[Sigtis-l] CFP: 2009 Summer Research Institute for Science of Sociotechnical Systems

[Steve Sawyer]

Call for Participation:
2009 Summer Research Institute for the Science of Socio-Technical 
Systems: 11-15 June, 2009
At Syracuse University’s Minnowbrook Conference Center,
Blue Mountain Lake, NY

Application screening begins 2 March, 2009


Eligibility: Doctoral students, Post-doctoral scholars and pre-tenure 
faculty at US-based institutions.

Notification: Late March, 2009

Cost: Most will be covered for accepted participants

Background
---------------
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. Building on the success 
of the 2008 Summer Research Institute, the CSST will, again, be hosting 
a summer research institute for advanced doctoral students and 
pre-tenure faculty in summer, 2009. 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:
* new forms of organizing (e.g., virtual organizations, massive online 
activities)
* 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, 
infrastructure development for local economic action).

Institute faculty
-------------------
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 campers, drawn from among advanced doctoral students, 
post-doctoral fellows, and pre-tenure faculty conducting research on 
socio-technical systems.


Steve Sawyer, Syracuse University, Director
Tom Finholt, University of Michigan, Co-Director
Mark Ackerman, University of Michigan
Bill Dutton, Oxford University
Jonathan Grudin, Microsoft Corporation
C. Suzanne Iacono, National Science Foundation
Wendy Kellogg, IBM
Wayne Lutters, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Tony Salvador, Intel Corporation
Suzanne Weisband, University of Arizona

Institute goals
-----------------
The goals of the institute are to:
* Expand on and strengthen connections among the cohort of researchers 
in this area, and build on the network of relations formed through the 
2008 Summer Research Institute.
* 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
-------------------------------------------
The institute will be conducted as a residential program at Syracuse 
University’s Minnowbrook Conference Center (www.minnowbrook.org 
<http://www.minnowbrook.org>) with morning small group sessions devoted 
to feedback on students’ research, and evening 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). Afternoons will be reserved for 
informal activities, such as group outings and picnics. Costs of 
participation, including travel, food and accommodations, will be covered.

How to apply
----------------
The application process requires two parts:

1. A 300 word response to this question:

*How does your research advance our scientific understanding of 
socio-technical systems?*

A few references, particularly if they are not to your own work, may be 
helpful but are not required.

2. Your current curriculum vitae (as PDF or in a Word or WordPerfect 
format).

Please send this response as an attachment in a common word processor 
format or as PDF of an email with the email subject being CSST’09 
application to csst2009 at syr.edu.

Please ensure that you include your name, your current U.S.-based 
institution and affiliation, an email address, and your status (PhD 
candidate, post-doctoral scholar, pre-tenure faculty, or an explanation 
of some other status) along with the response.

Please note that participation in this institute will be restricted to 
those doctoral candidates who have proposed their dissertation at the 
time of submission up through pre-tenure faculty who are at US 
institutions. This includes post-doctoral scholars who are not in 
tenure-track positions if they are less than five years from having 
completed their doctorate.

** 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:
* Clear articulation of the research contribution to socio-technical 
systems (theory, practice or design)
* Clear development of socio-technical concepts and principles relative 
to your research interests and contribution.

Additional information:
-----------------------
For further information please visit si.umich.edu/csstinstitute.