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2 PhD games researchers (Utrecht)
by geert lovink 15 Oct '07

15 Oct '07

http://www2.let.uu.nl/Solis/ogc/vacatures.htm GATE research project Design rules for learning through simulated worlds 2 PhD researchers (0,8 fte each) What | vacancies When | starting 1 January 2008, apply before 15 November 2007 Where | Research Institute for History and Culture (OGC), Utrecht University More info: - contact dr. J. Raessens, telephone +31 30 253 6270, e-mail: Joost.Raessens(a)let.uu.nl - extensive description of the GATE programme (Word file) - extensive description of the research project Design rules for learning through simulated worlds (PDF file) Faculty of Humanities Utrecht University, founded in 1636, has developed into one of Europe’s largest and most prominent institutes for research and education. The faculty of Humanities, with over 6,000 students and nearly 900 staff members, offers an inspiring and dynamic working environment. Our research and education programmes focus on culture, history, arts, literature, media, language, philosophy and theology, covering the period from classical antiquity to the present day. We pay special attention to interdisciplinary and international collaboration, the use of new media, and high-quality teaching and research. The research programmes are organised in four institutes: * Research Institute for History and Culture (OGC) * Utrecht Institute of Linguistics OTS (UiL OTS) * ZENO Research Institute for Philosophy * Research Institute for Theology and Religious Studies (INTEGON) The Utrecht University Graduate School of Humanities monitors and guarantees the outstanding quality of education programmes for Research Master and PhD students. The enthusiastic colleagues, the workplaces and excellent facilities both in the modern Uithof and the historic town centre of Utrecht provide a stimulating, professional atmosphere. Moreover, the faculty of Humanities offers attractive terms of employment. Over 300 researchers are employed by the Onderzoekinstituut voor Geschiedenis en Cultuur (Research Institute for History and Culture): OGC. The research of OGC is divided into eleven groups: classical antiquity, medieval culture, cultural history, media studies, music history, art history, (early) modern literature, Oriental studies, international political history, socio-economic history and women's studies. Some of this research, namely the contract research, is done on behalf of third parties. Internationalization has a high priority within the OGC. It has exchange contracts with a number of foreign universities including UCLA in the United States. The Research Institute for History and Culture offers positions for: 2 PhD researchers (0,8 fte each): project 1: Game design as narrative architecture project 2: Persuasive rhetoric in game design Job description The Game Research for Training and Entertainment (GATE) programme is a cooperation of several Dutch universities, research institutes and game development companies. Within GATE, the Research Institute for History and Culture (OGC) of Utrecht University’s Faculty of Humanities executes the research project Design rules for learning through simulated worlds. Within this project we have two PhD positions vacant. The GATE project is sponsored by the Netherlands ICT Research and Innovation Authority (ICT Regie). The interdisciplinary research project Design rules for learning through simulated worlds aims to investigate how media and game theory can be called upon to improve the design and thereby the learning results of educational entertainment and serious games. For that purpose, researchers from different disciplines such as media and culture studies and educational sciences will call upon theories of serious games and gaming in which games are not only designed and played to entertain, but also to educate, train, and inform. These theories will be further developed and critically evaluated in three sub-projects: - The study of storytelling: How narrative structures can be designed to improve learning processes, - The study of persuasive rhetoric: How certain rhetorical strategies can be designed to convince players of certain points of view (e.g. political games), or behavioural changes (e.g. health games), and - The study of multiplayer online worlds and games: How design principles underlying multiplayer online worlds and games can be used to improve learning processes (i.e., make them more effective, more efficient and/or more pleasurable). Each sub-project examines the ways in which the relevant media and game theoretical frameworks can be adapted in order to be used productively for the design of educational computer games. The project leader will write a synthetic monograph in which the results of the three areas are compared, integrated and situated in a broader cultural-historical context. Job description PhD Project 1: Game design as narrative architecture This project assesses various theories of how the medium-specific characteristics of computer games make it possible to tell stories, and how the design of these narrative possibilities can improve the motivation for and learning effects of playing educational computer games. For more information on PhD project 1, see the Research project description. The promotores of PhD project 1 are Prof. dr. W. Uricchio and Prof. dr. P.R.J. Simons, co-promotor is dr. C. Kattenbelt. Job description PhD project 2: Persuasive rhetoric in game design This project investigates how the medium-specificity of computer games make them suitable for persuasive purposes and to what extent and in what ways persuasive strategies can be designed to convince serious-game players of the veracity of a certain point of view – as in games for change – or the necessity of a behavioral change – as in health games. For more information on PhD project 2, see the Research project description. The promotores of PhD project 2 are Prof. dr. W. Uricchio and Prof. dr. P.A. Kirschner, co-promotor is dr. J. Raessens. Qualifications We are looking for two excellent and enthusiastic researchers with master's degrees preferably in the humanities with knowledge and/or experience in the field of media and culture studies, in particular new media and digital culture. With evident expertise in game studies, applicants with other master’s degrees will be considered as well. The candidate should have: experience with conducting research; an affinity with interdisciplinary research; knowledge of the relevant theoretical backgrounds; an affinity with the educational sciences; a good command of the Dutch and English language, both spoken and written. Non-Dutch candidates are expected to acquire a good command of the Dutch language within the first period of appointment. Terms of employment The initial appointment to the positions will be for a 0,8 fte for 1 year that, on satisfactory completion, will result in an extension for an additional 3 years. It is expected that the appointees will complete all requirements for the PhD degree in this period. The expected commencement date is January 1, 2008. The salary is € 1,956.- per month in the first year and is expected to increase to € 2,502.- per month in the fourth year, for a full time appointment, contingent on satisfactory performance. Further details For further information, contact dr. J. Raessens, telephone +31 30 253 6270, e-mail: Joost.Raessens(a)let.uu.nl. Click here for an extensive description of the GATE-project (Word file). Click here for an extensive description of the research project Design rules for learning through simulated worlds (PDF file). How to apply Applications (by regular mail or by e-mail) should be accompanied by: a cover letter in English that sets out the candidate’s motivation for applying for the position, qualifications and suitability and how these will contribute to the project and a motivated preference for one of the PhD projects; a curriculum vitae in English and, where relevant, a list of publications; contact details of two references: names, affiliations, relationship to the applicant, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses; a copy of the MA thesis; and a preliminary project proposal in English within the framework of the PhD project descriptions containing a statement of the research problem, a theoretical framework and a sketch of the methodology that you would use (1000-1500 words). Interested candidates should send their application to the Personnel Department of the Faculty of Humanities, to the attention of Mrs M. Kluver, Kromme Nieuwegracht 46, 3512 HJ Utrecht, The Netherlands. Please refer to vacancy number 68746-project 1 or 68746-project 2. E-mail applications should be sent in PDF or Word format to PenO(a)let.uu.nl, and should specify your name and vacancy number in the message as well as in the topic, include a list of attachments in the message, and specify your name in every attachment. The deadline for applications is 15 November 2007. The interviews will take place in Utrecht, 12 December 2007.

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e-reading limitations
by Cristian Berrio Zapata 15 Oct '07

15 Oct '07

Dear all: I use to digitalize documents to facilitate my students access to information. It is also quite useful when working with virtual classrooms (i.e. Moodle or Blackboard). Unfortunatelly I have found an unexpected problem: With MSOffice suite 2003, Microsoft used to include a program called MS Document Imaging produced under licensce of Scan Soft Inc. It is a *.tif reader which is quite useful (pro versions include tools like underline and notes). Big trouble is that MS decided to exclude it from MSOffice suite 2007, so many of my students are blocked when getting to read. Does anyone of you know about a TIF document reader which is free and has a decent quality? NOTE: Adobe reader does not reconise TIF as it is the competitors' format. Thanks for your help. Cristian Berrio Zapata

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Pre-AOIR Conference Pub Meeting at Tuesday, 16th of October
by simone.heidbrink＠zegk.uni-heidelberg.de 15 Oct '07

15 Oct '07

Dear colleagues and participants of the AOIR Conference, as some of us might be in Vancouver early, we thought of proposing a pre-conference pub meeting at Tuesday, 16th of October 2007 at 7 p.m. at "Malone´s bar and Grill" 608 West Pender Street (close to the Ramada conference hotel, see http://www.malones.bc.ca/) We will be there and (hopefully) guarding a table with an "AOIR" sign, so please look out for us. :) In case you want to join us, we would appreciate if you could give us a short notice by email. But since we will be there anyway, you can also decide spontanously. ;) See you at Malone´s (or later at the conference) Simone & Nadha -- Simone Heidbrink M.A. SFB 619 Ritualdynamik - Teilprojekt C2 Institut für Religionswissenschaft Universität Heidelberg Akademiestr. 4-8 D - 69117 Heidelberg Tel.: ++49-(0)6221-547482 Fax.: ++49-(0)6221-547624 E-Mail: simone.heidbrink(a)zegk.uni-heidelberg.de http://www.rituals-online.de

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The future of scholarly communication: building the infastructure for cyberscholarship
by Jeremy Hunsinger 14 Oct '07

14 Oct '07

nsf-jisc report on The future of scholarly communication: building the infastructure for cyberscholarship http://www.sis.pitt.edu/~repwkshop/NSF-JISC-report.pdf Jeremy Hunsinger Information Ethics Fellow, Center for Information Policy Research, School of Information Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (www.cipr.uwm.edu) Words are things; and a small drop of ink, falling like dew upon a thought, produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think. --Byron

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Purdue Serious Games Forum
by Samantha Blackmon 13 Oct '07

13 Oct '07

For those of you who were unable to join us Jim Gee's keynote is currently being streamed live at http://www.purdue.edu/discoverypark/dlc/gameforum. Best, Samantha -- Samantha Blackmon, PhD Associate Professor Purdue University Department of English West Lafayette, IN http://blog.samanthablackmon.net http://www.samanthablackmon.net http://www.joystick101.org "I have come to believe over and over again that what is most important to me must be spoken, made verbal and shared, even at the risk of having it bruised or misunderstood" - Audre Lorde

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USF dissertation fellowship program
by David M Silver 12 Oct '07

12 Oct '07

if you are a US underrepresented ethnic minority scholar who plans to spend 2008-2009 finishing your dissertation, consider applying for this unique opportunity. please feel free to post, forward, and distribute. david silver http://silverinsf.blogspot.com *** USF dissertation fellowship program The University of San Francisco invites applications from underrepresented ethnic minority scholars for the USF Dissertation Fellowship Program for academic year 2008-2009. Program: Scholars complete the dissertation and initiate an ongoing program of scholarly or creative work, and become familiar with the usual service responsibilities of a university faculty member. Scholars teach one course in the discipline each semester and serve the University in various capacities. The Program provides a stipend of $32,000 and limited support for relocation and research-related expenses. Additional support includes office space, computer and library privileges. Qualifications: Scholars are members of one of the following groups: African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, or American Indians, and are U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents. Candidates must have completed all course work leading to the doctorate by Summer 2008, and must be considering a career in college teaching in one of the following fields: Education (International and Multicultural Education; Leadership Studies; Teacher Education; Counseling Psychology [School Counseling]); Arts and Sciences (Communication Studies; Media Studies; Politics; Sociology; Theology and Religious Studies, Biology, Philosophy, Clinical Psychology [Experimental Psychopathology and/or Forensic Psychology]); Business and Management (Accounting; Finance; Marketing; International Business; High Technology Business Strategy; Management and Leadership; Entrepreneurship); or Nursing. Applicants should submit a letter of application (indicating area of expertise), curriculum vitae, transcripts, dissertation prospectus, brief description of research plans, evidence of teaching ability (including student evaluations), and three letters of recommendation to: Gerardo Marin, Ph.D., Vice Provost Dissertation Scholars Search University of San Francisco 2130 Fulton Street, LMR 423 San Francisco, CA 94117-1080 Complete applications must be received by January 15, 2008, to ensure full consideration. The University of San Francisco is a Jesuit Catholic university founded in 1855 to educate leaders who will fashion a more humane and just world. Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to work in a culturally diverse environment and to contribute to the mission of the University. USF is an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to affirmative action and to excellence through diversity. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities upon request.

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Yale Information Society Project Resident Postdoctoral Fellowships for 2008-2009
by Michael Zimmer 12 Oct '07

12 Oct '07

[Please distribute - apologies for any cross-postings. -mz] Information Society Project Resident Postdoctoral Fellowships for 2008-2009 Yale Law School Application Information The ISP resident fellowship is designed for recent graduates of law or Ph.D. programs who are interested in careers in teaching and public service in any of the following areas: Internet and telecommunications law, intellectual property law, access to knowledge, first amendment law, media studies, privacy, cybercrime, cybersecurity, social software, standards and technology policy, cultural evolution, bioethics, biotechnology, and law and technology generally. Fellows receive a salary of approximately 42,250 USD plus Yale benefits. Fellows are expected to work on an independent scholarly project as well as help with administrative and scholarly work for the Information Society Project at Yale Law School. A small number of special ISP visiting fellowships are also available for persons who provide their own sources of funding. More information on the ISP is available at: http://www.law.yale.edu/ isp/ Application materials should include the following: (1) A brief (one to five page) statement of the applicant's proposed scholarly research; (2) A copy of the applicant's resume; (3) A law school (or graduate school) transcript; (4) At least one sample of recent scholarly writing (samples in English are strongly preferred); (5) Two letters of recommendation. Applications for the 2008-9 ISP fellowship must be postmarked no later than Feb. 1, 2008. Awards will be announced at the end of March 2008. For additional information please contact Deborah Sestito at deborah.sestito(a)yale.edu Application materials should be sent (in hard copy) to: Information Society Project Fellowship Program c/o Deborah Sestito, Room 333 Yale Law School 127 Wall Street P.O. Box 208215 New Haven CT 06520-8215 ----- Michael Zimmer, PhD Microsoft Fellow, Information Society Project, Yale Law School e: michael.zimmer(a)yale.edu w: http://michaelzimmer.org

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Call for book reviews - Science Studies
by Yuwei Lin 12 Oct '07

12 Oct '07

CALL FOR BOOK REVIEWS Science Studies is an international peer-reviewed journal dedicated to publishing articles on the study of science and technology studies. Published since 1988, Science Studies is read in over 80 countries around the world. Our journal welcomes submissions of book reviews that fit into the scope of the journal. You might choose a title from our book list (http://www.sciencestudies.fi/books) or make suggestions of your own. Books currently available for review are (Issue 2/2007 – a special issue of Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS)): * Patrice Flichy (2007). The Internet Imaginaire. The MIT Press. * Don Tapscott & Anthony D. Williams (2006). Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything. Portfolio. * Adrian Mackenzie (2006). Cutting Code: Software and Sociality. Digital Formations Series, Peter Lang. Please consult the author guidelines at our Web Site (www.sciencestudies.fi) For further information, please contact the editor in charge of the book reviews: Janne Lehenkari E-mail: janne.lehenkari AT helsinki.fi

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[AoIR 8] Message to delegates
by Richard Smith 12 Oct '07

12 Oct '07

Dear AoIR 8 ("Let's Play!) delegates, The program is printed, the food is ordered, the extra security has been arranged. All is set for your edification and amusement next week in Vancouver. All we need now are the nerds (Ahem, Internet Researchers...), so get those suitcases packed and hop on a plane. I have received a few inquiries about various logistical matters and hope to clear many of them up in this email. If you have other questions, however, don't hesitate to contact me. 0. Registration The registration will be open on a limited basis on Wednesday, October 17, to process folks who arrive early for the workshops. If you get into town during the day on Wednesday, drop in and pick up your bag, but after 9:30 when the workshop folks will be in their sessions, please. Registration is in the front hallway, just as you come into the building at 515 West Hastings Street. It will be open 8-4 the rest of the conference. 1. Presentations There is a computer and LCD projector - with proper external speakers - in every room. No need to bring your own laptop, and in fact you will find it easier and simpler to just bring your presentation on a CD or USB stick/drive. There is an old fashioned overhead projector in every room, as well. 2. Coffee We will have coffee and *some* snacks before the event begins each morning, and then again at 10am and 3pm. Remember, the first session is at 8:30am... so don't sleep in! 3. Lunch Lunch is provided. You are welcome to use your lunch time - we scheduled 90 minutes for lunch - to go outside, but a modest lunch buffet will be available for all delegates. 4. Reception There is an opening reception on Wednesday, October 17, starting at 7pm. The reception is sponsored by University of Washington's School of Communication. We've had a larger than expected number of people indicate that they were coming, so we've tried to lay on a bit more snacks and wine, but please be understanding if there is no more free booze when you get here. The bar will stay open, on a cash basis, until 9pm. Then you are on your own. Have fun, but be safe. 5. Banquet The banquet is an extra cost option, which many of you did select, but it is now sold out. Numerous other dining and entertainment options exist in Vancouver - a tourist guide will be in your conference pack - and our registration staff will be happy to make suggestions. Most downtown things are easily walkable from the conference site. 6. Internet Yes, we will have (wired and wireless) internet connections available for those of you with your own laptops. An instruction guide with user ID and password for the campus network is in the back of your badge holder. A limited number of workstations available in the computer labs for those of you who do not have a computer with you. Please give (anxious about midterms) students priority in those labs, however. 7. Crowds We have had a large response and it is possible that your presentation room or the keynote will be over full. Please be patient. In some cases we may be able to move to a larger room, but in other situations you might have to crowd in or go to another session. If that happens, look on the bright side: at least our research area is sufficiently popular to create a crowd! 8. Program The program is available through the AoIR wiki: http://wiki.aoir.org/ index.php?title=About_IR8.0 and you can also download the complete program from my personal web space, here: http://www.sfu.ca/~smith/ AoIR2007ProgramOct11.pdf You will find a "conference at a glance in the program and in the back of your badge-holder, or you can memorize this pattern: parallel sessions, coffee, keynote, lunch, parallel sessions, coffee, parallel sessions. That is the order of things on Thursday and Saturday. On Friday, our keynote is in the afternoon so the pattern is slightly altered: parallel sessions, coffee, parallel sessions, lunch, parallel sessions, coffee, keynote. 9. AGM The Annual General Meeting begins promptly at 5pm in room 1900, following Henry Jenkins' keynote address. If you don't wish to participate in the AGM, kindly exit to the lobby, where Dr Jenkins will be available for a few minutes following his talk. 10. Tags Internet researchers understand the value of ad-hoc networks, and I encourage you to create delicious tags, twitter tags, jaiku tags, flickr tags, irc channels, skype message groups, whatever... aoir8 is a distinctive and easily used "tag" and might suit your needs and help others find you. I don't have an official photographer for this event (yet) but I hope that a few of you might bring your cameras. 11. Weather Vancouver in the fall is cool (10-15 degrees celsius, or mid-50s for those in Farenheit) and a high probability of showers. Dress warmly, bring a waterproof jacket, and shoes that you can walk in the rain in and not have wet feet. You'll have more fun. I can't think of anything more, so I will send this off now. I hope you have a safe and pleasant trip to Vancouver and that your hotel arrangements are comfortable, and I look forward to seeing you all here next week. ...r -- Richard Smith, Professor, School of Communication Simon Fraser University, 515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, CANADA V6B 5K3 New phone number: +1 778 782 5116 Web: http://www.sfu.ca/~smith/ Skype - callto://richard_k_smith New book: http://arago.cprost.sfu.ca/smith/mawc

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Call for Papers: Broadcast News and the Active Citizen, University of Leeds
by Stephen Coleman 11 Oct '07

11 Oct '07

CALL FOR PAPERS Broadcast News and the Active Citizen Monday, January 7, 2008 University of Leeds Keynote Speakers: - Peter Horrocks, Head of BBC Television News - Professor John Downing, Southern Illinois University The Institute for Communications Studies of the University of Leeds invites paper proposals for a one day conference entitled Broadcast News and the Active Citizen. Broadcast news institutions are responding in unprecedented ways to a public which increasingly produces and consumes its own journalism. These trends challenge traditional notions of citizenship and the role of broadcasters. While enabling exploration of a broad range of topics related to these phenomena, we seek to develop insights, in particular, into how major news broadcasters at the local and national levels can adapt to an increasingly active, engaged, and demanding public. The conference will be structured to promote dialogue between academic researchers and leading broadcast news professionals with an interest in these issues. The conference will explore the changing relationship between Broadcast News and Citizenship through a focus on three key themes. We invite proposals for research papers corresponding to the following themes: Theme One What does "broadcast news" mean in the new media age? Further questions to be explored in this strand might include: - In what ways must broadcast news adapt to an increasingly engaged, participatory, and demanding public? - In the age of the citizen reporter, is "professional" news broadcasting endangered? - Does the migration of broadcasters to new distribution platforms and new production practices signal a new approach, or a cynical attempt to use gimmicks to hold a steadily disinterested audience? Theme Two How has participatory journalism challenged notions of citizenship in the UK? Further questions to be explored in this strand might include: - Is a new kind of citizenship emerging, and how can traditional broadcasters engage with it? - Are viewer contributed content and citizen journalism the same things, and do either genuinely challenge traditional hierarchical models? - Have broadband access and the rise of participatory online media challenged the traditional dominance of broadcast news, especially in local communities? - How are broadcasters meeting those challenges? Theme Three How communication is now 'mediated' (in both senses of the word) between traditional media and audiences/local communities/citizens? Further questions to be explored in this strand might include: - Are traditionally marginalized communities finding a new voice through citizen journalism? - Are emerging participatory media practices permitting greater democratic engagement at the local level, or simply providing another route to the audience for traditional media giants? - Is any new media journalism genuinely "alternative"? - Do responses by major media to an increasingly active public threaten or encourage diversity? To submit a paper proposal, please email an abstract which does not exceed 500 words to the organisers before November 2, 2007. Acceptance decisions will be made in early November. Postgraduate researchers who do not wish to submit a full paper proposal are encouraged to participate in a postgraduate seminar to present and discuss research in progress related to the conference themes. The seminar will be held on the morning of Tuesday, 8 January. Please contact the organisers for details. Email: news.citizen(a)leeds.ac.uk Website: http://ics.leeds.ac.uk/news-citizen <https://outlook.leeds.ac.uk/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://ics.leeds.ac.u…>

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