prato2018

 **ALERT TO CALL FOR PAPERS**
== **"RESEARCH, PRACTICE AND CREATIVE ENDEAVOR THAT AIM TO SHAPE AND INFLUENCE POLICY AND PROGRAMS".** website: cirn.wikispaces.com/prato2008 (currently a placeholder). Submissions open shortly. Emails to prato2018@fastmail.fm. ==

Please pass on to colleagues and students.
==  __Background to the Conference__ Since the founding colloquium in 2003, the CIRN conferences have been marked by informality, collegiality and interdisciplinary thinking, bringing together people from many different countries in an ideal Italian setting. Themes have ranged across issues such as privilege, gender and sexual identities, forms of knowledge, documentation, participation and community-based research, power, ideals and reality, measurement, and the applied arts. While we have a particular theme each year we also seek papers (referred, work-in-progress, non-refereed), presentations and papers (including Graduate student presentations) related to any aspect of Community Informatics Community Archiving, or Development Informatics, or the Art, and Archives Memories and ICTs space. We are particularly interested in papers from researchers and practitioners that can address the challenges of locating community-focussed research within wider theoretical and practice frameworks. We also have a Research Student (Masters and PhD) presence and encourage the presentation of current or planned work in colloquium sessions. This is a great opportunity for interaction with other students in an international setting. **OUR (INTER-)DISCIPLINARY FRAME** == ==  Community Informatics is primarily concerned with improving the well-being of people and their communities through more effective use of ICTs. Community Informatics foregrounds social change and transformative action in emergent social-technical relationships rather than prediction and control and likewise, Development Informatics or ICT4D is concerned with ICTs in the international development context. This orientation also has much in common with Community Archiving. Community-centric archival research, education and practice are concerned with empowering communities in support of such desirable objectives as democracy, human and civil rights, self-determination, sustainable development, and social inclusion. Recordkeeping and archiving are fundamental infrastructural components supporting community information, self-knowledge and memory needs, thus contributing to resilient communities and cultures and supporting reconciliation and recovery in the aftermath of conflict, oppression. Development Informatics (also called ICT4D) is involved with the use of ICTs in international development settings. The purpose of International Development is heavily contested, and thus, the use and interpretations of ICTs in that space is also subject to a wide variety of interpretations. More recently, those in the Art, and Archives Memories and ICTs have been participating with us in an exploration of how the media, dance and other forms of arts interested in ICTs intersect with community development, community memory and archives. ==

== Whether in Community Informatics, Development Informatics, Community Archives, or Art, and Archives Memories and ICTs projects involving ICTs, we aim for activity that influences not just future projects or research programs, but also government policy. However, the interests of different audiences (the academy, communities on the ground, NGOs, funders, policy makers) are not necessarily congruent when it comes to being influenced by the impacts, outcomes, value and worth of a project program, or more abstract research. Choices need to be made. ==

== The attempt to shape and influence on the basis of research and practice is sometimes expressed as utilization-focussed evaluation "The focus in utilization-focused evaluation is on supporting intended use by intended users. The essence of this approach is a continual examination of and adaptation to how real people in the real world apply evaluation findings and how they experience the evaluation process" (Michael Quinn Patton). But who are the users here? And what is the real world? Who has control? ==

== * Just what do "shape and influence mean?" For what purposes? Do we become too constrained by trying to "shape and influence" institutions? ==

== * What about the general space of public discourse, policy, and influence particularly via new media as an alternate means of shaping and influencing? ==

== * What are the opportunities and constraints with attempting to shape and influence policies and programs? Can it stifle free inquiry and discourse when there are findings that surprise or raise controversy? ==

== * Even if the utilization of research and practice are not the key purpose of project or program activity, what assumptions are made about what counts as important or will have influence in reporting to funders, policy-makers and others, including communities themselves? ==

== * Can the focus on future utilization result in hindering innovation or experimentation? What forms of research and practice are most useful in meeting this challenge? Are they a help or hindrance? == ==*What is the place of community-based research in such an orientation? Who leads? Who follows? Whose voices count? ==

== * Is seeking to influence in a neoliberal environment turning scholarship and practice into commodities for selection? Are there novel perspectives/approaches/methodologies that help expose underlying assumptions implicit in neoliberal approaches to ICT-related contexts? What are innovative solutions to these persistent challenges? ==

== *What are the alignments and discontinuities between bottom-up ideals that are often process driven and the demands of funders and policy-makers for "useful" and "accountable research and practice? What has worked or not worked for you? Can the imposition of requirements be used as a form of power and control? What forms of reporting have been or could be most useful to different audiences? ==

== * We are particularly interest in papers that can report on and theorize these problems in community informatics, development informatics, community archives the arts/archives community. == ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">As stated previously, we also welcome we also seek papers (referred, work-in-progress, non- refereed), presentations and papers (including Graduate student presentations) related to any aspect of Community Informatics Community Archiving, or Development Informatics, or the Art, and Archives Memories and ICTs space. We are particularly interested in papers from researchers and practitioners that can address the challenges of locating community-focussed research within wider theoretical and practice frameworks. ==

**<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 24px;">Committee **

 * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Tom Denison, Monash University ==
 * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Vince Dzekian, Monash University ==
 * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Joanne Evans, Monash University ==
 * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Anne Gilliland, UCLA ==
 * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Kiera Ladner, University of Manitoba ==
 * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Sue McKemmish, Monash University (Chair) ==
 * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">David Nemer, University of Kentucky ==
 * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Safiya Noble, UCLA ==
 * <span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Gillian Oliver, Monash University
 * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Colin Rhinesmith, Simmons College ==
 * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Mauro Sarrica, Sapienza University, Rome ==
 * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Larry Stillman, Monash University (conference organisation and administration) ==
 * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Martin Wolske, University of Illinois ==
 * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Martin Wolske, University of Illinois ==


 * * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514highlight" style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Call for papers & proposals/abstracts/ papers can only be submitted through the conference database. Conference space is limited- submit quickly! == || ==The database will be opened shortly.== ||  ||
 * * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Acceptance/modification/ rejection notices == || ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">As soon as possible thereafter ==

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 * * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Full papers and abstracts for all streams due == || ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">31 July 2018 ==

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 * * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Referee reports to participants by == || ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">30 September 2018 ==

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 * * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Final version of papers, based on peer review and program committee decisions due == || ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">20 October 2018 ==

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 * * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Conference proceedings == || ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Online/downloadable post- conference with ISBN ==

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 * * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Registrations == || ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Available from 1 July 2018 ==

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 * * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Conference == || ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">24-26 October 2018 ==

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**<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 24px;">Proceedings **

 * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">The Conference Proceedings contains referred, non-refereed and PhD colloquium papers and Powerpoints from the conference. ==
 * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">All full papers in the refereed category are subject to blind peer review by at least two reviewers, and reviewers’ comments returned to the authors. Authors are then required to make changes and if necessary, a further review conducted before final approval. ==
 * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">This is a publication (E1) for a conference publication for Australian participants. ==
 * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Conference papers must be prepared in the <span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="color: #0000ff; font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Conference Format ==

**<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 24px;">What to submit? **
==//<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">You can submit traditional papers (refereed, non-refereed), works in progress, papers, presentations, posters, or installations and short papers for the Research Student stream. //== ==//<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">We also have a strong stream for students in Research Students (Masters and Phds) who wish to present their work to a larger audience. //== ==//<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">The general paper limit is 7000 words, for students, 2-3000. ////<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Submissions can be made when the database is open shortly and another alert will be sent out. //==

<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">PRICES (Anticipated. Registrations will open in July)

 * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">3 Day conference earlybird student/ developing country: (July- 21-September) ==

|| ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">$320 ==

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 * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">3 Day Conference earlybird regular registration: (July-21 September) ==

|| ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">$500 ==

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 * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">3 Day conference full student/ developing country: (22 September – 27 October) ==

|| ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">$320 ==

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 * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">3 Day conference full registration (22 September – 27 October) ==

|| ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">$600 ==

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 * ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">Conference Banquet 26 October (friends, families welcome) ==

|| ==<span class="m_990206051608802514size" style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 16px;">$80 ==

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More information about Prato and the Monash Centre
Monash Centre Prato==== Queries