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REMINDER: EASST 2010 - TRACK 22. TECHNOLOGICALLY DENSE ENVIRONMENTS: A BRIDGE BETWEEN STS AND ORGANIZATION STUDIES
by Maurizio 06 Mar '10

06 Mar '10

Call for Abstracts - Apologies for Crossposting EASST 2010 - TRACK 22. TECHNOLOGICALLY DENSE ENVIRONMENTS: A BRIDGE BETWEEN STS AND ORGANIZATION STUDIES In the past years, a reflection has emerged around the connection between STS (Science and Technology Studies) and other domains, especially management and organization studies. That is exemplified, for example, by the international workshop titled “Does STS mean business?” in 2004, the session at EASST 2006 titled “STS as a boundary discipline: interacting with Organization Studies”, where a number of established STS scholars shared their experiences of “becoming” STS researchers, or by the special issue of the journal “Organization” in January 2009, exploring the relationship between STS and Organization and Management Studies. Regardless of these efforts, many are still struggling to engage with other disciplines, or find the balance between being “STS” and “practically useful”. Our intent, with this stream, is to deepen such reflection, focusing on the empirical issues emerging in Technologically Dense Environments (TDE). In such an environment complex socio-material practices mobilize the joint action of heterogeneous elements, both humans and non-humans, in supporting collective work, blurring the distinction between natural and artificial ontologies. The connections that take place in TDE are the locus where the performance of science and technology is enacted through organizational and working practices. Proposing such a tightly integrated STS-informed Organization-oriented view suggests that we should not speak from the STS perspective only, of which critical analysis de-constructs the making of technological products or services or phenomena, but also apply our observation and findings to the field in a more proactive way, helping to balance the construction of a TDE. Through this lens, we would like to call for contributions studying TDE, that can be seen as sites of scientific and technological production, as well as sites of working and organizing practices using scientific and technical means. Doing this kind of research pushes the STS scholars to confront situated methodological challenges, act as a boundary worker across different fields. Such discussion can serve as relationship building and networking between STS scholars for sharing experiences and support, as well as a bridge for linking empirical, methodological and theoretical issues that different disciplines (e.g., STS, Organization Studies) face, finding a common ground to tackle and/or conceptualise these issues. Possible topics are, but not limited to: • empirical findings from TDE fields, studying organizing processes from a STS-informed perspective; • theoretical reflections on the bridge building and spanning between different fields; • map, discuss and exchange methods and methodologies used in different fields. Abstracts of no more than 500 words should be sent by email (following website instructions) by 2010 March 15th. More info at: http://events.unitn.it/en/easst010 Call-for-Abstract PDF: http://events.unitn.it/sites/events.unitn.it/files/EASST_010_Track_22.pdf Convenors: Manuela Perrotta is research fellow at the Department of Sociology and Social Research, University of Trento. Her main research interests concern the socio-materiality of working and organizing practices, technological change and knowing, and collective memories and technologies. (http://www.unitn.it/rucola/members/perrotta.htm) Maurizio Teli is researcher at Museo Tridentino di Scienze Naturali, Trento. His main research interests concern the political dimensions of software development, three dimensional environments and the organizational transformation in the communication of science. (http://www.maurizioteli.eu)

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CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS: Video Vortex Reader II
by geert lovink 06 Mar '10

06 Mar '10

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS: Video Vortex Reader II In response to the increasing potential for video as a significant form of personal media on the Internet, the Video Vortex program examines key issues that are emerging around the independent production and distribution of online video content. With the rise of YouTube and alternative platforms, the moving image on the Internet has become expansively more prominent and popular. As a wide range of technologies is now broadly available, the potential of video as a personal means of expression has reached a totally new dimension. Following the success of the first Video Vortex reader (published late 2008, second edition, 4000 copies in total), recent Video Vortex conferences in Ankara (Oct. 2008), Split (May 2009) and Brussels (Nov. 2009) have sparked a number of new insights, debates and conversations regarding the politics, aesthetics, and artistic possibilities of online video. Since these issues develop with the rapidly changing landscape of online video and its use, we want to open up a space once again for interested people to contribute to this critical conversation in a second issue of the Video Vortex reader. POSSIBLE TOPICS Taking its lead from the first reader, and based on the issues raised at the latest three Video Vortex conferences, as well as recent developments, possible topics include: Theories of online video and Web cinema // Politics of online video // YouTube and the state of contemporary visual culture // Database aesthetics // Video art meets web aesthetics // Autonomous participatory culture for art and activism // Artist engagement with ‘user-generated-content’ sites: content and architecture // Changing modes of video distribution and what this means for artists and activists // Open-source and open-content initiatives // Alternatives to proprietary standards // Censorship and YouTube // The ethics and politics of indigenous knowledge and online video // The use of online video within government practices (election campaigning, censorship etc.) // Democracy, citizen journalism and online video // Social Cinema // Educational practices and online video in the classroom // New and changing economic models // Google, YouTube and the economics of online video // Commercial objectives imposed by mass media on user-generated and video-sharing databases // Effect of ubiquitous online video practice on cinema, television and video art. WE INVITE Internet, visual culture and media scholars, researchers, artists, curators, producers, lawyers, engineers, open-source and open-content advocates, activists, Video Vortex conference participants, and others to submit materials and proposals. FORMATS We welcome interviews, dialogues, essays and articles, images (b/w), email exchanges, manifestos, with a max of 8,000 words. For scope and style, take a look at the previous INC readers (Video Vortex Reader, Urban Screens, Incommunicado Reader, MyCreativity Reader) and the style guide at: http://www.networkcultures.org/_uploads/videovortex_styleguide.pdf This publication is produced by the Institute of Network Cultures in Amsterdam and will be launched early 2011. DEADLINE: May 10, 2010 SEND CONTRIBUTIONS TO: rachel(at)networkcultures(dot)org ____________ MORE INFORMATION Video Vortex: http://networkcultures.org/wpmu/videovortex/ INC readers: http://networkcultures.org/wpmu/portal/publications/inc-readers/ Or email: rachel(at)networkcultures(dot)org ABOUT THE READER SERIES The INC reader series are derived from conference contributions and produced by the Institute of Network Cultures in Amsterdam. They are available (for free) in print and pdf form on http://networkcultures.org/wpmu/portal/publications/inc-readers/ Previously published in this series: INC Reader #5: Scott McQuire, Meredith Martin, and Sabine Niederer (eds.), Urban Screens Reader, Amsterdam: Institute of Network Cultures, 2009. The Urban Screens Reader is the first book to focus entirely on the topic of urban screens. A collection of texts from leading theorists, and a series of case studies that deal with artists’ projects, and screen operators’ and curators’ experiences, offering a rich resource at the intersections between digital media, cultural practices and urban space. INC Reader #4: Geert Lovink and Sabine Niederer (eds.), Video Vortex Reader: Responses to YouTube, Amsterdam: Institute of Network Cultures, 2008. The Video Vortex Reader is the first collection of critical texts to deal with the rapidly emerging world of online video – from its explosive rise in 2005 with YouTube, to its future as a significant form of personal media. INC Reader #3: Geert Lovink and Ned Rossiter (eds.), MyCreativity Reader: A Critique of Creative Industries, Amsterdam: Institute of Network Cultures, 2007. The MyCreativity Reader is a collection of critical research into the creative industries. The material develops out of the MyCreativity Convention on International Creative Industries Research held in Amsterdam, November 2006 (no longer available in print; pdf online). INC Reader #2: Katrien Jacobs, Marije Janssen and Matteo Pasquinelli (eds.), C’Lick Me: A Netporn Studies Reader, Amsterdam: Institute of Network Cultures, 2007. C’lick Me: A Netporn Studies Reader is an anthology that collects the best material from two years of debate from The Art and Politics of Netporn 2005 conference to the 2007 C’Lick Me festival (no longer available in print; pdf online). INC Reader #1: Geert Lovink and Soenke Zehle (eds.), Incommunicado Reader, Amsterdam: Institute of Network Cultures, 2005. The Incommunicado Reader brings together papers written for the June 2005 event, and includes a CD-ROM of interviews with speakers (no longer available in print; pdf online). ABOUT VIDEO VORTEX EVENTS Video Vortex V: Brussels, Belgium (November 20-21, 2009) was organized by Cimatics festival 2009 in cooperation with the Institute of Network Cultures in Amsterdam and supported by KASK (Faculty of Fine Arts, University College Ghent) and the Center Leo Apostel (CLEA). Video Vortex IV: Split, Croatia (May 22-23, 2009) was organized by The Department of Film and Video at the Academy of Arts University of Split and Platforma 9.81, in collaboration with the Institute of Network Cultures in Amsterdam. Video Vortex III: Ankara, Turkey (October 10-11, 2008) was organized by Bilkent University Department of Communication and Design, in cooperation with the Institute of Network Cultures. Planned Events: Video Vortex Budapest (Oct. 2010), Leicester, Amsterdam (March 2011), Croatia (September 2011). ______ Rachel Somers Miles Publications + Projects Institute of Network Cultures t: +31 (0)20 595 1865 f: +31 (0)20 595 1840 Office Hours: Tues, Weds, Thurs 9:30-17:30 rachel(a)networkcultures.org www.networkcultures.org ----- video vortex discussion list artist responses to youtube to change your settings or unsubscribe, please go to: http://listcultures.org/mailman/listinfo/videovortex_listcultures.org

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Amsterdam Digital Methods Summer School 2010, Call for Participants
by Esther Weltevrede 05 Mar '10

05 Mar '10

Call for Participants Digital Methods Summer School 2010 New Media & Digital Culture, University of Amsterdam "Foundations for Online Research with Digital Methods" http://www.digitalmethods.net The Digital Methods Initiative, a collaboration of the New Media & Digital Culture program at the University of Amsterdam and the Govcom.org Foundation, is organizing its 4th annual Summer School for advanced B.A. and M.A. students, PhD candidates as well as designers, artists and programmers working in the area of online media research, broadly conceived. This year's edition of the annual Summer School is dedicated to "foundations" in digital methods. One set of foundations includes the question of the status of Web data. Often considered messy, dirty and incomplete, under which conditions may Web data be seen as robust? Another set of foundations concerns the idea of the Web as virtual, representational or otherwise having a special, ungrounded status. Can one only study online culture when one's site of research is the Web? Where does online cultural studies end, and social and cultural research begin? The third set of foundations strives to codify the otherwise tacit knowledge required for online research. On top of formulating research questions, the purpose of foundational research skills sessions is to present strategies for compiling URL lists, building source sets, making issue and key word lists, designing queries and undertaking other core prep tasks, prior to tool use. Further foundational sessions include training in reading and interpreting search engine results and other standard Web device outputs. Under-explored Spaces by Digital Methods Special attention will be paid to under-explored spaces and subspaces online. Explored spaces by digital methods include hyperlink networks, IP numbers, archived website collections and previous states of the Web, top-level and second-level domains, search engine returns, social bookmarks and related tags, the spheres, national Webs and filtered content, social networking profiles, wikipedia article edit histories and tweets related by hashtag. Of the under-explored spaces, there are the classic ones, as well as those which may resist current tools and methods. In the former category of course there have been portions of the Web thought to be unreachable by crawlers (the 'dark web'), another relatively untouched by humans (the crawled-only web), a third not to be captured (the 'ephemeral web') and the fourth one that no longer exists, the dead web. (Placing the robots.txt exclusion on a website now flushes the site's stored history in the Internet archive.) However, the focus in the Summer School is on spaces currently garnering attention for their democratic potential, such as the comment space as well as the overlay or annotated map space, and exploring their potential for social and cultural research. Digital Methods Training Certificate Program, 28 June - 9 July 2010 The Digital Methods Summer School has a certificate program. It is a two-week intensive training and skill acquisition program which runs, every other weekday, 28 June to 9 July 2010. The certificate program is recommended for those researchers with limited exposure to digital methods to date. Digital Methods Advanced Projects Program, 9 August - 27 August 2010 The Digital Methods Summer School also has an advanced program. It is a three-week undertaking, meeting physically Mondays and Fridays, with an ongoing commitment, where researchers propose and carry out projects, from research question and query design to methodological operationalization, tool use and visual and written output, including narrative and presentation. Each week has a dedicated theme, and is facilitated by advanced Amsterdam-based Digital Methods researchers. Thematic projects may include explorations of the comment space, real-time results, activity in social media, comparative Web space temporalities (such as static, real-time, periodic and irregularly-paced), as well as the creation of Web collections for the purposes of historical research. Applications To apply for the Digital Methods Training Certificate Program, 28 June - 9 July 2010, please send a one-page letter explaining how digital methods training would benefit your current work, and also enclose a CV. Mark your application "DMI Training Certificate Program." To apply for the Digital Methods Advanced Projects Program, 9 August - 27 August 2010, please send a one-page letter explaining how digital methods have benefited your work, and also enclose a CV. Mark your application "DMI Summer Advanced Program." To apply for both programs, please write a letter explaining your overall affinity with digital methods work, and include your CV. Mark your application "DMI Summer Full Program." Selection of participants is based on the fit between candidate interests and available skills and expertise. Selection is also based on commitment to full attendance as well as your work in digital methods. Please be advised that we may contact you for additional information and request a conversation in person, by phone or by Skype (whichever is most suitable). Please send applications to Esther Weltevrede, Digital Methods Initiative, Media Studies, University of Amsterdam, info {at} digitalmethods.net. Informal queries should be sent to Richard Rogers, University of Amsterdam, rogers {at} uva.nl. Deadline for applications is 3 May 2010. Responses to be sent on 7 May 2010. Conversations in person, by phone or by Skype will be held on 10 and 11 May. Circulation of finalized participants' list on 12 May. Logistics Participants must arrange their own travel and accommodation. There is no fee for participation in the Summer School. Space is limited. The Digital Methods Initiative acknowledges the generous support of the Science Faculty, University of Amsterdam, and Platform Beta Techniek, http://www.platformbetatechniek.nl/. Previous Digital Methods Summer Schools, 2007-2009 The Digital Methods Summer School is in its fourth year. The third Summer School in 2009 treated media attention formats, Wikipedia as space of controversy, repurposing Google for social research and methods for Internet archive research, including "conjuring a past state of the Web." The second Summer School, which coincided with the 10-year jubilee of the Govcom.org foundation, was dedicated to the turn away from user studies, and also produced the video, commenting on Google's 10-year anniversary, "Google and the politics of tabs." The IP Browser, recently shown at Arts Santa Monica in Barcelona, is also a product of the 2008 gatherings. The first Summer School, in 2007, sought to establish the study of natively digital objects, how they are handled by dominant web devices, and whether the "methods in the media" may be repurposed for social and cultural research. Related project URLs The Digital Methods Initiative (DMI), Amsterdam, participates in the EU project facilitated by Bruno Latour, Sciences Po, Paris, http://www.mappingcontroversies.net/. DMI researchers also participate in the ATACD network, the EU project facilitated by Celia Lury, Goldsmiths, London, http://www.atacd.net/. About Reworking method for Internet research, the Digital Methods Initiative (DMI) is a collaboration of the New Media & Digital Culture, University of Amsterdam and the Govcom.org Foundation, Amsterdam. Its director is Richard Rogers, Chair, New Media & Digital Culture, University of Amsterdam, and its coordinators are Esther Weltevrede and Sabine Niederer, PhD candidates in Media Studies, University of Amsterdam.

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Internet, Politics, Policy 2010 Conference: Deadlines / Keynotes / Poster Prize
by Rebecca Eynon 05 Mar '10

05 Mar '10

-------------------------------------------------- Internet, Politics, Policy 2010 Conference: Deadlines / Keynotes / Poster Prize -------------------------------------------------- The Oxford Internet Institute (University of Oxford) is pleased to announce that speakers for the 'Internet, Politics, Policy 2010' Conference (16-17 Sept 2010, Oxford, UK) will include: Prof. Arthur Lupia, University of Michigan. A leading scholar on voting, civic competence, parliamentary governance and political communication, his research has clarified our understanding of how information and institutions affect policy and politics, and how people make decisions when they lack information. Prof. Viktor Mayer-Schönberger, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. A legal scholar specialising in the role of information in a networked economy, his most recent book 'Delete: The Virtue of Forgetting in the Digital Age' has received major attention worldwide. Prof. Patrick Dunleavy, London School of Economics. One of the UK's most important political scientists, and author of books in the field such as 'Theories of the Democratic State' (with J.Dryzek), his work with the LSE Public Policy Group includes detailed analyses of public sector productivity, citizen redress, policy evaluation, and e-government. The conference will subject the relationship between the Internet, Politics and Policy to multi-disciplinary scrutiny. We welcome paper submissions that report on innovative research into any aspect of the impact of the Internet on public policy and / or politics. We also welcome suggestions from people who would like to organise panel sessions. Internet, Politics, Policy 2010: An Impact Assessment University of Oxford, 16-17 September 2010 http://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/events/details.cfm?id=338 Abstract / Panel deadline: 15 March 2010 Contact: mailto:ipp2010@oii.ox.ac.uk Poster deadline: 15 April 2010 Contact: mailto:ipp2010@oii.ox.ac.uk £200 PRIZE for BEST POSTER! The conference will be organised in twin tracks: the Politics track will consider the use of the Internet by political organizations, examining the impact on policy of (for example) online interest group activity and political mobilization, e-voting, political parties and campaigning and e-government. The Policy track will look at policy responses to Internet-driven social change, including e-health, on-line education, cybercrime, security, privacy and digital inclusion. Plenary sessions will merge these tracks, investigating the intersection of policy and politics and the Internet. The conference is convened by the OII in partnership with the European Consortium of Political Research (ECPR), the journal Policy and Internet, and the Policy Studies Organization (PSO). Policy and Internet: http://www.psocommons.org/policyandinternet/

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News discourse of online papers
by Philippa Smith 05 Mar '10

05 Mar '10

I'm looking for studies or references to the structure of news discourse in online newspapers - and in particular any comparisons with the offline hard copy of those publications. Essential question is: has the Internet altered the way news articles are discursively constructed? My observations so far indicate that news websites merely act as a vehicle for the dissemination of a hard copy story and there is, in fact, no alteration to the actual story. Rather it is the presentation of the article, eg headline, partial sentence, perhaps photograph and then a link to the full story that is altered. I'd be interested in any other comments or observations by other AOIR listers. Many thanks Philippa Smith PhD Candidate and Researcher Institute of Culture, Discourse & Communication AUT University Auckland NEW ZEALAND

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Call for Papers: The Second Workshop on E-Learning Security (ELS-2010)
by i-Society 2010 05 Mar '10

05 Mar '10

Apologies for cross-postings. Please send this Call for Papers to your colleagues, faculty members and postgraduate students. Thanks! The Second Workshop on E-Learning Security (ELS-2010) in conjunction with The International Conference on Information Society (i-Society 2010), Technical Co-Sponsored by IEEE UK/RI Computer Chapter June 28-30, 2010, London, UK (www.i-society.eu) Objectives The aim of the ELS-2010 Workshop is to bring together researchers and practitioners interested in E-Learning Security and to discuss the latest advanced technologies in this area. This workshop is expected to stimulate discussions about the future development of appropriate models, methods, and tools for building E-Learning Security. Topics of Interest include but are not limited to: • Security and Privacy in E-Learning • Security Issues on E-Learning Assessments • E-Learning Security Auditing • Biometrics in E-Learning • Secure E-Learning Development and Application • Digital Rights Management (DRM) for E-Learning • Emerging E-Learning Markets Important Dates: Paper Submission Deadline: March 10, 2010 Notification of Paper Acceptance/Rejection: March 15, 2010 Camera Ready Paper Due: March 31, 2010 Conference Dates: June 28-30, 2010 Paper Submission The style file and templates is available at Paper Submission. Please submit your full paper(s) in PDF format via email to els-2010(a)i-society.eu For further details, please visit http://www.i-society.eu/Workshops.html

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Call for Papers: American Behavioral Scientist Special Issue on Prosumption and Social Media
by george ritzer 04 Mar '10

04 Mar '10

Call for Papers: American Behavioral Scientist Special Issue on Prosumption and Social Media Editor: George Ritzer This special Issue on "Prosumption and Social Media" will explore prosumption (the convergence of consumption and production) online and offline with a specific (though not exclusive) emphasis on social media. Today we are witnessing, * The massive popularity of social networking sites, such as Facebook or MySpace; * The rise of blogs, the Blogosphere, and the micro-blogging tool Twitter; * The DIY movement, self-service technologies, branding, and market research; * Wikipedia: The world largest encyclopedia, generated by users; * YouTube and Flicker: home of millions of user video and image files; * Other examples such as Ebay, Craigslist, Creative Commons, open-source software (Linux, Mozilla, etc.), Second Life, Amazon.com, and, likely, others of which most of us are yet unaware. Articles might specify the structural conditions for the explosion of user-generated content on the Internet, attempt to explain aspects of the trend through the application of a particular theory or set of theories, employ empirical data to achieve new insights into the processes of prosumption, or explore the economic, political, cultural, or ethical implications of prosumption. Articles might also be critical of any such projects. The issue aims to include both theoretical and empirical submissions from a number of fields. Relevant book reviews will also be considered. The deadline for submission is June 1st, 2010. However, we encourage early submissions and papers will be reviewed as they are received. The issue is expected to contain 8-10 articles, but if more articles of exceptional quality are received, we have the go-ahead to expand to two volumes. Acceptance will be contingent upon peer-review. Manuscript submission guidelines: * Submitted manuscripts must be in MS Word (.doc) format, include a title page that includes the title of the paper, a 250 word abstract, full name and complete addresses of all authors that includes affiliation(s), telephone number(s), and e-mail address(es). * Manuscript, including references, should follow APA style guidelines. * Manuscripts should generally contain between 6,000 and 8,000 words. * Manuscripts should contain original material and not be previously published, or currently submitted for consideration, elsewhere. * Manuscripts should be submitted directly to Prosumer Studies Working Group at absspecialissue(a)gmail.com. Any questions should also be directed to this address. Additional information available at: http://www.bsos.umd.edu/socy/prosumer/abs_cfp.html * The refereeing process is blind, so contributors should take care to remove any obvious indications of authorship. * Where appropriate, please recommend to us researchers who might make a significant contribution to the special issue if solicited for submission. We will make every effort to get you a decision within 4-6 weeks of submission. Keywords: web 2.0, prosumption, digital culture, technology and society, information and communication technologies (ICTs), sociology of work, labor studies, mobile communication, networked technologies, virtual communities, social networking sites, computer mediated communication, globalization, leisure studies, new media, media studies, social media. About the editor: George Ritzer is Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland. He has chaired the American Sociological Association’s Section on Theoretical Sociology, as well as the Section on Organizations and Occupations, and is the first Chair of the section-in-formation on Global and Transnational Sociology. His books include The McDonaldization of Society (5th ed., 2008), Enchanting a Disenchanted World (2nd ed. 2005), and The Globalization of Nothing (2nd ed., 2007). His most recent book is Globalization: A Basic Text (Blackwell, 2010). He is currently working on The Outsourcing of Everything (with Craig Lair, Oxford, forthcoming). He was founding editor of the Journal of Consumer Culture. His books have been translated into over twenty languages, with over a dozen translations of The McDonaldization of Society alone.

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CFP – Applying Theory thru Design Projects
by Marc Hebert 04 Mar '10

04 Mar '10

*CFP – Applying Theory thru Design Projects - American Anthropological Association Conference – Open to Anthropologists & Non-Anthropologists (Abstracts of 250-300 words due March 26, 2010)* *Objective:* To expand the availability of ideas across disciplines about the theory of design based on practice by inviting a panel of design thinkers to share their experiences with operationalizing or applying theory through project work. *Goals:* The first is to understand the theoretical framework used in a project, what the theoretical limitations were, and what advice could be shared with others relying on similar theories. Critiques should be accompanied by an alternative theory or framework or lessons learned. The second goal is to explain how at least one broad concept used in anthropology was explored through the design process. A few examples include discourse, gender, identity, neoliberalism, poverty, power, race, sexuality, spirituality, sustainability, technology and the media. Finally, the long-term goal of the panel is to encourage the expansion of courses and programs focusing on design anthropology by producing a physical or digital publication that can be widely accessible. *Background:* Ten years ago the National Association for the Practice of Anthropology (NAPA) in the U.S. published an edited volume arguing for anthropologists to test theories outside of academia. Since the publication of *Unity of Theory and Practice in Anthropology: Rebuilding a Fractured Synthesis* (eds. Carole Hill & Marietta Baba 2000), design anthropology has blossomed. It is recognized as an innovative sub-discipline with skilled ethnographers hired to solve problems dealing with products, services, and public policies. Anthropologists and others involved in design are uniquely situated to revisit Hill & Baba’s suggestions for applying theory and informing the broader academic community of their findings. *Conference & Abstract Details:* The 2010 American Anthropological Association (AAA) conference is scheduled to be held November 17-21 in New Orleans. Panel participants do not need to be there physically, but their conference fee would have to be paid. Their paper can be shared with the audience by another panel participant and possibly via an Internet video conferencing portal. The panel will attempt to be podcasted, allowing for the timely dissemination of ideas. Papers are encouraged to be presented with the same creativity espoused in design thinking to produce something both educational and entertaining. Book and online publishers will be approached upon review of the proposed abstracts. Those selected to participate on the panel will be asked to serve as a reviewer for another panelist’s paper prior to the presentation. *Anthropologists and non-anthropologists are welcome to submit abstracts of 250-300 words in English, discussing the goals mentioned above, by Friday, March 26, 2010.* The panel will be submitted to the NAPA section of the AAA for consideration. Please email abstracts in a Microsoft Word document to mkh (at) mail.usf.eduwith the subject heading “2010 AAA Conference – Design Anthropology Panel.” The panel organizer is Marc K. Hébert. He is a PhD candidate in applied anthropology at the University of South Florida researching how the design of an e-government welfare program in Florida is experienced by applicants, librarians and NGO staff. Further details about the conference are available here: http://www.aaanet.org/meetings/Call-for-Papers.cfm. *Please distribute this announcement across national and disciplinary borders.* Marc K. Hébert PhD Candidate, Anthropology University of South Florida 4202 East Fowler Avenue, SOC 107 Tampa, Florida 33620-7200 U.S.A. http://anthropology.usf.edu/graduate/hebert/

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Pro-ana websites research
by Pearse Stokes 04 Mar '10

04 Mar '10

Dear Antonio, I've done a fair bit of research in terms of Pro-Ana and the ethics of researching 'people under the age of 18' on line. There are a number of ways I strive to overcome the ethical difficulties. Firstly, I always emphasise that the research is very important, and that this justifies the means. In essence I am suggesting that while the research may not be completely ethically sound the value of the research far out weighs this... contentious to say the least. With the internet I also did a bit of 'grease monkeying' in that rather than have individual respondents (with physical counterparts) I developed a new respondent - the cacophony of voices (or as I call my research site/respondent 'the technomediaself scape'). Essentially, taking the notion from some scholars of actor network theory, I hypothesised that the network could be my respondent. This meant (and I know I'm pushing this) that I escaped the problem of - ethics (my respondent was not a person and had no 'age' as such) and - reliability of data (the cacophony of voices would not 'lie'). Then, you can compare your research to two real world ethical issues. The first is that you may be engaging in normal conversation. Many people who research youth culture groups like 'roller bladers' or 'skate boarders' interview them in a very informal and 'every-day' way. Secondly, the data you gather may be publicly available (again just like interviewing skaters in skateparks). Finally, you must insure the protection of the respondent. That means keeping them anonymous, but in its widest remit it means conducting valuable and useful research - which again justifies your research's potentially loose ethics ;) You are suggesting that you will share your research with your researched community and everyone will benefit (many people avoid this part of the research). The most crucial ethical consideration for you, as a researcher (outside of insuring your research passes the ethics board) is what you are going to do when you develop a relationship with your respondents and feel you must intervene. Having a set of protocols will make this much much easier. In my research I was doing 'participant observation' and during one particularly long fast (for both me and the respondent) she told me about certain issues in her life. Tainting my research and defying the ethics outlines in one go I intervened as a fellow human being - that is just a foot note in my work which I doubt anyone read! Pearse

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Couch Award reminder
by Mark D. Johns 03 Mar '10

03 Mar '10

CALL FOR AWARD APPLICATIONS Carl J. Couch Internet Research Award 2010 Sponsored by the Carl Couch Center for Social and Internet Research http://www.cccsir.org/ The Carl Couch Center issues an annual 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 as advocated by Couch, 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 and Couch’s theses, (2) originality, (3) organization, (4) presentation, and (5) advancement of knowledge. Evaluation will be administered by a Review Committee of four: Mark D. Johns, Luther College, Decorah, Iowa Annette Markham, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Lois Ann Scheidt, University of Indiana, Bloomington Dennis Waskul, Minnesota State University, Mankato 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 not exceed 30 pages (approximately 7500 words) in length, including references and appendices. Limit of one entry per student per year. The top three papers will receive Couch Awards to be presented at the 2010 meeting of the Association of Internet Researchers (aoir.org) at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. The top paper will be awarded a certificate and a cash prize of $500 US, runner up will receive a certificate and a cash prize of $300 US, and a third paper will receive a certificate and a cash prize of $100 US. All three authors will be invited to present their work at a session of the AoIR conference, October 20-23, 2010 in Gothenburg. Those interested 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 April 30, 2010. Notification of award will be sent by June 15. Those with questions or comments about Couch Award application, please contact: Mark D. Johns Dept. of Communication Studies Luther College, Decorah, IA 52101 USA Tel: (563) 387-1347 E-mail: mjohns(a)luther.edu

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