Tag Archives: research

Research is not infrastructure

Academic, Digital Humanities, ,

..sometimes.

Research infrastructure is not research just as roads are not economic activity. We tend to forget when confronted by large infrastructure projects that they are not an end in themselves. There is an opportunity cost to investing precious research funds into infrastructure. Every $100,000 lab that lasts four years before needing renewal is the equivalent to $25,000 a year for a Ph.D. student to do research for four years.

A is not B, just as C is not D. OK. But C can be A.

Road Infrastructure  The backbone of transport system

In order to develop innovative and cost-effective alternative transport concepts and to assess their potential impact, research is required on two areas. First, the needs and opportunities for new transport means and systems over the next 10 to 30 years, such as the innovative use of pipelines, floating tunnels, automated underground distribution systems, large capacity transport means, including investigations as to how current means could fulfil future requirements and how innovative technologies can be integrated. Second, the safe, efficient and environmentally-friendly integration of new means of transport, e.g. high-speed vessels, into existing transport operations.

I enjoy Professor Rockwell’s papers, but I disagree that infrastructure is not research, and by that I mean research infrastructure has to be research-based, otherwise it is not providing for genuine research. This is a complex argument (I hope that does not mean long-winded) so I won’t go into it too much tonight.

Key issues though are

  • what is are humanities?
  • what is infrastructure?
  • can infrastructure be emergent research?

From my knowledge of gothic cathedrals and computer games I say “yes it can” to the last question.

I still like his conclusion though even if I argue with his definition of (research) infrastructure.

NB is housing intangible? I think not.

“research infrastructure” means equipment, specimens, scientific collections, computer software, information databases, communications linkages and other intangible property used or to be used primarily for carrying on research, including housing and installations essential for the use and servicing of those things.” (From the Budget Implementation Act, 1997, c. 26)

Reference

Rockwell, G. (2010, May 14). As Transparent as Infrastructure: On the research of cyberinfrastructure in the humanities. Retrieved from the Connexions Web site: http://cnx.org/content/m34315/1.2/

DRS | 2010 : MONTREAL 7-9 JULY EXTENDED DEADLINE

Conference, design, ,

Extended Deadline

We invite you to present your research at the Design Research Society 2010 conference. Contributors are invited to submit long or short papers that deal with different facets of the contemporary approaches to design research, education or practice.

All propositions will be independently peer-reviewed by at least two members of the DRS 2010 review committee.

ABSTRACTS
Proposals of no more than 800 words must initially be submitted for review. They may be in English or in French, should describe the context of the research, questions addressed, hypotheses, how the research has been developed including research methods, findings or conclusions, and be supported by a sufficient number of bibliographic references. Clear indication must be provided whether the proposal is for completed research or work in progress. Images are not requested at this time.

Abstracts will be submitted in the form of an electronic submission directly HERE.

DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACTS: MONDAY OCTOBER 12 2009.

PAPER SUBMISSIONS:
Following peer evaluation, authors of accepted proposals will receive an invitation to submit a full paper, accompanied by reviewers’ remarks and suggestions. Full papers, in either English or French and between 3000 and 5000 words long, should be in the form of original contributions that present completed research (specifically the objectives, issues, hypotheses, conceptual framework and methodology), describe work in progress demonstrating the relevance or the innovative nature of the object of study or develop a theoretical reflection about an issue relevant to design research, education or practice.

Authors of accepted papers will be invited to present their work at the 2010 Design Research Society (DRS) International Conference. They will be allowed 20 minutes for presentation and a further 10 minutes to respond to questions. The conference will be held in English with simultaneous translation of French presentations.

Since DRS 2010 will be held in a French speaking city and university, DRS 2010 will exceptionally welcome contributions in French.
Pour information, consultez ici.

For questions and queries, contact us at drs2010

Website: http://www.drs2010.umontreal.ca/cfp.php

Keynotes

Erik Stolterman
Professor and Director of Human Computer Interaction Design
Indiana University, Bloomington, USA

Anne-Marie Willis
Editor of Design Philosophy Papers and Design Philosophy Politics
Co-director of design consultancy Team D/E/S

Can complexity be contained?
To speak of “design AND complexity” suggests design can be held outside complexity. From an instrumental perspective, it implies the designer’s task is to overcome or manage complexity. However, from the point of view of enquiry, the binary relation has to be refused and complexity recognised as the inescapable condition of design. To cast complexity pragmatically is to reduce it and thus negate the complex, while to fully embrace it is to create an unbounded exploration leading to chaos and madness. The challenge then is to find an appropriate mode of thinking, practice and a language to engage complexity.