Webcast of Citizens, Groups, Communities and Information and Communication Technologies conference
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY BEING HELD IN FREDERICTON
June 26th to the 28th
Theme: Citizens, Groups, Communities and Information and Communication Technologies
The ISTAS 08 keynote event will be webcast at http://iitconnect01.iit.nrc.ca/istas08/ . The webcast will be free and open to the public. It will be held Thursday June 26, 2008 from 15:30 to 17:30 ADT (UTC/GMT -3 hours).
The 2008 International Symposium on Technology and Society (ISTAS 08) will be held from June 26th to the 28th in the city of Fredericton, New Brunswick. Over 80 participants from 14 countries are expected to attend. The theme will be Citizens, Groups, Communities and Information and Communication Technologies.
ISTAS is the preeminent conference on research in the intersection of technology and society. It is sponsored annually by the Society on Social Implications of Technology, which is a member society of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
Keynote Event Webcast
The ISTAS 08 keynote event will be a panel discussion in the spirit of the Edge Foundation's Annual Question. Our panelists will address the following questions:
What are the pressing issues in the intersection of technology and society, and what is your advice on how we can begin to deal with them?
What are you optimistic about in terms of technology and society?
What is your dangerous idea regarding technology and society?
The ISTAS 08 keynote event will be webcast at http://iitconnect01.iit.nrc.ca/istas08/ . The webcast will be free and open to the public. It will be held Thursday June 26, 2008 from 15:30 to 17:30 ADT (UTC/GMT -3 hours).
Conference and webcast participants are encouraged to bring their own responses to these questions.
The ISTAS 08 keynote panelists are:
Dr. Ellen Rose, McCain-Aliant Telecom Professorship in Multimedia and Instructional Design, University of New Brunswick (link to profile).
Dr. Bart Cammaerts, London School of Economics and Political Science and Chair, Communication and Democracy Section of the European Communication and Research Association (link to profile).
Dr. Jane Fritz, University of New Brunswick, Professor of Computer Science and Acting Vice President (Academic) (link to web site).
Professor David A. Townsend, University of New Brunswick, Faculty of Law. David Townsend is a Professor of Law at the University of New Brunswick, where he has taught administrative, regulatory and property law and policy courses since 1979. For the past 20 years Professor Townsend’s principal research activities have addressed the legal, technical and social issues related to the implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services and technologies. He has authored papers, reports and legislative drafts related to such matters as the Radiocommunication Act, the Radio Regulations, the ‘theft’ of satellite broadcasting signal, the siting of radio antenna towers (1987, 1997, 2005), the wiretapping of wireless networks, as well as emergency communications and privacy, security and electromagnetic compatibility in healthcare contexts. Recently Professor Townsend completed a one-year secondment as a visiting researcher with the National Research Council, IIT e-Business Centre in Fredericton, New Brunswick. In 1993, he received his university’s highest award for teaching excellence.
Jane Blakely, Director of Corporate Services for the City of Fredericton. In 1981, Jane graduated from Queen’s University with a degree in Physical Education, followed by a move to Fredericton “for three or four years”. That plan turned into a Law degree from UNB (1988) and a career with the City of Fredericton, initially as Assistant City Solicitor, then Director of Community Services and now Director of Corporate Services. The senior leadership team at the City has been very involved in innovation in all fields including the use of technology and played a major role in the City’s recent recognition by the Intelligent Communities Forum as one of the Top 7 Intelligent Communities in the world. Jane has three teenagers so is also experiencing a technology driven cultural shift first-hand!
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William McIver, Jr, PhD (Bill)
Senior Research Officer, People-Centred Technologies
National Research Council Canada -- Institute for Information Technology
Organizing Chair ISTAS 08 / http://istas08.ca | E-mail: Bill.McIver@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca