[Air-L] FW: Gary Chapman International School on Digital Transformation

[michael gurstein]

Apologies for any duplication...
 
M
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Karen Gustafson [mailto:kegustafson at gmail.com] 
Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2011 2:48 PM
To: Karen Gustafson
Subject: Gary Chapman International School on Digital Transformation


Dear all,

We are very pleased to announce that the application period for the Gary
Chapman International School on Digital Transformation is now open! Please
see www.digitaltransformationschool.org for program details and application
instructions. Also, we would appreciate your help in spreading the
word--please forward this announcement as you feel is appropriate. The
deadline for applications is April 30.

Best,

Karen


The Gary Chapman International School on Digital Transformation
July 17-22, 2011
Porto, Portugal
Application deadline: April 30

The UT Austin Portugal program is now accepting applications for the third
annual International School on Digital Transformation, to be held July 17-22
in Porto, Portugal. Advanced students and emerging professionals, social
entrepreneurs, and activists from around the world with an interest in
digital technology and the enrichment of civil society are invited to apply.

For the past two years, this intensive residential program has brought
together scholars, policy experts, community advocates, designers, and
hackers to explore the potential for digital media to empower citizens,
strengthen communities, and contribute to a more vibrant civil society. The
School is named for Gary Chapman, an internationally renowned Internet
policy expert and member of the faculty at the LBJ School for Public Policy
at UT Austin who founded this innovative program and passed away suddenly
last year. His life continues to inspire the School.

The School is conducted in English and in previous years has attracted
faculty and participants from Portugal, South Africa, Finland, India, the
U.K., the U.S., and Brazil, among many other countries. During the week,
innovators in digital communications serve as teachers and mentors,
presenting current projects and engaging in discussion. Faculty and students
will be regarded as peers during the School.

Participants of the School will have the opportunity to present and discuss
their own projects with those having similar interests, and explore ways to
further develop their work. Additionally, members will collaborate on group
projects involving digital media and civil society. Consisting of
approximately 40 participants and 15 faculty, the School seeks to create an
atmosphere of scholarly collegiality, fostering dialogue among diverse
perspectives including those of design, policy, activist, and research
backgrounds. The daily schedule will include time for presentations, bar
camp style meetings, and informal conversations among faculty and students. 

The School’s program for 2011 will focus on these themes:

•    Information access and open civic discourse
•    Digital tools for government transparency
•    Evolving Internet content regulation and the public’s right to
information
•    Digital media and the democratic process
•    Factors influencing the growth of online civic engagement

The School will be held at the Hotel Eurostars Das Artes, a four-star hotel
near the heart of Porto’s historic district, an area renowned for its active
arts culture, wine, architecture, and breathtaking views. A link to the
hotel site is below.

Participant fees are:
•    370 Euros with accommodation at the Hotel Eurostars das Artes,
breakfast included
•    170 Euros for UT-Austin-Portugal PhD Program students (extra fee for
accommodation at the Hotel Eurostars das Artes)

The cost of the School includes daily breakfast from Monday through
Saturday, a nightly dinner at a local restaurant attended by all faculty and
students, the daily program, and an evening cultural activity. Participants
are expected to be present at all dinners and activities during the week.
Travel to Porto is not supported; students must arrange and pay for their
own travel.

The Gary Chapman International School on Digital Transformation is organized
by the UT Austin-Portugal program, a cooperative endeavor between the
University of Texas at Austin and some of the top universities of Portugal.
The co-directors of the School are Dr. Sharon Strover of the University of
Texas at Austin and Dr. Artur Pimenta Alves of the University of Porto. 

For more information about the School, its faculty, and to apply, please
visit

www.digitaltransformationschool.org 

More details on the program will be added and updated as they are confirmed.

The Eurostars Das Artes is a deluxe hotel located near many shops,
restaurants, and art galleries and about a 20-minute walk to the Praça da
Ribeira, at the shores of the Douro River. More information may be found at
http://www.eurostarshotels.com/EN/hotels-oporto.html

For more information on the broader program, please see

http://utaustinportugal.org/

There is limited space and the final deadline for applications is April 30.
For questions regarding the program or call for applications, please contact
Karen Gustafson at kegustafson at gmail.com.


-- 
Karen Gustafson, Ph.D.
Research Associate, Telecommunications and Information Policy Institute
Program Manager for Digital Media, UT Austin|Portugal Program
The University of Texas at Austin