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Research Chair in Game Studies and Design
by Bart Simon 25 Aug '09

25 Aug '09

Hi Everyone, Below is a call for applications for a Canada Research Chair in Game Studies and Design at Concordia University in Montreal. We have an excellent group of scholars and designers from disciplines across fine arts, arts and science and engineering that have recently come together to establish the Centre for Technoculture, Art and Games at Concordia. We are, as they say, poised for growth and there is great energy, resources and commitment to making game studies and design in the context of digital culture an interdisciplinary research priority. I am more than happy to field any questions about what we have going on in Montreal in this area. Please cross-post this call for applications to any and all interested folks. cheers, Bart ======================================== Bart Simon, Associate Professor Department of Sociology and Anthropology Director, Centre for Technoculture, Art and Games Concordia University, Montreal simonb(a)alcor.concordia.ca http://www.tag.hexagram.ca ========================================= * Canada Research Chair in Digital Game Studies and Design* Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, invites applications for a Senior (Tier I) Canada Research Chair (CRC) in the field of Game Studies, Game Design and/or Games and Learning as a joint appointment in the Faculty of Arts and Science and Faculty of Fine Arts. The goal of the CRC program (http://chairs.gc.ca/) is to ensure that Canadian universities "achieve the highest levels of research excellence to become world-class research centres in the global, knowledge-based economy.” Concordia’s academic culture celebrates leading-edge research, creativity, and the transfer of knowledge for today’s innovation driven society. The Chair in Digital Game Studies and Design will build on Concordia’s leadership in the fields of creative expression, communication and culture, and information and communication technologies as described in our Strategic Research Plan (2008-12) http://oor.concordia.ca/formsandreferencedocuments/strategicresearchplan/. Concordia is located in one of North America’s most diverse, creative and livable cities. Many leading games companies have chosen to locate in Montreal where strategic government initiatives also support the research sector and industry. Applicants for this position may come from any disciplinary background but must have a superior record of publication and/or research/creation in the fields of game studies and game design. The successful candidate is expected to have an outstanding and innovative research program, as well as demonstrated abilities to foster the development of broad based interdisciplinary initiatives, attract excellent graduate students and secure external funding. The successful candidate will be expected to take a leadership role in the development of the newly founded Centre for Technology, Art and Games (TAG). The TAG initiative is leading interdisciplinary, cross-Faculty research in games studies and design at Concordia. TAG operates under the umbrella of the Hexagram Institute for Research/Creation in Media Arts and Technologies, which is the largest and most productive new media lab in Canada. For additional information on TAG and Hexagram, see http://www.tag.hexagram.ca and http://www.hexagram.org The successful candidate for the CRC position in the field of Game Studies, Game Design and/or Games and Learning will be appointed (with tenure) at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor. The candidate will work with the Faculty of Arts and Science and Faculty of Fine Arts to prepare the formal CRC nomination according to the CRC program guidelines. The university will nominate the successful candidate to the CRC Secretariat at the earliest opportunity according to the guidelines of the CRC program. Applications should consist of a cover letter, a current curriculum vitae, copies of recent publications, a statement of teaching philosophy/interests, a statement of research achievements, and evidence of teaching effectiveness. Candidates must also arrange to have three letters of reference sent directly to: Chair, Game Studies and Design CRC Search Committee Concordia University c/o Faculty of Fine Arts 1455, De Maisonneuve Boulevard West, EV 2.781 Montreal, Quebec, H3G 1M8 Canada This position, linked to the CRC appointment, will begin July 1, 2010. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. All applications should reach the Chair of the Hiring Committee no later than November 2, 2009. All inquiries about the position should be directed to crcgames(a)alcor.concordia.ca Concordia University is committed to employment equity.

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Critical Point Of View : WikiWars Call for Participation (Conference and Reader)
by geert lovink 25 Aug '09

25 Aug '09

CPOV - Critical Point Of View : WikiWars Call for Participation: Conference and Reader See also: http://cis-india.org/research/conferences/conference-blogs/Wikiwars Context: The Wikipedia has emerged as the de facto global reference of dynamic knowledge. Different stakeholders – Wikipedians, users, academics, researchers, gurus of Web 2.0, publishing houses and governments have entered into fierce debates and discussions about what the rise and growth of Wikipedia (and Wikipedia cultures) mean to the information societies we live in. The Wikipedia itself has been at the centre of much controversy pivoted around questions of accuracy, anonymity, vandalism, expertise and authority. The Centre for Internet and Society (Bangalore, India) and the Institute of Network Cultures (Amsterdam, Netherlands) seek to bring together ideas, experiences and scholarship about Wikipedia in a consolidated reader that charts out detailed user stories as well as empirical and analytical work to produce a Critical Wikipedia Reader. Both the institutes are looking to organise two separate conferences aimed at building a Wikipedia Knowledge Network and charting scholarship and stories about The Wikipedia from around the world. WikiWars Conference: The first Conference to be held in Bangalore early January 2010, called Wikiwars, invites participation from users, scholars, academics, practitioners, artists and other cultural workers, to share their experiences, ideas, experiments, innovations, applications and stories about Wikipedia. WikiWars embody the spirit that guides an open encyclopaedia like the Wikipedia, referring to the passionate fights that users enter into over topics that have more than one objective points of view. Wikiwars also refers to the various camps that have taken often contradictory positions on the various issues of credibility, authority, verifiability and truth-telling, on the Wikipedia. This conference calls for diverse and varied knowledges to come together in a critical dialogic space that informs and augments our understanding of the Wikipedia. Conference Themes: The possible themes and areas for participation (projects, experiences, experiments, stories or documentation) can include but are not limited to: · Wiki Theory: Endorse, question or delineate the theoretical approaches and view points on the Wikipedia · Wikipedia and Critique of Western Knowledge Production: The predominance of textual or linguistic cultures, post-western knowledge production systems, indigenous knowledge systems · Wiki Art: Art that uses Wikipedia model, structures or data to explore and expand the practice of Wikipedia project; accounts that document Wikipedia based art practices or debates · Designing Debate: Suggestions, innovations and ideas that focus on the design and form of the Wikipedia, to explore the claims of neutrality, objectivity, and authenticity on the Wikipedia · Critique of Free and Open: Areas like Wikipedia governance, economic practices of and around Wikipedia, and the nature of freedom in usage, consumption and participation on the Wikipedia · Global Politics of Exclusion: Exploring questions of non- western material, language, connectedness, oral histories, women, non- geeks, alternative material that cannot be documented on Wikipedia etc. · The Place of Resistance: Space of resistance and dissent in the Wikipedia, structures that allow for alternative voices, experiences and ideas · Wikipedia and Education: Wikipedia usage in classrooms as teaching tools, Wikipedia and its effect on pedagogy, the role of Wikipedia in the knowledge production industry, and mobilisation of academic communities around the Wikipedia Who Should Apply: The Conference in Bangalore aims to bring together an interesting mix of diverse voices from different cultures, geo- political spaces, and context-based practices from around the world, to start consolidating the approaches, experiences, and impact of the Wikipedia. Students, Wikipedia users who belong to different local chapters or have editorial/contribution experiences on the Wikipedia, Academics and publishers who are exploring the changes that the Wikipedia has resulted in, both in classroom pedagogy and in knowledge production systems, researchers and theoreticians, practitioners and proponents, artists and social activists who are interested in Wikipedia cultures and their socio-political potentials, should be attending this conference. How To Apply: To apply for the conference, please send the following information by email to infowiki(a)cis-india.org by the 31st of August, 2009. 1. A note of interest (450 - 700 words) detailing your ideas and possible contribution 2. Your updated resume 3. (Optional) A sample of your work (term papers, published articles, peer-reviewed papers, books, art-projects, social intervention projects etc.) Conference time-line: Last Date for submitting Note of Interest and Funding options – 31st August, 2009 Announcement of short-listed proposals – 21st September, 2009 Full-drafts of participant projects/contributions – 15th December, 2009 Announcement of Conference Schedule and Logistics – 30th December 2009 Conference Dates – 12th, 13th January 2010 (The Amsterdam event is planned for March 26th, 27th) Funding Options: There are a few funding options that are available to the participants (national and international) for this conference. The selected participants will be provided with the basic travel and accommodation costs for the duration of the conference from their home- countries/cities to travel to Bangalore for the conference. If you are applying for funding, please indicate clearly in your “Note of Interest” any of these three options: 1. Full Funding necessary for participation. 2. Might be able to participate with limited or no funding. 3. Funding not required. The funding choices will be made by the organisers and the research team depending upon the depth of idea, the suitability to the conference and the uniqueness of the project. Conference Organisers: Sunil Abraham (Sunil(a)cis-india.org) and Nishant Shah (Nishant(a)cis-india.org ), Centre for Internet and Society, Bangalore. If there are any queries please write to us. Research and Editorial Team: Geert Lovink and Sabine Niederer (Amsterdam), Nathaniel Tkacz (Melbourne), Johanna Niesyto (Siegen), Sunil Abraham and Nishant Shah (Bangalore).

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Additions to the _Mobile Libraries_ Blog | 08/14 - 08/21/09
by McKiernan, Gerard [LIB] 24 Aug '09

24 Aug '09

Colleagues/ I am pleased to announce the additions of several major entries to the _Mobile Libraries_ Enjoy! /Gerry >>> Review > Research Methodologies Used In Studies On Mobile Handheld Devices http://tinyurl.com/l3a7oz >>> Everyday Uses Of Mobile Technologies For First Year University Students http://tinyurl.com/nsdgel >>> Learning Applications For The iPod And Handheld Computers http://tinyurl.com/kje3p2 >>> Cut the Cord: Connecting To Our Mobile Users http://tinyurl.com/m2t8rr >>> Toys to Tools: Connecting Student Cell Phones to Education http://tinyurl.com/l2xy6l >>> Digital Textbooks: 3 Reasons Students Aren't Ready http://tinyurl.com/kjdlnj >>> iRex: A Suite of Revolutionary e-Readers http://tinyurl.com/mwusnc >>> Handheld Computers in Schools and Media Centers http://tinyurl.com/mjprsq >>> ALPSP International Conference 2009 > Mobile http://tinyurl.com/p9pudt >>> Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Mobile http://tinyurl.com/q6f3hw >>> Handheld Guides / Mobile Interpretation Flickr Group http://tinyurl.com/lsys5x >>> MCN Conference Roundtable > The e-Book Revolution And Mobile Evolution http://tinyurl.com/ofouas >>> Cultivating Personalized Museum Tours ... http://tinyurl.com/lmx5el >>> Sony Reader and OverDrive Sign Library Marketing Agreement http://tinyurl.com/lvm9vy >>> MLA/JISC > An Introduction to the Mobile Web http://tinyurl.com/lz9wcn >>> Free Digital Textbooks Win in California http://tinyurl.com/mrgcf7 >>> CHE > Phone Textbook Apps Just Keep Coming http://tinyurl.com/njy2ca EnJOY! Happy Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday ! /Gerry Gerry McKiernan Associate Professor Science and Technology Librarian Iowa State University Library Ames IA 50011 gerrymck(a)iastate.edu There Are No Answers, Only Solutions / Olde Irish Saying The Future Is Already Here, It's Just Not Evenly Distributed / Attributed To William Gibson, SciFi Author / Coined 'Cyberspace

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Re: [Air-L] F2F, Hybrid, Online Efficacy Research (Tessa Houghton)
by Tessa Houghton 24 Aug '09

24 Aug '09

I think you may be interested in the work of some staff at Canterbury University: http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/UCResearchProfile/Researcher.aspx?researcherid=… http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/UCResearchProfile/Researcher.aspx?researcherid=… You may also be interested in this initiative: http://scratch.mit.edu/ Regards, -- Tessa Jade Houghton PhD Candidate Media and Communication University of Canterbury New Zealand "If one could conclude as to the nature of the Creator from a study of creation, it would appear that God has an inordinate fondness for stars and beetles." - J.B.S. Haldane

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Credentials
by Dr. Rasha Abdulla 24 Aug '09

24 Aug '09

Hi all, I've been wanting to ask this of the list members for a while, but was afraid it might be offensive to some. But I'm increasingly convinced that it's important. Could list members please list their full names and titles as a signature to their messages? It may not make much difference if you're asking a question, but it certainly does when you're providing an answer or even making a comment. I think it adds to the credibility of the message, and gives other list members a chance to assess such credibility. Thank you. Take care. Rasha -- Rasha A. Abdulla, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Journalism and Mass Communication The American University in Cairo www.rashaabdulla.com

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last call for manuscripts>>copyright>>computers and composition
by martine courant rife 24 Aug '09

24 Aug '09

Dear Everyone - the 9-15-09 deadline for *manuscripts* for the special issue of C&C is fast approaching. Please don't hesitate to ask any of us questions>>see below! *** I've included below and provided a link to a call for manuscripts for a special issue of Computers and Composition (scheduled as volume 27 issue 3, September 2010) on Copyright, Culture, Creativity, and the Commons. https://www.msu.edu/~courantm/CFP_CC_copyright.pdf Please do feel free to send questions to or run ideas by any of the four of us guest editing the special issue. (Our contact info appears below and in the call.) Danielle Nicole DeVoss, Martine Courant Rife, Steve Westbrook, and John Logie *************************************************** CALL FOR MANUSCRIPTS special issue of Computers and Composition, volume 27 issue 3, September 2010 Copyright, Culture, Creativity, and the Commons In 1998, Computers and Composition and Kairos both published special issues related to intellectual property. Much has changed in the 11 years since those special issues, including new legislation, proposed legislation, and the rise and fall of file-sharing spaces like Napster and Kazaa. Further, issues not addressed in the earlier special issue require the attention of computers and writing scholars, including global and international issues related to intellectual property, feminist and ecofeminist research in intellectual property, and issues of cultural cannibalism and intellectual commons. This special issue will attend to these—and other—issues, with a particular focus on the cultural consequences of our expanded sense of what counts as “property” in digital spaces. Questions we invite authors to consider and respond to include, but are not limited to: * Where are the significant intersections between intellectual property and computers and composition? What intersections have thus far remained invisible or buried? * What significant changes have occurred in U.S. copyright law in the past 15 years? In international copyright law, policies, and approaches? * What global, international, or cross-cultural intellectual property issues should we be attentive to? * How might our understandings of “the commons,” the concept of shared or “community-owned knowledge,” and the notion of “cultural appropriation” contribute to conversations on copyright and/or intellectual property? * What are some of the ways in which feminist/ecofeminist scholarship in intellectual property, and understandings of sustainability can inform or extend our approaches to intellectual property? * What are some of the ways in which cultural rhetorics scholarship in intellectual property can inform or extend our approaches to intellectual property? For example, is there a connection between racism and the commodification of culture via intellectual property regimes? A connection with sexism? Where are the intersections between discourses of race and/or gender and intellectual property-related discourse? * Are there better vocabularies, terms, and theories for us to drawn upon to situate and study “intellectual property?” Is it possible to recognize and/or attribute “intellectual property” in places other than formal legal regimes? * How have intellectual property issues become more immediate with regard to the continual growth of and use for digital writing spaces? New media texts? * In what ways can our long history of analyzing authorship and ownership of texts, including our discussions on issues of plagiarism and attribution, contribute to how we approach intellectual property issues? In what was does this long history perhaps submerge issues we might be discussing? * In what ways can writing instructors and researchers enter into public discussions about intellectual property? The special issue will consist of: 1) a special issue editors’ introduction, which will provide some historical, legal, and philosophical context; 2) approximately 6–7 articles addressing issues of intellectual property, focusing on those issues that have arisen since the 1998 special issues; and 3) a roundtable-style-discussion piece capturing the interactions of key figures in intellectual property scholarship within and beyond computers and writing (e.g., Jim Porter, Ty Herrington, Jessica Reyman, Jessica Litman, Kembrew McLeod, Siva Vaidhyanathan, Rebecca Moore Howard, Vandana Shiva, Johndan Johnson-Eilola, and Peter Yu). Deadline for manuscripts: September 15, 2009 (response by November 15) Deadline for final manuscripts: January 15, 2010 Please direct questions and email manuscripts to the special issue editors: Martine Courant Rife Lansing Community College martinerife(a)gmail.com Steve Westbrook California State University, Fullerton swestbrook(a)fullerton.edu Dànielle Nicole DeVoss Michigan State University devossda(a)msu.edu John Logie University of Minnesota logie(a)umn.edu -- Martine Courant Rife, JD, PhD Professor, Writing Program Lansing Community College Communication Department Arts & Sciences Building, 211G, 517/4839906 martinerife(a)gmail.com *** Editor, Intellectual Property Committee/Caucus NCTE Newsletter

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Flickr Research
by Mayo FM 24 Aug '09

24 Aug '09

Hello! I hope that you are fine! I am Mayo Fuster Morell Phd Candidate on Online creation communities governance at the European University Institute (http://www.onlinecreation.info) Do you know previous research on Flicrk? I am particularly interested on the interaction dynamics amogn Flickr users/community and the relationship between Flickrs users/community and the service provider (Yahoo). Though the case stydy of Flickr I am trying to analyse the relationship between commercial providers of online platforms and the community generated in terms of power distribution and mutual dependency. Thank you in advance! In solidarity! Mayo -- Mayo Fuster Morell E-mail: lilaroja(a)gmx.net Skype: mayoneti http://www.onlinecreation.info http://www.openelibrary.info http://www.openesf.net http://www.networked-politics.info http://www.euromovements.info GRATIS für alle GMX-Mitglieder: Die maxdome Movie-FLAT! Jetzt freischalten unter http://portal.gmx.net/de/go/maxdome01

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Call for Participation: Mobile LIfe 2009 in Barcelona
by Prof. I. Kushchu 23 Aug '09

23 Aug '09

Dear Colleagues The final program for Mobile Life Conferences (mGOVERNMENT, mSOCIETY and mDEVELOPMENT) to be held in Barcelona 2-4 September is now posted on the conference web site: http://www.m4life.org Key SPEAKERS include: -- Serge Ferre, NOKIA, Vice President Corporate and Head of EU Representation -- Bruno Jacob feuerborn, Deutsche Telekom - Board Member of T-Mobile Germany and T-Home. -- Evelyne Rys, CISCO, Sales and Business Development Manager, EMEA Public Sector Vertical, Cisco Systems -- Ken Banks, Kiwanja Net -- Micheal Bull, Professor, University Sussex BACKGROUND: mLife Events form A Platform for Socially Responsible Organizations in Mobile Value Chain The influences of mobile technologies range from personal relations to interaction in society, and from the transformation of the public sector to the dynamics of economic development. mLife conference and exhibitions are prime events for all organizations and professionals who would like to monitor, take part in, and shape the development of the social impact of the mobile revolution. They provide opportunities to businesses, public sector organizations and researchers to explore the frontiers of the social mobile revolution and be informed in order to reach their goals. The three conferences will cover all aspects of mobile life, technology, services, implementation as they relate to individuals, society, economies and governments. ORGANIZERS and SUPPORTERS: mLIfe Events are organized by the MObile Government Consortium Int, and Barcelona City Council and Sponsored / Supported by CISCO, BlackBerry (RIM) and SPIDER ONLINE REGISTRATIONs and for further information please refer to the http://www.m4life.org/ or email conf(a)m4life.org Regards Kushchu ------- IBRAHIM KUSHCHU, MBA, MSC., PHD Associate Professor and Founding Director, Mobile Government Consortium International, UK http://www.mgovernment.org ik(a)mgovernment.org +44 1273 777853

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ratios/absolutes - retractions
by Barry Wellman 22 Aug '09

22 Aug '09

Well, the number of retractions is up more than tenfold, 95 out of 1M+ is trivial. Another case of media blowing up a minor phenomenon? YMMV. PS: # of publications expected varies by field. In sociology, we have had to repeatedly educate senior administrators that where there average size page is 7pp, our's is 35pp+, and we have fewer venues for publication. I also believe that top schools don't merely count, but read the papers of decent candidates. (And also their letters of recc.) So quality still counts. In any event, one of my doc students just named her baby Albert Li, after Mr Einstein. Barry Wellman _______________________________________________________________________ S.D. Clark Professor of Sociology, FRSC NetLab Director Department of Sociology 725 Spadina Avenue, Room 388 University of Toronto Toronto Canada M5S 2J4 twitter:barrywellman http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~wellman fax:+1-416-978-3963 Updating history: http://chass.utoronto.ca/oldnew/cybertimes.php _______________________________________________________________________

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Roommate found-thanks!
by Kris M. Markman 22 Aug '09

22 Aug '09

Hi all, I have found myself a roommate for IR 10 thanks to the awesomeness of this list! I look forward to seeing everyone in Milwaukee. -Kris ---------- ---------- ---------- Kris M. Markman, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Dept. of Communication University of Memphis https://umdrive.memphis.edu/kmmrkman/www/index.html

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