CALL FOR AWARD APPLICATIONS Carl J. Couch Internet Research Award Sponsored by the Carl Couch Center for Social and Internet Research http://www.cccsir.org/ The Carl Couch Center issues an annual call for student-authored papers to be considered for Carl J. Couch Internet Research Award. The Couch Center welcomes both theoretical and empirical papers that (1) apply symbolic interactionist approaches to Internet studies, (2) demonstrate interactive relationships between social interaction and communication technologies as advocated by Couch, and/or (3) develop symbolic interactionist concepts in new directions. Papers will be evaluated based on the quality of (1) mastery of Symbolic Interactionist approaches and concepts and Couch's theses, (2) originality, (3) organization, (4) presentation, and (5) advancement of knowledge. Evaluation will be administered by a Review Committee of four: Dr. Mark D. Johns, Luther College Dr. Katherine M. Clegg Smith, Johns Hopkins University Dr. Lori Kendall, SUNY-Purchase Dr. Mary Chayko, College of Saint Elizabeth Competition is open to graduate or undergraduate students of all disciplines. Works that are published or accepted for publication are not eligible for award consideration. The top three papers will receive Couch Awards to be presented at the 2004 International Conference of the Association of Internet Researchers at University of Sussex, England. The top paper will be awarded a certificate and a cash prize of $300, runner up will receive a certificate and a cash prize of $200, and a third paper will receive a certificate and a cash prize of $100. All three authors will be invited to present their work at a session of the A.o.I.R. conference, September 19-22, 2004. Those interested should send a copy of their paper, with a 100-word abstract, electronically to Mark Johns at johnsmar@luther.edu Application deadline has been extended to May 15, 2004. Notification of award will be sent by June 15. Those with questions or comments about Couch Award application, please contact: Mark D. Johns Dept. of Communication/Linguistics Luther College Decorah, IA 52101 Tel: (563) 387-1347 E-mail: johnsmar@luther.edu