Interdisciplinary
Centre
Of the
Social Sciences
Welcome to the first IRiS
newsletter!
December 2009
Dear All
1. Introduction
As many of you know, I have been working on developing a research stream in
ICOSS that focuses on research in socio-digital worlds. ‘Digital Worlds’ is a
cross-cutting research theme at the University of Sheffield and I have been given
a small grant to set up a research stream in ICOSS to develop interdisciplinary
social science research in this area. I want to create a vibrant and collaborative
space for researchers to come together to discuss areas of research, develop
research proposals and publications.
We are well supported in this work in
formal terms, with the Director of Research in the Social Science Faculty and the
Director of ICOSS providing resources of various kinds. The Director of Digital
Worlds is also supporting our work. The support is not limited to these formal
channels, as we are also getting support from across the departments, from the
policy-making community and from other academics and universities (please see
below).
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The IRiS newsletters will keep everyone up to date with developments, projects,
news and plans. In this issue I outline the work I have been doing to set IRiS up
over the last three months, and flag up future work.
2. Work so far
The work in setting up IRiS has focused on networking and gathering research
intelligence; developing a website; starting a series of research proposals, and
writing and presenting papers. The aim of this activity is to develop a framework
for IRiS research in which to develop research collaborations and provide
opportunities for researchers from across the University’s departments.
The
objectives of this phase of the work are:

To set in place a range of stakeholders and user communities that we can
draw on in developing proposals.

To gain knowledge and potential research beneficiaries to address the criteria
of impact in research proposals and in the dissemination of our research.

To raise awareness of the research done in Sheffield so that people know and
recognise Sheffield University as a place of excellence in this emerging area of
research.
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2.1: Networking and gathering research intelligence
Regional and local policy level

I have had discussions with South Yorkshire Digital Region Ltd and Thales
about areas of future research. They will provide test-sites as well support and
information for proposals

I attended the annual South Yorkshire Information Society event that
showcases research, services and projects in this field. This year’s event was
called ‘Raising the Game’ and was attended by all the regional public
service
organisations,
the
voluntary
sector,
national
government
representatives, representatives from other regions and Local Authorities and
their partners, the European Commission and the research team from a
European Commission project: ‘Fast-Ten’.

I participated in e@syconnects meetings – a regional implementation and
operational e-services partnership. This partnership has won many innovation
and best practice awards nationally and in Europe.

I participated in the meetings of the South Yorkshire Public Sector E-forum,
which is a regional strategy group

I met Hannah York and Simeon Yates from Sheffield Hallam University to
discuss possible areas for collaboration on their KTP with Digital Region Ltd.
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We have support from all of the above. We can develop research proposals with
them and they are keen to collaborate as they all have positive approach to
research and to fostering an inclusive society. The areas they are interested in
include: education, inclusion, economic development, business start ups and
community projects, faith communities and communication, health, ageing, those
who have never worked, access and skills, entrepreneurialism and innovation at
regional level, culture in everyday life and in the creative industries, and
frameworks for homeworking, trust and security in e-services – and more …!
Nationally and at European policy level

I attended a European Commission workshop hosted by the e-inclusion unit,
which focused on the ethics of e-inclusion. Paul Timmers, the Head of Unit,
sees IRiS as ‘interesting and timely’ and will support us in the relevant
ways.

I met Stephen Dobson of DC10+ - an organisation that flowed out to the
Digital Challenge initiative set by the Cabinet Office. He supports IRiS and is
publicising it across his national network of services providers and developers.
He works closely with government and other key actors in the Digital Britain
programme and has a critical and intellectual approach to developments.
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
I am involved nationally in developing a UK stakeholder group which is
developing two European research proposals – the first focuses on young
people and the ethics of e-inclusion and the second will focus on ageing an
the ethics of e-inclusion.

I have had some early discussions with new media artists and filmmakers
about art based research including community arts-based projects. My next
meeting will be on 7th January 2010.

IRiS is linked into the EU e-forum network.

IRiS is a member of the EU e-inclusion group.
Academic – within Sheffield University
I have discussed IRiS with people from the following departments:

Education; Architecture and Urban Planning; Sociology

Work Psychology; Law; Politics

History; Geography; Humanities Research Institute

Information Studies; Computer Science; Management
I will be meeting colleagues in Economics and Health soon.
Academic – with other UK universities
I have received 100% interest and support from the people I have contacted from
other universities so far, namely:
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
York; Leeds; Manchester

LSE; Sussex; Nottingham

Oxford; Trinity College Dublin
I will contact some others shortly.
International academic links
I have already gained interest and support from:

Virtual Knowledge Studio – Universities of Rotterdam and Maastrict

Blekinge Institute of Technology, Sweden

IT University, Copenhagen, Denmark

IRKS, Vienna, Austria

Global e-research networks of scholars and universities

Early interest from Annenberg School of Communication, California

Lisbon

RMIT University, Australia
I will be contacting others including Calgary and follow up links with Eastern
Europe, the Baltic States and India.
2.2. The website
I have produced a website at: http://www.shef.ac.uk/icoss/streams/iris.html
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I am very keen to build the publications, projects and news sections – so please
send me details of your recent publications (with pictures of recent books),
projects and news to upload onto the site. I am still building external links and
some new ones will be added soon. I also intend to set up a blog, which CiCs
have agreed to help with. I have speakers lined up for the workshops and, as
soon as they send me their profiles, I will upload those onto the website too.
Please forward the IRiS URL to any contacts who you think may be interested.
2.3. Proposals on progress
Several research proposals are already in progress supported by the work of IRiS,
including:

Ana Vasconcelos: ‘Translating knowledge in SMEs and micro-businesses in
regional economies’ – ESRC

Mike Pidd (HRI): ‘Europe in Writing’ – EC 7th Framework

Charith Abhayaratne: ‘User-centred design of video and image protection
technologies for social media’ – Leverhulme

Martial Staub: ‘Frontiers of Knowledge’ – Leverhulme
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
Maria Rovisco: ‘Bridging Differences – Young Refugees, the Arts and the
Mediated Public Sphere’ – AHRC

Andrew Cox: ‘Opened Up Learning: generating content and learning
opportunities with communities beyond the classroom’

UK Stakeholder Group: ‘Young People and the Ethics of E-inclusion EC’
(pre-drafting stage)

Sheffield/Sussex collaboration: ‘Privacy and Identity in mobile
communication’ – ESRC
The following are notes about ideas already put forward from early networking
activities:

Re-thinking the Digital Divide – how to reach the final 30% of those who
don’t use the Internet

How to foster inclusion for those at risk of exclusion such as NEETS, older
people, those who have never worked, single parents – how should training
be shaped in these situations?

Explore new routes into creative industries, global media and arts

Adaptation of business models for a digital economy, and understanding
ideas to market and sustainability of e-business.
Can we use the creative
industries to foster inclusion? Suggestions for funding include the possibility
of partnering with media or arts company on a KTP
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
Exploring faith communities and digital communication: possibly ESRC grant,
but may link to Joseph Rowntree Foundation agenda.

People-to-people identity and security in remote visual communications, such
as virtual doctors appointments. Possibly EPSRC/ESRC application, there may
also be possibilities with local PCTs/NHS as the first implementers of this
technology.

Regional Innovation and SME projects including how exploring how
businesses can become service providers and looking at different business
models for a digital economy

Digital Britain research – there are many areas to address here and my
contacts with DC10+ will foster opportunities for us

E-research project joint with Manchester to build on BW’s e-social science
work/links – based on exploring disciplines and their search practices bid with
Mark Sanderson, Information Studies
2.4 Papers promoting IRiS
I have recently given papers to promote IRiS and Sheffield, including:

ECREA International Conference, Berlin: ‘Exploring social relations of sociodigital worlds: situating metaverses, personalisation and participation’, 20th
November 2009
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
Obs
International
conference,
Lisbon:
‘Next
Generation
Broadband:
envisioning, shaping and building an inclusive and economically vibrant
Digital Regional’, 23rd November 2009

Sociological Studies Dept Seminar: ‘The ‘communicative turn: the case of
the South Yorkshire Digital Region’, 7th October 2009
3. Achievements and next steps
Palgrave have already expressed interest in an edited book to come out of our
workshop series, so we need to start building good proposals and working
papers ready for publication. I have also submitted a KT proposal, which if
successful would fund the development of a Framework for Regional
Collaboration to enable CASE studentships, student placements, and user group
involvement in research developments. It would also produce an e-directory of
collaborating agencies as a reference for contact people in the region, which will
help in building research partnerships of various kinds. The workshops are
already organised with visiting speakers in place (final details will follow). I have
chosen speakers for their ability to open up discussion and ideas and to foster
collaboration, as well as for their expertise and academic standing. It may be
useful to set up a short pre-workshop meeting to discuss best ways of taking
things forward. If you would like to be involved in this, please let me know.
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Through all the above, I have set in place a good framework for developing
IRiS’s work. I am very enthusiastic about what we can achieve through this
innovative new research stream and am committed to facilitating a collaborative
and productive research environment for all of us! In the meantime, I wish all you
the very best for the festive season!
I hope to see you at the workshops – please feel free to drop in and out of the
day if you are busy. You can register online on the IRiS website now.
Best wishes
Bridgette
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