Consolidating networks of excellence

PLEASE SEE OTHER DETAILS HERE: Web Science Montpellier Wiki (http://www.lirmm.fr/web-science/wiki/doku.php?id=consolidating_networks_of_excellence)

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A growing understanding of what is meant by Web Science has emerged since the publication of the seminal paper by Berners-Lee et al. in 2008 (http://tw.rpi.edu/proj/portal.wiki/images/6/6b/TW-2008-08.pdf), which made the claim for the creation of a new and fundamentally interdisciplinary academic field of study.

Describing the Web as “the largest human information construct in history” which is transforming society, the Web Science Trust (http://webscience.org/) is providing a focus for our emerging understandings, logging progress through a repository of conference proceedings and tracking the development of taught academic programmes which seek to develop the Web Science researchers and developers of tomorrow.

However, it is inevitable that many researchers worldwide are at the same time by accident or intent becoming Web Scientists. This meetup seeks to identify the new problems and issues associated with Web Science research and teaching using the axis of the University of Montpellier (http://www.univ-montp2.fr/) (LIRMM (http://www.lirmm.fr/)) and University of Southampton (http://www.soton.ac.uk/) (ECS (http://www.ecs.soton.ac.uk/)) as a starting point for our discussions.

In general the symposium will provide an opportunity for researchers to: Continue discussions on the extent and boundaries of Web Science Identify and share their areas of expertise and interest. Seed ideas for collaborative activities (in research and curriculum development) Prepare for active participation in the forthcoming Web Science 2011 Conference (http://www.websci11.org/) in Koblenz, Germany.

The particular focus for this meet-up will be on the issues and problems of researching and teaching in a truly multidisciplinary area. Is Web Science fundamentally different to other interdisciplinary sciences, or is it the case that Web Science is the same as other interdisciplinary sciences – but simply with a larger number of disciplines involved? Will old methods scale or do we need needing to completely revise our approaches to research and teaching?

The meetup will be a full day event. The format of the day will consist of brief introductions and selected presentations from participants, a “keynote” (given by video conference) from Dame Wendy Hall (http://users.ecs.soton.ac.uk/wh), University of Southmapton, – one of the trustees of the Web Science Trust, and an after lunch round table discussion. The formal part of the day will be wrapped up by Pr. Stefano A. Cerri (http://www.lirmm.fr/~cerri/) and Pr. Hugh C. Davis (http://users.ecs.soton.ac.uk/hcd) the key person of the Montpellier-Southampton network. The meeting will continue in downtown Montpellier, where we hope relationships and future collaborations will be cemented.

All participants are invited to produce a “position statement” – in this case 250-500 words introducing their current participation in Web Science research and/or teaching and identifying any particular issues that they would like discussed at the meetup. A detailed program will be added soon.

Contact Information:

Dr. Clement Jonquet (http://www.lirmm.fr/~jonquet), University of Montpellier, LIRMM ( jonquet@lirmm.fr ).

Logistics:

How to come to LIRMM? (http://www.lirmm.fr/xml/en/0003-27.html) Montpellier City Tourism Office (http://www.ot-montpellier.fr/en/)
You should plan to get an hotel in the city center (i.e., near train station or Place de la Comédie and reach the LIRMM by tramway (Line 1). This is the easiest way. Please contact Clement to get a list of selected hotels.

PLEASE SEE OTHER DETAILS HERE: Web Science Montpellier Wiki (http://www.lirmm.fr/web-science/wiki/doku.php?id=consolidating_networks_of_excellence)