Theorising Digital Change: Workshopping the relationship between digital theory and research

QUT’s Digital Media Research Centre and Urban Informatics Research Lab invite you to participate in a 1-day workshop about how to combine research and theory in the investigation of digital change.

Digital change involves the shifting of people, relationships, institutions, policies and laws, geographies, urban landscapes, and society in relation to new digital technologies. This workshop challenges researchers with quantitative or qualitative data to tie their findings into a larger picture using theory. It also dares theorists to link their concepts to everyday occurrences and experiences.

Call for Presenters

If you are a researcher in any point of your career, especially a postgraduate or early career researcher, we invite you to attend the workshop and consider submitting a proposal to present your research. Presenters will give a 10-minute talk followed by 10 minutes for workshopping ideas, problems, and solutions with attendees who will include students and faculty from diverse research backgrounds. This is a perfect environment to develop new ideas and gain insights for your research!

We ask that interested potential presenters submit a 250-word abstract by 14 October 2015 to dmrc@qut.edu.au with the subject title TDC Workshop. Abstracts should explain your research topic, methods, potential or existing data, and theories you are using to understand this research. Feel free to note questions, challenges, or problems you have identified in combining research and theory, which you will be able to work through with workshop attendees. Topics can be about research investigating digital change in areas such as (but not limited to):

• Communication (e.g. social media, mobile media)
• Architecture and design (e.g. Interaction Visual Design, smart cities)
• Journalism (e.g. citizen journalism, new forms of news delivery)
• Entertainment (e.g. screen cultures, television and film)
• Creative arts (e.g. digital storytelling, technology-enhanced performance)
• Law, governance, and regulation (e.g. copyright, new industries)
• Business and economics (e.g. organisational change, new profit models)

Expert Panel

Presentations will be followed by an expert Plenary Panel, including guest speaker Centenary Research Professor Deborah Lupton from the University of Canberra. Professor Lupton conducts cutting-edge multidisciplinary research specialising in digital health, big data cultures, surveillance, wearable technology, and risk. The panel will discuss how to integrate theory and research findings along with an interactive Q and A session.

The workshop will be valuable for presenters and attendees alike. Presenters will gain experience with public speaking, insights from experts, and the professional opportunity to talk about their research. Attendees will benefit from discussions, networking opportunities, and the chance to ask questions to experienced research faculty.

Check us out on Facebook and tweet using #TDCworkshop!

Tentative Schedule – 26 November 2015

9:00 – 9:30: Welcome

9:30 – 10:30: Presentation Session I: 10-minute presentations followed by 10 minutes Q&A workshopping ideas, challenges, and problems

10:30 – 10:45: Short break

10:45 – 11:45: Presentation Session II

11:45 – 12:45: Lunch

12:45 – 14:45: Presentation Session III

14:45 – 15:00: Short break

15:00 – 17:00: Expert Plenary Panel including guest speaker

Professor Deborah Lupton

17:00 – 17:15: Thank you and wrap-up

17:30 – 18:30: Informal networking and discussion at a nearby venue

Refreshments will be provided during breaks. An updated schedule will be sent to registered participants to announce presenters, session themes, and panel experts.