The 4th International conference on eParticipation (ePart) 2012

3 September– 5 September 2012

Kristiansand, Norway

Sponsored by IFIP, WG8.5 & co-located with the IFIP EGOV 2012

ePart2012 aims to bring together researchers and practitioners from a wide range of academic and applied backgrounds to provide a unique opportunity to better understand political engagement in a virtual environment and to discuss specific advances in eParticipation from different disciplinary perspectives.

The conference is aimed at those who wish to update themselves on research advances in eParticipation, understand how other groups are applying these advanced tools and techniques and exchange ideas with leading international experts.

ePart2012 is organized by experts in the field and is supported by a multidisciplinary programme committee.

Scope

The scope of the ePart 2012 covers the whole range of research in eParticipation. Its principal aim is to review research advances in both social and technological scientific domains, seeking to demonstrate new concepts, methods and styles of eParticipation.

The fourth ePart conference focuses on, but is not limited to, the following topics:

• The Research landscape, directions, foundations and methods
• Cultural and normative differences in eParticipation
• Impact of eParticipation on real world decision making
• Comparative analyses of eParticipation practices
• eParticipation projects: design, implementation, evaluation, quality and impact
• Technologies for eParticipation, policy modelling, simulation, impact assessment and visualisation
• Open Data and eParticipation
• Online deliberation and discourse, eConsulation, ePoling, eLegislation, eElectioneering, eCampaigning, eVoting, Social networking

The conference allows for four distinct types of submissions:

• Completed research papers
• Ongoing research and innovative projects
• Workshops and panels on pertinent issues
• PhD colloquium submission

ePart is closely aligned with the IFIP e-government conference and the EGOV community (www.egov-conference.org). Participants registering for one conference can also attend the other conference.

All accepted completed research papers will be published by Springer Verlag. Ongoing research and project papers will be published by Trauner Druck. Outstanding research papers from the conference might be selected for further development and publication in a special issue of a relevant journal.

 
This year, for the first time, a ‘Best Paper’ award will be made. The best paper will be selected from the accepted research papers by an international committee and will be announced at the conference.

PhD Colloquium 2012

The PhD Colloquium will be held September 2 - 3, 2012 in Kristiansand, Norway in conjunction with the IFIP e-government conference and the ePart conference.

The overall aim of the PhD colloquium is to bring PhD students who are scattered across countries and disciplines more together.

The phd student papers may address any pertinent topic of research on electronic government, electronic democracy and electronic participation. The colloquium is organized as a joint event including both, e-government and e-participation.

Students are invited to submit their proposals (overall 7-10 pages) which should include:

• the name and affiliation of author,
• abstract (max. 300 words),
• 3-5 keywords,
• research aim,
• theory,
• method,
• results achieved, and/or prospective results.

Submissions will be reviewed and discussed by other PhD students and senior eGovernment and eParticipation researchers. Submissions can be made via the Conference Management System. Please note also that PhD papers may only qualify as single-authored submissions (supervisors should not be co-authors!).

PhD students, who have no paper accepted at the IFIP e-government conference or at ePart, are encouraged to participate at the IFIP e-government conference and the ePart conference. For such PhD students, the IFIP e-government conference and ePart offer a reduced registration fee.

The colloquium will be co-organised by the IFIP WG 8.5 on Information Systems in the Public Sector.