[Eurchap] [Fwd: CfP 'Community informatics -- prospects for communities and action.' Prato, Italy, Nov 5-7, 2007

[Michel J. Menou]

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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
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