[Air-L] Diasporas on the Web - 13th December - British Academy, London

[Benjamin Loveluck]

The next issue of *Social Science Information* will be devoted to
"Diasporas on the Web". The journal will publish a collection of articles
presenting the main results of the *e-Diasporas Atlas* research project (
www.e-diasporas.fr), developed within the ICT Migrations program (*Fondation
Maison des Sciences de l'Homme *and Telecom ParisTech, Paris).

On this occasion, an event will be held at the British Academy in London,
involving contributors as well as invited speakers, from 6 to 8 p.m on
Thursday 13th December 2012. A cocktail reception will follow at 8
p.m. Researchers working on migrations and/or web studies and digital
humanities will be welcome.

An overview of the e-Diasporas Atlas project will be given by its director,
*Dana Diminescu*, and her research team. The Atlas is the first of its
kind, introducing digital methods into diaspora and migration studies. Over
80 people worldwide were involved, including computer scientists and social
science researchers from disciplines such as sociology, geography,
anthropology, history. Some 8,000 websites were mapped, analysed and
archived. Three articles included in this special issue of *Social Science
Information* will be presented by their authors, on topics ranging from
cyber-Hindutva to transnational Tamil networks and networks of French
colonial repatriates.

A discussion will then be chaired by *Myria Georgiou* (Dept. of Media and
Communications, LSE). We are happy to announce the participation of *Robin
Cohen* (author of Global Diasporas and former Director of the International
Migration Institute, University of Oxford) and *Noortje Marres* (Senior
lecturer in Sociology, Goldsmiths, University of London), who will provide
their invaluable expertise on these topics.

Some of the main questions raised by the research will be addressed. What
kinds of diasporas are formed by connected migrants? Do the online networks
woven by migrants scattered throughout the world, and the traces they leave
on the Web, reveal traditional or novel functions of diasporas? Do these
'e-diasporas' merely mirror physical diasporas, are they an extension to
these diasporas, or do they generate new forms of communities? From a more
general perspective, can they be considered as an echo-chamber of
globalization - of a society which is itself a diaspora in the making? And
how do digital methods help us to adopt a more reflexive stance on this
phenomenon?


Benjamin Loveluck,
Telecom ParisTech and FMSH,
on behalf of the ICT Migrations research team

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*Diasporas on the Web*

Date: Thursday 13th December

Time: 6-8 p.m.

Place: British Academy, Reading Room, 10 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y
5AH