Call for Participation: 2009 Summer Research Institute for the Science of Socio-Technical Systems: 11-15 June, 2009 At Syracuse University's Minnowbrook Conference Center, Blue Mountain Lake, NY Application screening begins 2 March, 2009 Eligibility: Doctoral students, Post-doctoral scholars and pre-tenure faculty at US-based institutions. Notification: Late March, 2009 Cost: Most will be covered for accepted participants Background --------------- A science of socio-technical systems is emerging from research in the fields of HCI, social computing, social informatics, CSCW, sociology of computing, and other domains. The Consortium for the Science of Socio-Technical Systems (CSST) is a new organization devoted to advancing research on socio-technical systems. Building on the success of the 2008 Summer Research Institute, the CSST will, again, be hosting a summer research institute for advanced doctoral students and pre-tenure faculty in summer, 2009. A primary goal of the institute is to build a new cohort of faculty and graduate students who are interested in research on the design and interplay of technology and humans at the level of individuals, groups, organizations, and larger communities. Examples of this kind of work include research on: * new forms of organizing (e.g., virtual organizations, massive online activities) * social computing (e.g., online communities, social network sites); * distributed work (e.g., collaboratories, virtual teams and organizations); * new technologies (e.g., recommender systems, prediction markets, ubiquitous computing); * novel forms of production (e.g., open source software, Wikipedia); * new forms of expression and entertainment (e.g., blogs, wikis, massive multiplayer online role-playing games); and * information and communication technologies for developing regions (e.g., cell phone-based applications to assist economic development, infrastructure development for local economic action). Institute faculty ------------------- With funding from the NSF, the institute will bring together a faculty of distinguished scholars in the domain of socio-technical systems with up to 30 campers, drawn from among advanced doctoral students, post-doctoral fellows, and pre-tenure faculty conducting research on socio-technical systems. Steve Sawyer, Syracuse University, Director Tom Finholt, University of Michigan, Co-Director Mark Ackerman, University of Michigan Bill Dutton, Oxford University Jonathan Grudin, Microsoft Corporation C. Suzanne Iacono, National Science Foundation Wendy Kellogg, IBM Wayne Lutters, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Tony Salvador, Intel Corporation Suzanne Weisband, University of Arizona Institute goals ----------------- The goals of the institute are to: * Expand on and strengthen connections among the cohort of researchers in this area, and build on the network of relations formed through the 2008 Summer Research Institute. * Guide the work of the new researchers by having experts in socio-technical systems research give advice. * Provide encouragement and support for the selection of socio-technical systems research topics. * Illustrate the interrelationship and diversity of the field of socio-technical systems research. How the institute will be conducted ------------------------------------------- The institute will be conducted as a residential program at Syracuse University's Minnowbrook Conference Center (www.minnowbrook.org <http://www.minnowbrook.org>) with morning small group sessions devoted to feedback on students' research, and evening group sessions consisting of presentations by the institute faculty (e.g., work in progress, instruction in new methods, instruction in new analytic techniques) and moderated discussions (e.g., on career development, how to obtain funding, publication strategies). Afternoons will be reserved for informal activities, such as group outings and picnics. Costs of participation, including travel, food and accommodations, will be covered. How to apply ---------------- The application process requires two parts: 1. A 300 word response to this question: *How does your research advance our scientific understanding of socio-technical systems?* A few references, particularly if they are not to your own work, may be helpful but are not required. 2. Your current curriculum vitae (as PDF or in a Word or WordPerfect format). Please send this response as an attachment in a common word processor format or as PDF of an email with the email subject being CSST'09 application to csst2009@syr.edu. Please ensure that you include your name, your current U.S.-based institution and affiliation, an email address, and your status (PhD candidate, post-doctoral scholar, pre-tenure faculty, or an explanation of some other status) along with the response. Please note that participation in this institute will be restricted to those doctoral candidates who have proposed their dissertation at the time of submission up through pre-tenure faculty who are at US institutions. This includes post-doctoral scholars who are not in tenure-track positions if they are less than five years from having completed their doctorate. ** Selection and notification ** Participants will be chosen by a committee of the institute director, associate director, and selected institute faculty. Selection will reflect these criteria: * Clear articulation of the research contribution to socio-technical systems (theory, practice or design) * Clear development of socio-technical concepts and principles relative to your research interests and contribution. Additional information: ----------------------- For further information please visit si.umich.edu/csstinstitute. _______________________________________________ CITASA mailing list CITASA@list.citasa.org http://list.citasa.org/mailman/listinfo/citasa_list.citasa.org