Dear Colleagues, The Community Informatics Research Network Inc. (CIRN) calls for papers to its 2004 Inaugural Conference and Colloquium with the overall theme, 'Sustainability and Community Technology: What Does this Mean for Community Informatics?, at the Monash Centre, Prato, Italy, 29 September - 1 October, 2004. <www.ciresearch.net/prato2004>.
The event is meant to provide an opportunity for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers to present findings and reflect in a convivial atmosphere on key issues of concern for the future of enabling communities with Information and Communication Technology (ICT). It will also be the founding organisational conference of CIRN. Further details of the conference will be forthcoming shortly. Please bookmark the website for updates. CIRN members will receive a conference discount (see www.ciresearch.net for membership information), and the number of places available is limited. Please forward this notice to colleagues. Call for Papers Papers (full length for blind peer review and discussion or position papers) from researchers and practitioners are invited. Possible topics include: . Defining 'sustainability' in a community technology context: is it an adequate concept? What are its meanings and how are they relevant? . Are there alternate concepts which are more practicable and how are they linked to the life of communities and community networking? . Sustainability and the Digital Divide: Friend or Foe? . The political economy of community technology sustainability: dependency on government, and funders' understanding of 'sustainability' . Community Technology Sustainability in different spheres: developed, developing countries: are there universal principles? . The sustainability criteria of national and international financial institutions and donors: Explanations and Critiques . Indigenous and first nations people and the sustainability of community networks . Gendered technology and the sustainability of community networks. . Is there a connection between sustainability and 'social capital'? . Time, virtual space, geography and network sustainability . Power relationships in networking and their impact on sustainability . The policy dimensions (dementia) of sustainability . Evaluating 'sustainability' . Case studies of 'sustainability' in different community informatics settings . Case studies of the policy frameworks and applications of 'sustainability' ## A special issue of Community Informatics: A Global E-Journal will be prepared as part of this event and contributors to the event will be encouraged to submit their papers for either the peer-reviewed or the commentary section of the journal. * Doctoral Colloquium * The CIRN Doctoral Colloquium offers PhD students a special forum on 29 September 2004 where they will have a chance to present their research plans and discuss them with peers and established senior researchers. Interested students should prepare a 2 page summary of their research. This should provide a context for the research, describe the methods being used, the progress to date and expectations and hopes from the colloquium. Please submit your 2 page application by 1 April 2004 to: Marcus Foth at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Applicants will be notified of acceptance by 1 June 2004. Successful applicants will be asked to prepare an 8 page paper on their research by 1 August 2004. For further details please contact the organiser of the CIRN Doctoral Colloquium, Marcus Foth, at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Key Dates * Abstracts of papers (in English only) should be sent as soon as possible. Please submit abstracts to Professor Michael Gurstein ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) or Larry Stillman ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) by 1 April 2004. * Full Papers (up to 5,000 words, including references) are due 1 August 2004 for blind refereeing via peer review and inclusion in the publication. This deadline is final if you wish to be included in the publication. Papers can be in English, French, Italian, German or Spanish. There will be a prize given for the best refereed paper and a second, for the best paper submitted by a student (please indicate on your submission whether you are a student). Position papers (up to 2,500 words) are also welcome and are due by 1 August 2004 if the abstract is accepted. Research students are particularly encouraged to attend to present work-in-progress. * Interim Conference Committee Michael Gurstein, New Jersey Institute of Technology, USA Peter Day, University of Brighton, UK Don Schauder, Monash University, Australia Michel Menou, CoVITALC (Virtual Latin American and Caribbean Consortium for Telecentres Research), Ecuador Larry Stillman, Monash University, Australia Scott Robinson, Universidad Metropolitana, Mexico Graeme Johanson, Monash University, Australia Wal Taylor, Central Queensland University, Australia Beris Gwynn, Foundation for Community Development, Australia Barbara Craig, Victoria University of Wellington, NZ Roger Harris, Roger Harris Associates, Hong Kong Marcus Foth, Queensland University of Technology, Australia Fiorella de Cindio, Rete Civica di Milano, Italy Sergei Stafeev , Centre for Community Networking and Information Society Policy Studies St. Petersburg, CIS Tom Horan, Information and Technology Institute, Claremont Graduate University, USA Conference Host Centre for Community Networking Research, Monash University Sponsors include - Information and Technology Institute, Claremont Graduate University Further information Preliminary information about registrations, accommodation etc. can be found at www.ciresearch.net/prato2004 Registration will be approximately 150 Euros with CIRN member discounts. ------------ ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. 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