[Asis-l] [Fwd: [CI] Reminder --call for Papers, Community Informatics Conference, Prato, Italy 2007]

[M.J. Menou]

Apologies for multiple postings

-------- Message original --------
Sujet: [CI] Reminder --call for Papers, Community Informatics 
Conference, Prato,   Italy 2007
Date: Fri, 02 Mar 2007 16:15:38 +1100
De: Larry Stillman <larrys at fastmail.fm>
Répondre à: communityinformatics at vancouvercommunity.net
Pour:

Dear Colleague, this is a reminder email to forward abstracts for this
exciting conference to prato2007ATfastmail.fm (change AT to @).

A detailed poster is now available for you to pin to notice boards and
it can be downloaded from www.ccnr.net/prato2007

For your information, basic information is repeated below, and please
forward this to lists.

COMMUNITY INFORMATICS--PROSPECTS FOR COMMUNITIES AND ACTION, NOV 5-7
2007

4rd Prato International Community Informatics Conference. CIRN 2007 and
the Inaugural International Development Informatics Association
Conference  5-7 November 2007, Monash Centre, Prato Italy.

www.ccnr.net/prato2007- more information will become available via the
conference website shortly.

CALL FOR PAPERS

We are seeking abstracts and proposals from academics, practitioners and
PhD students for a conference and workshop event at the Monash
University Centre, Prato Italy (near Florence). The Centre for Community
Networking Research, Monash (www.ccnr.net), in conjunction with the
Community Informatics Research Network (www.ciresearch.net), has held
highly successful events in 2003, 2004, and 2006 in Prato. This
conference is also being held in conjunction with the inaugural
conference of the International Development Informatics Association
(IDIA) (www.developmentinformatics.org)
The Prato campus is an exceptional environment in which to exchange
ideas. We emphasise participatory processes in the conference.  The
Centre is just off the main piazza of a small Tuscan town. It is close
to Italian transport hubs.

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The Internet has become a powerful community resource in many parts of
the world. It is widely viewed as a device with capacity for
incorporation into different forms of community action, including social
change, community learning, community connection, community knowledge,
and community well-being and community development. The concept of
'community' itself is itself interpreted in a multitude of ways, and the
problem of definition of this (and other terms such as 'empowerment')
was highlighted at the 2006 Prato conference. The 90 or so questions
which were emphasised during the final plenary represent the eternal
cycle of questions of community action and engagement. Whatever
technology may be used to work with a community, the issues remain. At
the forthcoming event, we will accept that the concepts of action and
community are variable, and that the forms of action which have emerged
over the past decade should be judged in terms of what they achieve for
community and social good. Through learning about multiple forms of
action and how action is understood, we should improve our grasp of the
complexities of social-technical relations.

The Conference will feature a special stream led by the International
Development Informatics Association of South Africa as part of its first
conference, devoted to studying these, and related questions in
relationship to development informatics.

The implementation of ICT in developing economies involves constraints
not applicable in developed regions. Constraints cover a wide range from
technologies and infrastructures (energy grids, networks) to human
aspects such as poverty and illiteracy. The Conference aims to create a
platform for exchanging experience and possible solutions to address
such problems.

Please distribute this announcement to colleagues.

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IMPORTANT DATES/PROCESSES:

1 April 2007: all 250 word abstracts due for consideration - the earlier
the better.
1 May 2007 : acceptance/rejection of abstracts
1 July 2007 : papers due
1 September 2007 : final version of papers after refereeing for
publication in the official conference proceedings.

Abstracts must be in the following format and submitted to
prato2007ATfastmail.fm (change AT to @):

1)Name/s of Authors

2) Affiliation/contact details [university/organisation, email of first
author]
3) Title of Abstract

4) Conference stream (specify one)
a) Community Informatics
b) Development Informatics
c) Both

5) 250 word abstract or summary in English.

Contact: prato2007 AT fastmail.fm (substitute @ for AT) Website:
www.ccnr.net/prato2007 which will be updated.

There are a limited number of workshop or poster session slots
available. If you believe that you can offer an engaging and relevant
workshop, please submit a short proposal as soon as possible. If you
have other innovative ideas for events at the conference, please don't
hesitate to contact us!

** The early submission of abstracts for refereed papers are strongly
encouraged as the number of presentation slots is limited. ***

Do not submit a paper at this time.

Papers (up to 5,000 words) in the peer-reviewed stream will be
blind-reviewed by at least two referees and only accepted upon the
recommendation of referees and the review committee. We will be
approaching all those to submit accepted abstracts to act as anonymous
peer reviewers.

Practitioners are strongly encouraged to submit papers or reports, but
please indicate if you wish this to be in the reviewed or non-reviewed
stream. A style guide will be made available. Abstracts must be written
in English, though papers can be written in English, French, Spanish or
Italian. DO NOT submit a paper until your abstract is accepted. Papers
will be published in the conference proceedings.

Poster displays are also encouraged.

POTENTIAL THEMES FOR PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS.

You are encouraged to submit an abstract addressing one or more of the
themes below, but if you have another innovative idea or project you
wish to share at the conference, please also submit it for
consideration.

Stream 1: Community Informatics

There has now been over a decade of action and research into how
different information and communication technologies enable and empower
social communities to the achievement of collective goals. What have
learned and what might we do differently?

* Case studies of community action via ICTs.
* The question of 'community and 'action': how has it been dealt with in
your project?
* Theoretical dimensions of social-technical systems, action, and
change.
* How is policy change best achieved?
* Why and when does community action leads to community conflict?
* Types of community benefits from community projects involving
technology.
* How to promote the advantages of community action to all stakeholders.
* Successful strategic planning of projects for social action and
change.
* Evidence that economic good and social good go hand-in-hand in
community informatics projects.
* The role of research to assist with community action.
* What factors create good relationships between academics and
communities when they collaborate on action?
* How to ensure ongoing community participation in action.
* How can the needs of civil society be best served with technology and
social action?
* Managing the role of volunteers in community action.
* Methods for monitoring and evaluating community action.
* Managing relationships with funding partners.
* The effectiveness of social entrepreneurs and enterprises in community
action
* Inaction.
* Technical systems, information management for community action.

Stream 2: Development Informatics

The implementation of ICT in developing economies has constraints not
applicable in developed regions. Constraints cover a wide range: from
technologies and infrastructures (energy grids, networks) to human
aspects such as poverty and low or no literacy. The Conference aims to
create a platform for exchanging experiences, case studies, and possible
solutions to address the difficulties in deploying ICT in developing
contexts.
Suggested themes include, but are not limited to:

* Web technologies - eg. synchronisation with off-line systems
* Human Factors (Human Computer Interaction) - e.g. interfaces for
limited or non-literate users
* Online communities
* e-Governance
* e-Democracy
* Education
* Agriculture
* Healthcare
* Telecentres and Multi-Purpose Community Centres
* Rural connectivity
* Multi-language systems
* other...

Note that contributions must be relevant to Development Informatics.


PHD STREAM

PhD students are encouraged to submit a short paper (1000-2000 words) in
the PhD colloquium for discussion with academics and other students. The
paper should be about your PhD research and is NOT limited to the
conference themes. This is an excellent opportunity for feedback about
your research and an opportunity to meet other students, researchers,
and practitioners. Student accommodation will be available.

DRAFT CONFERENCE PROGRAM (subject to alteration)

1) Ph.D. colloquium with feedback from academics and students. Students
make a short presentation and submit a 1000-2000 word position paper or
report.
2) Parallel Refereed & practitioner streams
3) Research/Practitioner workshops and free meeting time.
4) Keynote address/es from leaders in community and development
informatics
5) Social program.

CONFERENCE PUBLICATION

A conference CD Rom will be distributed prior to the event and it is
intended to publish selected referred papers published in conjunction
with Cambridge Scholars Press.


REGISTRATION/ACCOMMODATION

We anticipate that full registrations will be in the region of $AU500
(=€310) and a moderately priced conference banquet in Prato.
Registration concessions will be available for students. Registrations
will be taken from mid-year, and is separate from your accommodation
booking. You will be able to also register for social events and tours.

We are unable to offer any bursaries or scholarships for attendance.
Delegates must seek their own funds, and secure appropriate visas to
attend.

Hotel space in Prato is limited, and your early reservation is strongly
encouraged. Information will be posted shortly. We are also seeking
modestly-priced student dormitory accommodation and will post
information.

TRAVEL/SOCIAL

Prato is close to Italian rail, air, and other transport hubs via
Florence.  Social and cultural information will be posted shortly.  If
you are thinking of bringing a spouse, partner, family or friend, Prato
is an excellent base from which to explore Tuscany without the crowds.

QUERIES

prato2007ATfastmail.fm (replace AT by @)

For the Conference