The Gary Chapman International School on Digital Transformation — Deadline Expires on April 30

The UT Austin Portugal program is now accepting applications for the third annual International School on Digital Transformation, to be held July 17-22 in Porto, Portugal. Advanced students and emerging professionals, social entrepreneurs, and activists from around the world with an interest in digital technology and the enrichment of civil society are invited to apply. 

For the past two years, this intensive residential program has brought together scholars, policy experts, community advocates, designers, and hackers to explore the potential for digital media to empower citizens, strengthen communities, and contribute to a more vibrant civil society. The School is named for Gary Chapman, an internationally renowned Internet policy expert and member of the faculty at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at UT Austin who founded this innovative program and passed away suddenly last year. His life continues to inspire the School. 

The School is conducted in English and in previous years has attracted faculty and participants from Portugal, South Africa, Finland, India, the U.K., the U.S., and Brazil, among many other countries. During the week, innovators in digital communications serve as teachers and mentors, presenting current projects and engaging in discussion. Faculty and students will be regarded as peers during the School. 

Participants of the School will have the opportunity to present and discuss their own projects with those having similar interests, and explore ways to further develop their work. Additionally, members will collaborate on group projects involving digital media and civil society. Consisting of approximately 40 participants and 15 faculty, the School seeks to create an atmosphere of scholarly collegiality, fostering dialogue among diverse perspectives including those of design, policy, activist, and research backgrounds. The daily schedule will include time for presentations, bar camp style meetings, and informal conversations among faculty and students. 

The School’s program for 2011 will focus on these themes: 

•     Information access and open civic discourse
•     Digital tools for government transparency
•     Evolving Internet content regulation and the public’s right to information
•     Digital media and the democratic process
•     Factors influencing the growth of online civic engagement 

The School will be held at the Hotel Eurostars Das Artes, a four-star hotel near the heart of Porto’s historic district, an area renowned for its active arts culture, wine, architecture, and breathtaking views. A link to the hotel site is below. 

Participant fees are: 

•    370 Euros, which includes

1. Six nights of lodging in a single room at the Eurostars Das Artes
2. Six days of breakfasts at the hotel (Monday-Saturday)
3. Six dinners at a local restaurant (Sunday-Friday)
4. The daily program of meetings, with coffee breaks
5. An evening cultural activity 

• 170 Euros for UT-Austin-Portugal PhD Program students (this includes the items listed above, minus hotel and breakfast. Students will be asked to pay an additional charge for lodging, unless they are based in Porto andwish to stay at home.) 

All participants should expect to pay for travel to and from Porto, lunches, and any incidental expenses such as bar tabs and outings to cafes or other Porto sites not included in the official agenda. 

The Gary Chapman International School on Digital Transformation is organized by the UT Austin-Portugal program, a cooperative endeavor between the University of Texas at Austin and some of the top universities of Portugal. The co-directors of the School are Dr. Sharon Strover of the University of Texas at Austin and Dr. Artur Pimenta Alves of the University of Porto.  More details on the program will be added and updated as they are confirmed. 
 
The Eurostars Das Artes is a deluxe hotel located near many shops, restaurants, and art galleries and about a 20-minute walk to the Praça da Ribeira, at the shores of the Douro River. More information may be found here. For more information on the broader program, please see this.

There is limited space and the final deadline for applications is April 30.  For questions regarding the program or call for applications, please contact Karen Gustafson at [email protected]. 

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