When?                      July 3 2009, from 9am to 5pm
Where?                     ICT&S Center, University of Salzburg
Conference Chair:  Dr. Ursula Maier-Rabler

The official political and civil institutions in our societies still struggle with the implementation of igital information and communication technologies to meet the increasing demands of citizens for incorporation into political and civil processes. However, the Web itself has developed into a "Participative Web", making participation the key factor of successful network communication.

Does this development produce more active and participative users/citizens/consumers? Or does it demand for active participants? And how is the future political and civil sphere of our society challenged by participative technologies?

The one-day event of the ICT&S Center in corporation with the "Demokratiezentrum Vienna" will provide space for exchange, discussion and networking about eParticipation. Austrian researchers from various disciplines who are engaged into research on eParticipation are invited to join the workshop. International keynotes speakers from different disciplines will give insights into the topic:

• from a political theory / political science perspective on participation,
• from a communication / social science perspective on new media and participation, and
• from an engineering / interface design perspective on participatory design.

The aim of the event is to provide a platform for the Austrian eParticipation community to consolidate and to broaden eParticipation research in Austria into a joint interdisciplinary endeavour.

The event is free, registration is mandatory. To register please send an e-mail with your name, function and affiliation to: Christina Neumayer