Via the Planet Listserve:
"Call for Papers
International Conference
‘Using ICT, Social Media and Mobile Technologies to
Foster Self-Organisation in Urban and Neighbourhood Governance’
Date and
Venue
May 16-17,
2013
Delft University
of Technology, The Netherlands
Conference
Theme and Issues
The use of
social media and mobile communication technologies has grown rapidly over the
last years. Social media such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, MySpace,
MSN, Blogger, ICQ, Blogspot, RSS feeds and mobile Internet technologies have
facilitated a constant increase in the number of virtual networks. Research has
shown that Internet and virtual networks give rise to personalised communities
that exist both in virtual and real spaces. The spatial-virtual intersection is
prominent in ‘volunteered geographic information’ that is created by individuals
who use geo-visualization interfaces (Google Maps).
The popularity
of Facebook, Twitter and other social media has spurred a demand for new forms
of self-organising governance by citizens and forms of participatory planning.
However, real two-way communication between residents and policymakers through
social media is still scarce. Standard public participation instruments (e.g.
town hall meetings) are outdated, unappealing, disconnected from residents’
needs and difficult to fit into daily activity schemes. Hence, resident
involvement in neighbourhood affairs and collective action are often below the
potential given residents’ willingness to contribute.
Whereas many
recognise the potential of social media to involve new groups (e.g. youths) and
offer new ways of communication and participation, there is little knowledge on
the utility, mobilising potential and effectiveness of social media and mobile
technologies in this context. How can social media supplement other
participation forms? What about take up rates of social media-based platforms?
To what extent do virtual platforms really affect decision-making and residents’
approach towards local everyday liveability issues? What are preconditions and
restrictions for effectively using ICT and social media in self-organisation?
And to what extent do new practices require adjustments of theories of active
citizenship, social capital, participatory planning and collective
action?
Aim and
spin-off of the conference
The aim is to
identify, present and discuss scientific research into and local experiences
with the mobilising potential of ICT, social media and mobile technologies and
ICT in the context of neighbourhood governance, self-organising citizens and
participatory planning.
We particularly
welcome academic researchers who are willing to present papers that discuss the
aforementioned questions. Delegates from local governments, NGOs, housing
authorities and resident organisations can also attend without presenting a
paper.
Our intention is
to work towards an edited volume for a renowned publisher or a special issue of
a peer-reviewed journal.
Program and
Key Note Speakers
A two-day
program, with key note speeches, parallel paper sessions, and a plenary
debate.
Confirmed key note speakers
are:
- Jennifer
Evans-Cowley is Professor and Associate Dean
at Ohio State University. Jennifer has published several influential articles on
Internet-based participation tools and the future of mobile technology in
participatory planning. In a 2011 Planetizen article, she was recognised as one
of the leading thinkers in Urban Planning and
Technology.
- Rich Ling is a Professor at the IT University of Copenhagen, working on the
sociology of Technology. He has published several renowned books on the social
impacts of mobile phones, such as “New Tech, New Ties. How Mobile Communication
is Reshaping Social Cohesion” (2009) and recently “Mobile Communication:
Bringing Us Together and Tearing Us Apart” (2012), with Scott Campbell. Only
last month, “Taken For Grantedness.
The Embedding of Mobile Communication into Society” came out.
- Martijn de Waal is founder of The Public Matters, a private firm studying the role
of new media in the public sphere. He is also co-founder of The Mobile
City, an independent research group that
investigates the influence of digital media technologies on urban life and the
implications for urban design.
Abstracts and
Papers
Researchers who
want to present a paper during the conference are invited to submit an abstract
of 300 words maximum to Dr Reinout Kleinhans (r.j.kleinhans@tudelft.nl). The deadline for submitting abstracts is 15 January, 2013.
Abstracts are
reviewed; you will receive notification before February 1st. For
details, see the conference
website.
The final papers
will need to be submitted before 1 May 2013.
Costs and
Registration
The conference
participation fee is €225, - . A registration form will soon be available on the
conference
website.
The fee covers
registration, conference proceedings, reception and conference dinner (day 1),
lunches and refreshments.
Further
information and questions?
Please contact
Mrs Christel Swarttouw-Hofmeijer of the OTB Research
Institute:
Phone: +31 (0)15
278 3625"
