Symposium on the Information Process

Members of the Symposium are engaged in research projects in which information as process or structure is an integral part of their conceptual framework. The participants come from varied backgrounds, such as information science and computing, sociology, psychology, economics, philosophy and communication.

The Symposium provides participants with a forum to try out new ideas and interdisciplinary frameworks, to present research results in a trial format, and to get genuine critique and feedback on their work. The Symposium is also useful in introducing young researchers to the exciting field of information and different ways of approaching the area. Thus, the Symposium is a useful forum for scholars at differing stages of their research careers.

During 1996, the Symposium was hosted by CIRCIT (Centre for International Research in Communication and Information Technologies) in Melbourne. CIRCIT continues to be the location for meetings in 1997. Presentations in 1996 were wide ranging and dealt with the following subjects:

• interdisciplinarity and the creation of new disciplines and fields of research;
• intelligence and the nature of systems to assist intelligence gathering;
• the introduction of new information technologies in institutional settings;
• the Internet and multi-media and the potential of innovation in communication;
• a review of the main issues and problems in information research;
• telecommunications, urban and regional planning.

The Symposium meets in Melbourne at CIRCIT on the last Thursday of every month at 4.30pm. Formal proceedings finish about 6.15pm. Meetings are structured around the presentation of a paper which is generally circulated beforehand to members. Sometimes, prepared commentaries to the paper are presented by selected members of the group. Open discussion of the issues raised follows. Refreshments are provided by CIRCIT.

In addition to members who are able to attend Symposium meetings on a regular basis, there are others whose interests are compatible with the Symposium's aims but who, for reasons of distance or time, are unable to participate physically. Thus, we hope to develop the Symposium so that others may participate in the discussion electronically through an unmoderated networ

For those interested in participating in the Symposium, we will be creating a usergroup so that discussions can take place electronically. In the meantime, messages can be sent to individual members through the links embedded in the Members List.

• CIRCIT
• VICNET
• List of Symposium Participants/Members
• Abstracts of Symposium Papers

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