[Asis-l] Last call for participation: Inaugural research institute for the science of socio-technical systems

[Finholt, Thomas]

Last Call for Participation
Inaugural Research Institute for the Science of Socio-Technical Systems
Ann Arbor, MI - July 20 to 25, 2008
Application deadline: February 28, 2008
Eligibility: Doctoral students and pre-tenure faculty at US-based institutions
Cost: All costs will be covered for accepted participants
 
Background
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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. As its inaugural activity, the CSST will be hosting a summer research institute for advanced doctoral students and pre-tenure faculty on the campus of the University of Michigan from July 20 to 25, 2008.  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: 
* 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).  
 
Institute faculty
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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 students, drawn from among advanced doctoral students and pre-tenure faculty conducting research on socio-technical systems. The distinguished faculty invited to participate include:
Tom Finholt, University of Michigan (director)
Steve Sawyer, Penn State University (associate director)
Mark Ackerman, University of Michigan
Steve Barley, Stanford University
Kevin Crowston, Syracuse University
Paul Dourish, University of California, Irvine
Jonathan Grudin, Microsoft Research
Pam Hinds, Stanford University
Wendy Kellogg, IBM Research
Sara Kiesler, Carnegie Mellon University
Gloria Mark, University of California, Irvine
Beth Mynatt, Georgia Tech
Bonnie Nardi, University of California, Irvine
Leigh Star, Santa Clara University
 
Institute goals
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The goals of the institute are to:
* Build a cohort group of new researchers who will then have a network of colleagues spread out across the world.
* 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
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The institute will be conducted as a residential program with morning small group sessions devoted to feedback on students' research, and afternoon full 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). Evenings will be reserved for informal activities, such as group outings and picnics. All costs of participation, including travel, food and accommodations, will be covered by the institute.
 
How to apply
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Participants in this institute will be restricted to advanced doctoral candidates through pre-tenure faculty at US institutions. Interested applicants should submit the following to csst.institute2008 at umich.edu by February 28, 2008:
1) 150 word abstract summarizing your research;
2) two-page research statement;
3) current vita; and
4) letter of recommendation from your thesis advisor (doctoral student applicants only).
 
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:
* Research focused on the design, effects and interplay of technology and humans at the level of individuals, groups, organizations, and larger communities. 
* Research ideas and approaches that are novel and innovative.
* Research that has broad social impact.
Accepted students will be notified by April 30, 2008.
 
Additional information
---------------------------
For further information please consult si.umich.edu/csstinstitute or send email to csst.institute2008 at umich.edu

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Thomas A. Finholt
Associate Dean for Research and Innovation
School of Information, University of Michigan 48109-2112
v: (734) 764 6131
f: (734 647 8045
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