Dear Colleagues, Apologies for cross-posting. We are extending our deadline to Wednesday, April 28, 2021 (JST) for all tracks and welcome especially proposals for tracks 1, 3, and special conference track 1. Leslie Tkach-Kawasaki, Tsukuba, Japan ********************************************************************** The 6th DISC (Data, Innovation, Social Network & Convergence) 2021 Conference Conference Dates: June 18 - 19, 2021 (JST) Extended Deadline! Abstract Submissions Deadline: April 28, 2021 (JST) Conference Organizers Leslie Tkach-Kawasaki (University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan) Manuela Hartwig (National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan) Han Woo Park (Yeungnam University, Daegu, Gyeong-san, South Korea) Cyber Emotions Research Institute (YeungNam University, Daegu, Gyeong-san, South Korea) About the Conference We are pleased to announce that the 6th DISC (Data, Innovation, Social Network & Convergence) 2021 Conference will be organized as a completely ONLINE event to be held June 18-19, 2021 (JST) using Zoom. Traditionally, DISC conferences have focused on evidence-based methodologies to analyze complex social interactions as a means of understanding social and technological change. We welcome research from a broad array of fields and are especially interested in comprehensive trans-disciplinary approaches that integrate Triple Helix (TH) studies with approaches such as webometrics, scientometrics, informetrics, datametrics, and technometrics (WSIDT). Applying these methods in turn to different academic fields such as policy and technology studies, business, communications, creative industries, sociology, information technology, and tourism can yield new insights (paradigms) in understanding social phenomena. At this year’s conference, we want to simultaneously situate DISC’s traditional emphasis on TH and WSIDT, and extend such trajectories to current global crises. First, the COVID-19 pandemic changes ways of working, learning, and living (“new normal”), which affects academic research, businesses, and cultures. Methods and applications of social research have to be reconsidered. Second, simultaneously, accelerating climate change threatens civilizations and world societies have to achieve net-zero carbon emissions within the next 30 years by 2050. These circumstances show that we are in dire need of systemic changes. Ultimately, our goal for DISC 2021 is to discuss what motivates social systems to change and what kind of future systems we can expect to emerge out of these challenging times. General Conference Tracks Track 1 “Triple Helix and Webometrics”: Triple Helix (TH) and Webometrics, Scientometrics, Informetrics, Datametrics, & Technometrics (WSIDT) Track 2 “Applications of SNA to the Humanities and Social Sciences”: Applications of quantitative and qualitative social network analysis in humanities (including digital humanities), social sciences, and multi-disciplinary studies. Track 3 “Asian Innovations in Social and Technological Change”: Identifying and discussing Asian approaches to social innovations and technological change with a focus on practices and applications. Special Conference Tracks: Special Track 1 “Networks and Societies in the Post-COVID-19 World”: Rethinking network analysis from qualitative and quantitative perspectives, and the future of social network research in the “new normal” post-COVID era. Special Track 2 “The ‘Big Environment’ Era: Realizing the 2030 SDGs and a Decarbonized World in 2050”: Stakeholders in the future net-zero carbon emissions society. What will the world in 2050 look like, and how will actor roles and relationships change? Submissions DISC 2021 accepts panel and/or individual paper submissions (see below for submission details). Postgraduate student and early-career researcher panels are especially encouraged, and we have set aside space in each track for such panels. Participants may have up to three roles during the conference. For example, they can be authors or co-authors on up to two plus be a discussant on a panel. Participants are not allowed to present more than once on a single panel. Panel submissions: Panels are made up of three to five individual papers and must have at least one organizer and a discussant. Presentations should be about 20 minutes each, with 20 minutes at the end of each panel session devoted to Q & A. Panels may be completely pre-recorded and submitted, or be conducted in a hybrid “live” online manner. Please note that the panel organizer is responsible for organizing the content and flow of the panel, including gathering any pre-recorded papers/presentations and organizing the hybrid environment. The following information must be inputted in Form 1 available at http://tinyurl.com/DISC2021panel ● Track choice ● Panel title ● Panel organizer(s) name(s), institutional affiliation(s), and contact email address(es). ● 100- to 150-word panel abstract showing how papers are connected ● 200 to 250-word abstract and 3 to 5 keywords for each paper ● Author(s) name(s), institutions, email for each paper ● Discussant name and affiliation Individual paper submissions Paper presentations should be about 20 minutes. There will be a limited number of individual paper slots available for each track. Recorded presentations are not accepted for individual paper submissions. Presenters of individual paper presentations must be prepared to present their paper in real time. The following information must be inputted in Form 2 available at http://tinyurl.com/DISC2021paper ● Track choice ● Paper title ● Author(s) name(s), institutional affiliation(s), and contact email address(es). ● 200 to 250-word abstract and 3 to 5 keywords for each paper Special issues In the past, DISC conference paper presentations with methodological, mixed methods, and data focus have been published as original research in Quality & Quantity. In addition, Asia-related research has been published in the Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia (JCEA). We are currently making proposals to both journals. Confirmed keynote speakers:  Marc Smith, Founder, Social Media Research Foundation  Hee Dae Kim, Director General, Mobile Technology Convergence Center, Daegu Technopark, Chief Secretariat, Daegu Creative Living Lab NodeXL Award In 2019, WATEF in Cooperation with the Social Media Research foundation inaugurated the NodeXL Insight Award for data-driven studies on social innovation. More information about the NodeXL Award is available at: https://jceasia.org/new-nodexl-network-insight-award-for-2019 Important Dates: April 28, 2021 Abstract Submission Deadline April 30, 2021 (or shortly afterwards) Decision Notification June 18 -19, 2021 Conference Dates For further inquiries, please contact the Conference Organizers at: DISC2021.Japan@gmail.com For further information about WATEF and past DISCs: http://watef.org/home/ http://watef.net/ (English only) We will have updates about our website and other conference information on social media very soon. If you want to stay up-to-date on DISC2021 let us know via this form at http://tinyurl.com/DISC2021interest