Apologies for any duplication... M -----Original Message----- From: Karen Gustafson [mailto:kegustafson@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2011 2:48 PM To: Karen Gustafson Subject: Gary Chapman International School on Digital Transformation Dear all, We are very pleased to announce that the application period for the Gary Chapman International School on Digital Transformation is now open! Please see www.digitaltransformationschool.org for program details and application instructions. Also, we would appreciate your help in spreading the word--please forward this announcement as you feel is appropriate. The deadline for applications is April 30. Best, Karen The Gary Chapman International School on Digital Transformation July 17-22, 2011 Porto, Portugal Application deadline: April 30 The UT Austin Portugal program is now accepting applications for the third annual International School on Digital Transformation, to be held July 17-22 in Porto, Portugal. Advanced students and emerging professionals, social entrepreneurs, and activists from around the world with an interest in digital technology and the enrichment of civil society are invited to apply. For the past two years, this intensive residential program has brought together scholars, policy experts, community advocates, designers, and hackers to explore the potential for digital media to empower citizens, strengthen communities, and contribute to a more vibrant civil society. The School is named for Gary Chapman, an internationally renowned Internet policy expert and member of the faculty at the LBJ School for Public Policy at UT Austin who founded this innovative program and passed away suddenly last year. His life continues to inspire the School. The School is conducted in English and in previous years has attracted faculty and participants from Portugal, South Africa, Finland, India, the U.K., the U.S., and Brazil, among many other countries. During the week, innovators in digital communications serve as teachers and mentors, presenting current projects and engaging in discussion. Faculty and students will be regarded as peers during the School. Participants of the School will have the opportunity to present and discuss their own projects with those having similar interests, and explore ways to further develop their work. Additionally, members will collaborate on group projects involving digital media and civil society. Consisting of approximately 40 participants and 15 faculty, the School seeks to create an atmosphere of scholarly collegiality, fostering dialogue among diverse perspectives including those of design, policy, activist, and research backgrounds. The daily schedule will include time for presentations, bar camp style meetings, and informal conversations among faculty and students. The Schools program for 2011 will focus on these themes: Information access and open civic discourse Digital tools for government transparency Evolving Internet content regulation and the publics right to information Digital media and the democratic process Factors influencing the growth of online civic engagement The School will be held at the Hotel Eurostars Das Artes, a four-star hotel near the heart of Portos historic district, an area renowned for its active arts culture, wine, architecture, and breathtaking views. A link to the hotel site is below. Participant fees are: 370 Euros with accommodation at the Hotel Eurostars das Artes, breakfast included 170 Euros for UT-Austin-Portugal PhD Program students (extra fee for accommodation at the Hotel Eurostars das Artes) The cost of the School includes daily breakfast from Monday through Saturday, a nightly dinner at a local restaurant attended by all faculty and students, the daily program, and an evening cultural activity. Participants are expected to be present at all dinners and activities during the week. Travel to Porto is not supported; students must arrange and pay for their own travel. The Gary Chapman International School on Digital Transformation is organized by the UT Austin-Portugal program, a cooperative endeavor between the University of Texas at Austin and some of the top universities of Portugal. The co-directors of the School are Dr. Sharon Strover of the University of Texas at Austin and Dr. Artur Pimenta Alves of the University of Porto. For more information about the School, its faculty, and to apply, please visit www.digitaltransformationschool.org More details on the program will be added and updated as they are confirmed. The Eurostars Das Artes is a deluxe hotel located near many shops, restaurants, and art galleries and about a 20-minute walk to the Praça da Ribeira, at the shores of the Douro River. More information may be found at http://www.eurostarshotels.com/EN/hotels-oporto.html For more information on the broader program, please see http://utaustinportugal.org/ There is limited space and the final deadline for applications is April 30. For questions regarding the program or call for applications, please contact Karen Gustafson at kegustafson@gmail.com. -- Karen Gustafson, Ph.D. Research Associate, Telecommunications and Information Policy Institute Program Manager for Digital Media, UT Austin|Portugal Program The University of Texas at Austin