CFP: Connected Life 2016
University of Oxford, UK
June 20-21, 2016
http://connectedlife.oii.ox.ac.uk/2016conference/call-for-papers/
Connected Life 2016: Collective Action and the Internet
is a two day-long conference, held at the University of Oxford
on 20th and 21st June 2016, dedicated to igniting
multidisciplinary exchanges and showcasing exciting Internet research. Building
on the two successful previous conferences, Connected Life 2016 will foster
collaborations within and beyond Oxford in pursuit of an enhanced understanding
of the Internet and its multifaceted effects upon society.
Which topics do you cover?
The special theme for this year is Collective Action and the
Internet. The Conference explores how the Internet affects different types of
collective action; both in big social movements, such as the Arab Spring and
the Hong Kong Protests, and in more everyday forms of collaboration. We take a
broad view of this theme, understanding ‘collective action’ to mean
collaboration, action and participation in any form or context – and are also
interested in cases where it doesn’t come together.
Within and beyond this, we
welcome submissions on a wide range of topics (including but not limited to):
- Politics and Public Policy – how do politicians make use of
or thwart collective action?
- International Relations – how does the internet enable
people to collaborate across time and/or space?
- Gender and Identity – how the internet affects
self-actualisation (whether individual or collective).
- Digital Humanities – how speeches can be analysed using
computational methods.
- Cybersecurity, Surveillance, and Censorship – how can
individuals act collectively to challenge government monitoring.
- Virtual Markets and Economies – how online platforms are
enabling people to come together, thereby transforming economic
practices/modes.
- Social Networking – do social networks help like-minded
people to find each other?
- Mobile Technologies – do mobile technologies, as a specific
platform, enable new forms of collaboration?
- Communications, Media and Journalism – how social media and
online interconnectivity is change reporting.
- Big Data Methods – analysing and interpreting large
quantities of rich online data.
- Online Research Methods – such as agent-based modelling
online communities.
- Ethics around online activism – how should we understand
responsibility in “leaderless” movements?
We welcome students and faculty from all disciplines,
including but not limited to: business, computer science, history,
international relations, literature, media and communications, politics and
sociology.
What can I submit?
We are accepting submissions for two types of presentations:
1. Conference presentations
These are expected to last fifteen to twenty minutes
each, with a further ten minutes for questions. Presentations will be organised
into thematic sessions. Presenters are encouraged to use visual aids, and
projectors will be available. Submissions should be in the form of either
an abstract or blog post of 200-600 words. We encourage blog posts that can
generate discussion before and after the conference; however, the choice of a
blog post or traditional abstract will not affect acceptance. Talks that are
suitable for shorter presentations may be selected as five minute Thunder
Talks. Applicants will be notified of this upon acceptance. Prizes will be
awarded for the best talks.
2. Poster and Visualisation Fair
This will run all day, with a dedicated session for
questions held during and after lunch. Submissions should be in the form
of either an abstract or blog post of 200-300 words. Time and space
permitting, any sort of visual presentation is welcome (e.g. posters, videos,
software, data visualizations). We will do our best to accommodate interesting
work that fits with the conference theme.
Deadline
The deadline for submissions is April 3rd 2016.
What’s next?
Please
submit here.
All submissions will be double blind reviewed by a committee of students and
faculty from the Oxford Internet Institute. Applicants will be informed of
whether they have been successful in mid-late April. Registration to attend the
conference will open in April. There will be a small registration fee,
contributing to the refreshments and lunch on both days, and the drinks
reception at the end of the first day.
We look forward to receiving and reviewing your submissions!
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to email us at
connectedlife@oii.ox.ac.uk.
The 2016 Development Informatics Scholarship - worth £17,000
- is available for developing country applicants to the one-year MSc
ICT4D programme; creating ICT4D champions. 
