Widely cross-posted - Apologies for duplication. Please forward as appropiate - Thank you. The 2002 InSITE (Informing Science and IT Education) conference (http://IS2002.com) will be held at the University College Cork, Cork, Ireland, on June 19-22, 2002. What is "Informing Science"? I hear you ask. Eli Cohen, Editor of the Informing Science Journal, has written an intereting article on this (http://inform.nu/WhatsIS.htm) which describes Informing Science as emerging from the area of Information Systems. The abstract reads as follows: The field of Information Systems (IS) has been attacked for its lack of tradition and focus. This paper suggests that the criticisms are based on the misunderstandings of the nature of Information Systems, both inside and outside the field. The paper begins by extending the fragmentation problem seen by Information Systems to the hierarchical model for knowledge expounded by the universities. It then examines the limitations of existing frameworks for defining IS, and introduces an evolutionary approach. This paper reconceptualizes Information Systems and demonstrates that it has evolved to be part of an emerging discipline of fields, Informing Science. The convergence and divergence of the fields of Information Science, Information Technology, Document Management, Communication Studies and Information Systems is one that contains to intrigue me. The socially and organisationally constructed academic silos within which we often work serve separate contiguous areas; a lack of common understanding leads to frequent duplication of work; and the fragmentation can prevent a vibrant collaborative approach to complex problems. A brief look at the Website for this Conference (http://www.is2002.com/tracks.htm) suggests that an attempt is made here to develop an interdiscplinary conversation, but this will only be possible if there is interdisciplinary interaction! I am Track Chair for the stream "Informing and Communications Theory". I am looking for presenters on any and all of the following themes: * Information systems as communications systems; * Understanding and using information mediated by technology; * The relationship between information and the act of informing; * The role of documents in communicating information; * The role of communication studies in the world of information management; * The intersections of technology, communication and technology; * The modification and enhancement of meaning through technology; * The state of being informed, and knowledge management; * The construction of 'technology' in communication; and others. The target date for your work is 14th December. Please direct enquiries to me or to the Program Chair, Betty Boyd (ProgramChair@is2002.com). Information about the conference and Submission guidelines can be found at the URL given above. You can submit your proposal at any of these URLs: http://www.is2002.com/submissionpage.htm (US); http://csweb.ucc.ie/is2002/submissionpage.htm (Ireland); http://www.sistm.unsw.edu.au/conference/is2002/submissionpage.htm (Australia). Thank you. Sue Myburgh Senior Lecturer and Program Director Knowledge Management Internet Communication Strategies Foundation Director Centre for Internet Studies School of Communication, Information and New Media UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA St Bernard's Road Magill SA 5072 Adelaide, AUSTRALIA P: +(08) 8302 4421 F: +(08) 8302 4745 E: sue.myburgh@unisa.edu.au W: www.unisa.edu.au