 02 May '12

02 May '12

See: http://blog.e-democracy.org/posts/1420 If you like what you see, we are interested in working with researchers and grad students who are exploring the intersection of digital inclusion and community engagement.

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"Re-Search": New mailinglist on search engines
by René König 02 May '12

02 May '12

Hi, In co-operation with Amsterdam´s Institute of Network Cultures (http://networkcultures.org/) we created the new mailinglist Re-Search focusing on search engine research. We are interested in search engines from various perspectives and disciplines, in particular in regard to the social and cultural implications of this technology. If you are interested, please register here: http://listcultures.org/mailman/listinfo/re-search_listcultures.org (in case you want to tweet it: bit.ly/Iprbtb) Best, René --- Dipl.-Soz. René König Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS) P.O. Box 3640 D-76021 Karlsruhe Tel.: +49 (0) 721 / 608-22209 Web/Skype: renekoenig.eu Twitter: r_koenig

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