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Panelists for Everyday Politics & Digital Activism Aoir 2017 in Tartu
by Mathias Klang 11 Feb '17

11 Feb '17

Panelists for Everyday Politics & Digital Activism Aoir 2017 in Tartu As the panel submission deadline is soon upon, please email a title and abstract to mathias.klang(a)umb.edu by 21 February 2017 Political changes around the world have brought about a great deal of political online discussion and calls to action on several social media sites. This form of digital activism has at times been disdainfully called slacktivism for its low barriers to entry, high affect, and low ability to lead to social change. The goal of this panel is to bring together examples of the ways in which everyday forms of digital activism are viable forms of political action that have an impact even beyond the confines of the digital realm. There is an obvious need more scholarship in order to discern what works, what doesn't, and why. Therefore this panel seeks contributors who are interested in questions such as (but not limited to): • What is the value of an online political act? • Can social media users express their views and make a difference? • How can digital devices be effective political tools for community mobilization? • What are the implications of social media activism? • What role do digital mediums have in shaping how we view contemporary civil rights movements? • What impact do algorithms & filter bubbles have on political communication? -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mathias Klang Associate Professor of Political Communication, UMass Boston http://klangable.com ~ @klangable ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Come Work with Us! Postdoctoral Fellow in Social Media Data Privacy & Ethics
by Anatoliy 11 Feb '17

11 Feb '17

The <http://www.ryerson.ca/> Ryerson University <http://socialmedialab.ca/> Social Media Lab at the <http://www.ryerson.ca/tedrogersschool/> Ted Rogers School of Management in Toronto, Canada (http://socialmedialab.ca/) is seeking a highly motivated and creative postdoctoral candidate to help conduct research in Social Media Data Privacy & Ethics. The broad aim of this position is to better understand how privacy and data use are perceived by social media users in relation to their own data being collected by third parties such as governments, journalists, and marketers. This postdoctoral fellowship position is part of the Social Media Lab's <http://socialmediadata.org/> Social Media Data Stewardship (http://socialmediadata.org/) research stream, and is funded in part by the Ted Rogers School of Management and Canada Research Chair Program. Applicants must have a demonstrable expertise and interest in privacy/ethics/internet policy research, a history of working with survey data. In addition, applicants must also have strong research writing, technical, and communication skills and a passion for data analysis (both qualitative and quantitative). DEADLINE: Review of applications will begin on March 1, 2017 and continue until the position is filled. See more details at http://socialmedialab.ca/2017/we-are-hiring-a-postdoctoral-researcher-in-soc ial-media-data-privacy-ethics/ -- Anatoliy Gruzd, PhD Canada Research Chair in Social Media Data Stewardship Associate Professor, Ted Rogers School of Management Director, Social Media Lab Ryerson University Mailing Address: 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5B 2K3 Office: TRS 2-071 (8th floor) Email: <mailto:gruzd@ryerson.ca> gruzd(a)ryerson.ca Twitter: @gruzd Tel: 416-979-5000 ext. 7937 Lab: <http://socialmedialab.ca/> http://SocialMediaLab.ca Homepage: <http://anatoliygruzd.ca/> http://AnatoliyGruzd.ca

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8th IEEE International Conference on Information, Intelligence, Systems and Applications (IISA 2017): Third CFP, Invited Sessions, Tutorials & Workshops Proposals
by Announce Announcements 11 Feb '17

11 Feb '17

*** Third Call for Papers and Invited Sessions, Tutorials & Workshops Proposals *** 8th International Conference on Information, Intelligence, Systems and Applications IISA 2017 Golden Bay Beach Hotel, Larnaca, Cyprus 28 - 30 August, 2017 http://www.cs.ucy.ac.cy/~george/lm/lm.php?tk=YWlyLUwJCQlhaXItTEBsaXN0c2Vydi… The International Conference on Information, Intelligence, Systems and Applications (IISA) series offers a forum for the constructive interaction and prolific exchange of ideas among scientists and practitioners from different research fields such as computers, mathematics, physics, biology, medicine, chemistry, experimental psychology, social sciences, linguistics, and engineering having the goal of developing methodologies and tools for the solution of complex problems in artificial intelligence, biology, neuroscience, security, monitoring, surveillance, healthcare, sustainability in energy sources, governance, education, commerce, automation, robotics, optimization, image, speech and natural languages, and their integration. IISA 2017 is the eighth conference in the IISA series, technically co-sponsored by IEEE, BAIF, the University of Piraeus and the University of Cyprus. The IISA 2017 proceedings will be published by IEEE and be included in the IEEE DL. The conference is intended as an international forum for researchers and professionals in all areas of Information, Intelligence, Systems, and Applications. We invite submissions of papers presenting high-quality original research and developments for the conference tracks listed below. The conference venue is the Golden Bay Beach Hotel (http://www.goldenbay.com.cy) perfectly situated at the edge of the tourist part of Larnaca, right on a long and wide stretch of fine and clear sandy beach, 10 km from the town center, just 15 km from Larnaca International Airport and 30 minutes from the capital city of Nicosia. This prestigious 5* hotel is renowned for its excellent facilities, combined with impeccable service and finest cuisine in luxurious surroundings The conference will last for three days and will feature tutorials, technical paper presentations, workshops, and distinguished keynote speeches. Instructions to Authors Papers must be submitted in IEEE Conference Style format, which can be downloaded from http://www.cs.ucy.ac.cy/~george/lm/lm.php?tk=YWlyLUwJCQlhaXItTEBsaXN0c2Vydi… . Papers must be limited to 6 pages in length. To submit a proposal for a Special Session, Tutorial or Workshop, please refer to the instructions in the web site. Topics of Interest We welcome all submissions in the subjects of IISA related (but not limited) to the following tracks and topics: Track I: Information Processing and Intelligence · Advances in databases · Information systems · Information and data management · Data mining, warehousing and knowledge extraction · Recommender systems · Digital rights management · Processing of Social and Emotional Interactions · Biological and artificial neural networks · Biological and artificial immune systems · Cognitive science · Neuroscience · Computational biology · DNA computing · Evolutionary computing and genetic algorithms · Bayesian networks · Expert systems & intelligent agents · Swarm intelligence · Fuzzy logic systems · Kernel methods - support vector machines · Ensemble classifiers · Emerging machine learning paradigms · Decision making techniques · Knowledge-based systems · Ambient-ubiquitous intelligence · Robotics and automation · Affective computing Track II: Multimedia Systems and Networks · Advances in audio/video and multimedia processing · Signal mining · Signal visualization · Human-machine interaction · Multimodal systems · Multimedia systems · Autonomous Computing · Distributed computing · Quantum computing · Mobile computing · Green computing · Trusted computing · Proactive computing · Cloud computing · Ubiquitous computing · Networking · Sensing, sensory systems and sensor networks · Design and implementation · Real time systems Track III: Educational Informatics · Adaptive and personalized learning · Student modeling · Intelligent tutoring systems · E-learning and mobile learning · Social media and learning · Educational games · Computer-supported collaborative learning · Big data in education and learning analytics · Affective computing in learning systems · Smart learning environments · Virtual and augmented reality in education · Risk management in education · Learning management systems · Content management systems · Learning technologies for students with special needs Track IV: Cyber Security · Watermarking, cryptography, cryptanalysis, steganography, and stegananalysis · Privacy and authentication · Malicious software analysis · Information, computer and network security · Infrastructure security · Forensics · Biometrics Track V: Smart Energy and Smart Cities · Methodologies and tools for assessing the energy status in smart cities · Intelligent sensors and data analytics for energy optimization · Monitoring and control of energy resources · Smart grid · Fault detection · Decision support systems in energy planning and scheduling · Middleware for urban computing · Intelligent transportation systems · Public displays for modern cities · Impact of urban computing in modern cities · Case studies and best practices · Big city data · Culture for smart cities Track VI: Healthcare · E-health, mobile health and smart health · Infrastucture for smart health · Advanced devices and robotics for smart health · Ambient intelligence in assisted living · Health information systems · Healthcare management · Case studies Track VII: Applications · E-government and m-government · E-commerce and m-commerce · E-entertainment and m-entertainment · E-legal and m-legal services · Personalized systems and services · Enabling technologies, frameworks and standards · Empirical evaluations · Simulation and evaluation via simulation · Case studies · Applications in culture and heritage · Applications in tourism · Applications in natural resource management · Applications in disabilities and to people at need Important Dates · Invited Session, Tutorial & Workshop Proposals: March 13, 2017 · Invited Session, Tutorial & Workshop Acceptance: March 20, 2017 · Submission of Papers: April 24, 2017 · Notification of Acceptance: May 29, 2017 · Camera-ready Submission: June 12, 2017 · Registration and Payment for Authors: June 12, 2017 · Conference Dates: August 28-30, 2017 Organization Program Chairs · N. Bourbakis, Wright State University, USA · G. A. Papadopoulos, University of Cyprus, Cyprus · G. A. Tsihrintzis, University of Piraeus, Greece · N. Virvou, University of Piraeus, Greece Program Committee http://www.cs.ucy.ac.cy/~george/lm/lm.php?tk=YWlyLUwJCQlhaXItTEBsaXN0c2Vydi…

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Call for AoiR Tartu panel participants on Digital Migration Studies
by Leurs, K.H.A. (Koen) 11 Feb '17

11 Feb '17

Dear Colleagues, Christian Ritter and Koen Leurs are planning to organize a panel around Digital migration studies: theoretical innovations and methodological considerations? . Kindly submit your extended abstracts (1200 words) for consideration to K.H.A.Leurs(a)uu.nl<mailto:K.H.A.Leurs@uu.nl> and christian.ritter(a)ntnu.no<mailto:christian.ritter@ntnu.no> by February 19. This year’s Association of Internet Research annual conference theme is “Networked Publics”, the conference will be held at the University of Tartu, Estonia this year from 18-21 October 2017. Submission deadline for panels is March 1, 2017. Looking forward to your submission. Do get in touch if you have questions or would like to discuss joining the session. Christian and Koen. **** Digital migration studies: theoretical innovations and methodological considerations? This panel explores how contemporary migrants engage with networked publics evolving on digital platforms. The global availability of digital media content helps shape multiple and partially overlapping publics reaching specific transnational audiences. Despite the rising popularity of digital communication across the globe, the role of networked publics in the quotidian experiences of migrants has not been comprehensively analyzed. Facing stereotypes, anti-immigration sentiment and discrimination in local settings across Europe, the US, Australia and elsewhere, numerous members of diaspora communities, expatriates, and refugees increasingly make use of online platforms to find their voices and forge transnational ties. Digital media bolster transnational migration networks, digital diasporas and they transform family life, and enable connected migrants. Simultaneously, social media platforms are also replete with discriminatory fake-news and hateful trending topics targeting specific migrant groups. The rapid progress of digital platforms involves considerable epistemological challenges and prompts a need for new forms of internet research, including digital ethnography and digital data-driven methods. By bringing together internet researchers from various disciplinary backgrounds, we seek to gain a better understanding of the complex interrelations between corporal travel and digital mobilities. To stimulate interdisciplinary debates, we welcome ethnographic and digital data-driven investigations into digital media enhancing mobilities as much as theoretical interventions and methodological innovations in the emerging research area of digital migration studies. Submissions can deal with one of the following questions: -In what ways do digital media reinforce encapsulating and cosmopolitan discourses? -How do experiences of connected migrants differ across geographies and gendered/classed/racialized situations (internal migration, transnational migration, forced migration, voluntary migration, elite migration, expatriates)? -What self-presentations do migrants choose across digital platforms? -How is solidarity with migrants and refugees digitally mediated across social media? -How does the digital circulation of fake-news, trolling, discrimination, hate and violence affect migrants? -How does big data and datafication (i.e. surveillance and border control) change the experience of migration? -How can mixed-method approaches be designed to examine networked publics of migrants? -How can data-driven approaches be mobilized for a social justice oriented digital migration studies? Organizers: Christian Ritter Christian Ritter is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Social Anthropology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology. His latest research project Assembling places of expertise: communicative practices of energy consultants in Northern Europe examines the role of digital platforms in the circulation of energy knowledge and expertise. In 2013, Christian completed his PhD at Ulster University, UK. Prior to his appointment as postdoctoral fellow at NTNU, Christian worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the Istanbul Studies Center, Kadir Has University, and was awarded a scholarship for international researchers by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (Tübitak). His research interests include digital media, corporate cultures, contemporary mobilities, sustainability, cultures of expertise and urban development (www.ntnu.edu/employees/christian.ritter) Koen Leurs Koen Leurs is Assistant Professor in Gender and Postcolonial studies at Utrecht University, the Netherlands. Lerus is a feminist internet researcher interested in multiculturalism, race, migration, diaspora and youth culture using mixed methods and ethnography. Leurs has published Digital Passages. Migrant Youth 2.0. Diaspora, Gender & Youth Cultural Intersections (Amsterdam University Press), Everyday Feminist Research Praxis (Cambridge Scholars Press). He is currently co-editing the Sage Handbook on Media and Migration, and journal special issues on ‘Forced Migration and Digital Connectivity’ for Social Media + Society and ‘Connected Migrants: Encapsulation and Cosmopolitanism’ for Popular Communication. He is the chair of the Diaspora, Migration and the Media Section for the European Communication Research and Education Association. See www.koenleurs.net. Koen Leurs, PhD Assistant professor Gender & Postcolonial Studies | Department of Media and Culture Studies | Utrecht University, the Netherlands | Muntstraat 2a, 3512 EV room 0.05 | T. + 31 30 253 7844| www.koenleurs.net<http://www.koenleurs.net/> Teaching: Coordinator minor Gender studies, minor Postcolonial studies, TCS hoofdrichting Gender and Postcolonial Studies. Research: NWO Veni Postdoc Young Connected Migrants (2016-2019) Network: Chair Diaspora, Migration and the Media Section, European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA) Recent publications:  -Digital Passages. Diaspora, Gender & Youth Cultural Intersections. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2015. Open access Download link<http://www.oapen.org/search?identifier=559550>. -Young connected migrants and non-normative European family life. International Journal of E-Politics, 2016, 7(3). Open access Download link<http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/67930/>. -w/ Myria Georgiou Digital makings of the cosmopolitan city. Young people’s urban imaginaries of London. International Journal of Communication, 2016, 10, 3689-3709. Open access Download link<http://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/4425/1736>. -w/ Tamara Shepherd. Datafication and discrimination. In. K. van Es & M. Schaefer (Eds.) The Datafied Society. In press. Open access Download link<https://www.academia.edu/29002676/Datafication_and_discrimination>. -Questioning Europe in 4D. Digitisation, datafication, discrimination & diversity. InterkulturRuhr. http://interkultur.einskommanull.com/node/184

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CfP: HCI Across Borders Symposium at CHI 2017
by Neha Kumar 11 Feb '17

11 Feb '17

Please share widely. Apologies for cross-posting! --- *Call for Proposals* HCI Across Borders <http://hcixb.org> Symposium in Denver (CO, USA) at CHI 2017 6th-7th May, 2017 *About the Workshop* The Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) community at CHI is increasingly embracing research being performed on topics and in regions that have been understudied in the past. To promote these efforts, the Development Consortium Workshop titled *HCI Across Borders* was held at CHI 2016 in San Jose. With support from SIGCHI and in collaboration with Facebook and Google, it was attended by 70+ researchers from 20 countries across the globe, with some of these countries being represented at CHI for the first time. The goal of this Consortium was to build community and invite collaborations *across borders* on themes of interest to the participants – those actively involved in international HCI projects, with most of them conducting research in understudied areas and with underrepresented individuals and communities across the world. This year marks another milestone as this event has grown to be a CHI Symposium. Our goal is to build on the efforts from the Development Consortium at CHI 2016 and to grow the community working in the area of HCI Across Borders (HCIxB), by providing an opportunity for interested researchers to come together as a community, improve the visibility of their work, and to bring greater awareness to the challenges that plague international research, particularly research that takes place in resource-constrained settings, to the larger HCI community. *Participation* We solicit participation from HCI researchers and practitioners across the globe who work with underserved, underrepresented, and/or under-resourced communities. We particularly invite participants who are keen to explore collaborations across borders. “Borders”, in this context, include geographic boundaries, but also boundaries of other kinds, such as disciplines, methodologies, ideologies, and more. Research areas of focus can be diverse, including but not limited to learning, global health, crisis informatics, civic engagement, mobile banking, etc. While this is no exhaustive list, examples of topics/themes of submission might include: - Leveraging participatory design and co-design approaches - Factoring cultural sensitivities in the design of new technologies and/or HCI methods - Designing to accommodate power differentials in communities - Devising innovative techniques for engaging new technology users - Designing for sustainability - Studying the intersection of HCI and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - And more! These are examples of projects that our Symposium might include, as the Consortium did last year <https://hci4dacrossborders.wordpress.com/>: - Emotional Wellbeing: Technology for Mental Health in Developing Countries - HCI, Forced Migration & Refugees: Collaborations across Borders and Fields - ICT Intervention for Agricultural Development: Exploring Prospects for Pakistani Farmers - Cuba Intercambio: Cultural and Information Exchange for Cuba - Online Learning Across Diverse Low-Resource Indian Contexts - Cognitive Modeling for Illiteracy Eradication - Mobile Technology-Based Supports for Prenatal Care Among the Ngäbe in Panama *Submissions* Please submit a proposal (3-5 pages in the CHI Extended Abstracts <https://chi2017.acm.org/submission-formats.html> format) *starting now *and before *April 15th, 2017*. We would appreciate early submissions. You will receive a decision within 15 days of submitting so you can plan your registration and travels accordingly. All submissions will be reviewed by the organizers and a program committee. They will be selected in accordance with their potential to contribute to the Symposium and to foster discussion. Accepted submissions will be available on our website before the conference. Authors of accepted submissions will also be invited to present posters of their proposals at CHI (although not mandatory). Please submit your PDFs at https://hcixb17.hotcrp.com/. Please note that we will accept contributions until the number of available attendees is reached, which may be before the ultimate deadline. *Bursaries* We are working on obtaining funding to pay travel expenses (or at least a portion thereof) for attendees in need. Please note that CHI guidelines require at least one author of each accepted submission to attend and be registered for the Symposium. *Organizers* Neha Kumar, Georgia Tech (USA) Susan Dray, Dray & Associates (USA) Christian Sturm, Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences (Germany) Nithya Sambasivan, Google (USA) Laura S. Gaytan-Lugo, University of Colima (Mexico) Leonel Morales, Francisco Marroquin University (Guatemala) Negin Dahya, University of Washington (USA) Nova Ahmed, North South University (Bangladesh) *Contact* For updates, please check: http://hcixb.org Email us your questions at: admin(a)hcixb.org

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VR equipment recommendations
by Amanda Licastro 10 Feb '17

10 Feb '17

Happy Friday everyone, I am currently working on an internal grant project to increase access to Virtual Reality technology at my university. We currently have 35 Google Cardboard viewers, and I implement free content in the classroom (I recommend NYTVR and InMind). However, in order for students to create their own content, I need to purchase 360 degree cameras and editing software. I am also interested in finding more advanced headsets and haptic feedback gloves for use in the classroom. In terms of camera, here are some recommendations I have found: https://unimersiv.com/post/buy-the-best-360-cameras-345/ In terms of software, Unity seems to be the best platform https://unity3d.com/learn/tutorials/topics/virtual-reality . However, I am not finding a lot of recommendations on editing 360 degree video. Any and all suggestions or resources are welcome. Thank you, Amanda Amanda Licastro, PhD Assistant Professor of Digital Rhetoric, Stevenson University in Maryland http://digitocentrism.com/ @amandalicastro

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16th World Conference on Mobile and Contextual Learning (mLearn 2017): First Call for Papers and Workshop Proposals
by Announce Announcements 10 Feb '17

10 Feb '17

*** First Call for Papers and Workshop Proposals *** 16th World Conference on Mobile and Contextual Learning mLearn 2017 Golden Bay Beach Hotel, Larnaca, Cyprus 30 October - 1 November, 2017 http://www.cs.ucy.ac.cy/~george/lm/lm.php?tk=YWlyLUwJCQlhaXItTEBsaXN0c2Vydi… In Cooperation with ACM SIGAPP The International Association for Mobile Learning (IAmLearn) (www.iamlearn.org) is the custodian of the mLearn conference series. mLearn is the leading annual international conference for researchers, policy makers, educators, developers and solutions providers in the fields of mobile, ubiquitous and contextual learning, as well as learning with emerging ambient and wearable technologies. mLearn attracts a large number of participants from more than 60 countries representing all continents, and is, therefore, the world's largest international conference on mLearning and emerging ambient technologies. Conference Themes The overarching conference theme is 'mLearning and Design for Social Change and Innovation'. Higher education institutions are called upon to provide for the competencies and skills that foster design for social change and innovation. In addition, knowledge and skills alliances are encouraged by funding bodies to cultivate, share and disseminate competencies that foster social entrepreneurship and innovation. However, little is known on how mlearning can facilitate this process, how it can contribute towards social change, innovation and entrepreneurship. The topics of interest can go beyond the conference theme, and can include any of the following: · The development, deployment and implementation of mlearning in the context of social entrepreneurship, innovation and social change · mLearning as a tool that fosters social change and social entrepreneurship · Innovations in mlearning theory and pedagogy · From pilot projects to mainstream implementation: strategies for the deployment of mLearning · Mobile technology to support open and distance learning · Mobile technology for teaching and learning support · Assessment techniques and practices in mLearning · Design and development of learning material for mLearning · Learning objects and metadata for mLearning · Informal and lifelong learning with the aid of mobile technologies · Challenges for mLearning in developing countries · Building and implementing mLearning strategies in educational institutions, companies and public sector organisations · mLearning management systems (mLMSs) · Computer tablets · Creating interactive and collaborative mLearning environments · Future trends in mLearning technology, including the impact of emerging technologies · Emerging hardware and software for mLearning including wearable technologies · Location-aware technologies · Contextual and situated learning · Augmented reality · Serious gaming and simulations · Ambient intelligence and ubiquitous learning Submission Information The conference solicits regular papers (no more than 8 pages), short papers (no more than 4 pages), as well as posters (no more than 2 pages). The Program Committee may require an accepted paper to be adapted into a short paper or poster. All papers must be prepared according to the ACM SIG Proceedings Template format (see the conference web site for further information). The papers must be original contributions not submitted or accepted for publication elsewhere. A submitted contribution should clearly indicate the conference topics it targets. For an accepted contribution to be included in the proceedings, at least one author must register and present the paper at the conference. For further information, see the submission guidelines on the conference web site. The conference proceedings will be published by ACM ICPS and archived in the ACM Digital Library. Important Dates · Submission of Workshop Proposals: 31 March 2017 · Notification for Workshop Proposals: 7 April 2017 · Submission Deadline for Conference Papers: 1 June 2017 · Submission Deadline for Workshop Papers: 21 July 2017 · Accept/Reject Notification for Conference Papers: 15 July 2017 · Accept/Reject Notification for Workshop Papers: 25 August 2017 · Camera-Ready Submission of all Papers: 1 September 2017 Information on registration categories and registration fees for the mLearn 2017 is available online at: http://www.cs.ucy.ac.cy/~george/lm/lm.php?tk=YWlyLUwJCQlhaXItTEBsaXN0c2Vydi…. Organization General Chair · George A. Papadopoulos, University of Cyprus, Cyprus Program Chairs · Fernando Loizides, University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom · Nicos Souleles, Cyprus University of Technology, Cyprus Program Committee http://www.cs.ucy.ac.cy/~george/lm/lm.php?tk=YWlyLUwJCQlhaXItTEBsaXN0c2Vydi…

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CfPs: 'Big Data from the South'/'Big Data desde el sur
by Stefania Milan 10 Feb '17

10 Feb '17

Submit your abstract (English or Spanish) by March 1st. [Español abajo] Deadline for abstract: March 1st Big Data from the South: From media to mediations, from datafication to data activism Organizers: Stefania Milan (University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands) & Emiliano Treré (Scuola Normale Superiore, Italia). Critical scholarship has exposed how big data brings along new and opaque regimes of population management, control, and discrimination. Building on this scholarship, this pre-conference engages in a dialogue with traditions that critique the dominance of Western approaches to datafication that do not recognize the diversity of the Global South. Moving from datafication to data activism, this event will examine the diverse ways through which citizens and the organized civil society in the Global South engage in bottom-up data practices for social change as well as resistance to “dark” uses of big data that increase oppression and inequality. Location: Cartagena, Colombia Date and Time: July 15, 2017, 10am-6pm http://cartagena2017.iamcr.org/big-data-from-the-south-from-media-to-mediat… <http://cartagena2017.iamcr.org/big-data-from-the-south-from-media-to-mediat…> ------- Big Data desde el sur: de los medios a las mediaciones, de la dataficación al activismo de datos http://cartagena2017.iamcr.org/big-data-from-the-south-from-media-to-mediat… <http://cartagena2017.iamcr.org/big-data-from-the-south-from-media-to-mediat…> Organizadores: Stefania Milan (University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands), Emiliano Treré (Scuola Normale Superiore, Italia). Fecha y Hora: Julio 15, 2017 de 10am – 6pm Descripción de la conferencia: La crítica académica ha hecho evidente cómo el big data implica nuevos y opacos regímenes de gestión demográfica, control y discriminación. Con base en estas elaboraciones, la pre-conferencia se involucra en un diálogo con las tradiciones críticas al dominio de las perspectivas occidentales sobre la dataficación, que no reconocen la diversidad del Sur Global. Trasladándose de la dataficación al activismo de datos, este evento examinará las maneras diversas en que los ciudadanos y la sociedad civil organizada en el Sur Global se involucran en prácticas de datos horizontales en pro del cambio social, así como en resistencias frente a usos “oscuros” de los big data que aumentan la opresión y la desigualdad. ---------------------- Stefania Milan, PhD Assistant Professor, University of Amsterdam & Principal Investigator, DATACTIVE || data-activism.net <http://data-activism.net/> Associate Professor (II), University of Oslo Councilor, Generic Names Supporting Organization, ICANN mobile: [31] 62 7875 425 (NL) || [1] 647 - 973 - 6533 (CA) || [+39] 333 - 2309945 (I) stefaniamilan.net <http://stefaniamilan.net/> || @annliffey

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CfP 4S Panel on Citizen Science
by Gabriel Mugar 09 Feb '17

09 Feb '17

CALL FOR PAPERS - 4S Panel on Citizen Science Boston; August 30 – September 2, 2017 http://www.4sonline.org/meeting Submission deadline: March 1st, 2017 Submission link: https://convention2.allacademic.com/one/ssss/4s17/ Title: Citizen Science: Beyond the Laboratory *Convenors* Gabriel Mugar, (Emerson College) gabriel(a)elab.emerson.edu<mailto:gabriel@elab.emerson.edu> Carsten Østerlund, (Syracuse University) costerlu(a)syr.edu<mailto:costerlu@syr.edu> Andrea Wiggins, (University of Maryland) wiggins(a)umd.edu<mailto:wiggins@umd.edu> Nick Lalone, (Penn State University) nlalone(a)psu.edu<mailto:nlalone@psu.edu> *Abstract* Citizen science constitutes a rich and fast-evolving arena in the production of scientific knowledge, raising questions that speak to the core of STS scholarship. In its various forms, ranging from expert-driven crowdsourced and participatory sensing models to citizen-driven social and ecological justice initiatives, citizen science offers a rich empirical setting. This track will expand the dialogue around this growing practice of knowledge creation through traditional and cutting edge STS perspectives. Building on STS scholarship exploring the sociomaterial construction of scientific knowledge across settings and methods, we invite researchers to unpack citizen science’s spoken and unspoken sensibilities. Relevant themes include but are not limited to the following: * the entanglement and evolution of technologies and communities in citizen science; * the influences of policy, technology, and professional scientific communities on emergent practices of knowledge co-production; * the production of novices and experts, and how roles in citizen science are defined and negotiated, * tracing information flows between contributors and project leaders; * how stakeholders attempt to shape volunteer contribution to fit a particular need; * the (in)sensibilities of peer production; * how data quality is constructed and reconstructed; and * how both formal and informal data quality standards are embodied in practices, technologies, and social structures. Beyond questions of building and deploying citizen science practice, we also invite research that: * examine how stakeholders resist or repurpose existing models in order to meet their personal needs, * the role of traditional and local knowledge in citizen science, and * the impacts of scientific disciplines and scientific methods on the perceptions of citizen science practices and products. *Submit a paper* Deadline for the abstract submissions to open tracks is March 1st, 2017. Submission link: https://convention2.allacademic.com/one/ssss/4s17/ Paper submissions should be in the form of abstracts of up to 250 words. They should include the paper’s main arguments, methods, and contributions to STS. You may choose to submit your paper abstract to an open panel, or you can leave panel selection to the program organizers. In addition to designating one or more topical Research Areas using the drop-down menu, please list up to five keywords to help the program organizers evaluate and assign your paper. Gabriel Mugar Ph.D Candidate School of Information Studies, Syracuse University Affiliate Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society, Harvard University www.buildingthecommons.org<http://www.buildingthecommons.org> @gmugar

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CfP: "Digital media are making politics impossible"
by Hasan Azad 09 Feb '17

09 Feb '17

Digital media are making politics impossible The question on the liberal left’s collective mind since Trump’s election to the office of the 45th president of the United States – but not on the mind of many right-wing Republicans, for whom Trump’s victory is a sign of the imminence of Christ’s return* – has been: “How? How did Trump get elected?” Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Chris Hedges wrote back in March of 2016 that a Trump victory was likely because: “College-educated elites, on behalf of corporations, carried out the savage neoliberal assault on the working poor. […] These elites […] spoke the language of values – civility, inclusivity, a condemnation of overt racism and bigotry, a concern for the middle class – while thrusting a knife in the back of the underclass for their corporate masters. This game has ended.”** Six years ago, in an interview with Hedges, Noam Chomsky predicted that if a charismatic man ran for president – on a platform of making illegal immigrants and Blacks the enemy, while also turning white males into a persecuted minority – he would soon sweep the presidential election.*** However, these analyses don’t get to the crux of the matter as far as the creation of the conditions that made it possible for Trump to be elected. According to Hannah Arendt, politics is based on an idea of active citizenship, on the value and importance of civic engagement, and collective deliberation about all matters affecting the political community. A vital component in such a conception of politics is an informed citizenry. Contrary to what Silicon Valley techno-utopians predicted (and indeed still predict will happen), digital technologies have not brought about a revolution in human learning and achievement. The recent US presidential elections, Brexit in the UK, and the rise of the far right in Europe**** are – we contend – a clear indication that digital media have been making politics, in Arendt’s understanding of the term, more and more impossible. For example, Trump’s presidential campaign hired the same company used by the Brexit campaign, Cambridge Analytica, which used big data and social media platforms such as Facebook, as a way to manipulate voters.+ Sociologist Saskia Sassen has argued that knowledge is re-constituted and thought of differently within the digital ecology: “[T]he body of knowledge gets distributed and spliced-up in different ways so that you lose the packaging, and in losing that packaging all sorts of possibilities open up.”++ Taking authority and power to be co-constitutive of the power/knowledge dyad (à la Foucault), as the means for sharing and discussing political knowledge changes radically, so too does the way political authority is constituted. For instance, as far as traditional forms of political “authority,” in 2015 Trump successfully undermined John McCain’s considerable traditional authority in a way that could only happen in the age of digital media. At the Family Leadership Summit in Ames, Iowa, Trump said about the war veteran McCain, “He’s not a war hero.” “I like people who weren’t captured.”+++ Making fun of McCain in such a manner was seen as a travesty by mainstream media, and the analyses ran that Trump would not survive such a “gaffe.” The reality is that – as an extension of reality TV – politics has become all about “gaffes,” and instead of apologizing Trump continued to attack McCain, saying: “[McCain is] yet another all talk, no action politician who spends too much time on television and not enough time doing his job.”+++ As one insightful (and funny) Tweet put it: “Trump is like clickbait decided to take human form.”+* Put differently: The public fascination with Trump – his saying what “everyone” was thinking but dared not say before – is the logical (political) outcome of a society primed by digital media platforms that thrive on superficial, outrageous posts and images. This special issue of Allegra Lab examines the ways in which digital media are making politics impossible. We invite contributions from people across disciplines. Please send a 250-word abstract (final submissions will be 2000-2500 words – due date TBA) to ha2248(a)columbia.edu by February 25 for consideration. __________ * “Alex Jones prayerfully reflects on the victory of President Trump,” November 9, 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVp7XTsBXx4 ** Chris Hedges, “The Revenge of the Lower Classes and the Rise of American Fascism,” Truthdig, August 8, 2016, https://www.truthdig.com/repor t/item/the_revenge_of_the_lower_classes_and_the_rise_of_ american_fascism_20160302 *** Chris Hedges, “Noam Chomsky Has ‘Never Seen Anything Like This,” Truthdig, Apr 19, 2010 http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/noam_chomsky_has_never_ seen_anything_like_this_20100419 **** “Europe’s Rising Far Right: A Guide to the Most Prominent Parties,” The New York Times, December 4, 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/intera ctive/2016/world/europe/europe-far-right-political-parties-listy.html + “The Data That Turned the World Upside Down,” Motherboard, Hannes Grassegger and Mikael Krogerus, January 28, 2017 ++ “Saskia Sassen Plenary at Theorizing the Web 2011” https://vimeo.com/23044503 +* “Hilarious political tweets that will make the internet great again” http://twentytwowords.com/hilarious-political-tweets-that- will-make-the-internet-great-again/ +++ “Trump attacks McCain: 'I like people who weren't captured,” Politico, Ben Schreckinger July, 16, 2015 http://www.politico.com/story/ 2015/07/trump-attacks-mccain-i-like-people-who-werent-captured-120317 -- Hasan Azad, PhD Dept. of Religion Columbia University NY, 10027 Red and Green Oil on Water - A Novel: https://www.amazon.com/Red-Green-Water-Hasan-Azad-ebook/dp/B01IZMTHEY/ref=s… website: http://www.hasanazad.com/main/ Academia.edu: https://columbia.academia.edu/HasanAzad Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/has-an-apple co-founder: Yoga Makes Art: https://yogaandwriting.wordpress.com/2016/02/

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