[Air-L] Deadline for CFP: 2024 AoIR Flashpoint Symposium - 1 Sept 2023

[Michelle, Association of Internet Researchers]

DEADLINE REMINDER: *Deadline for the submission of this proposal is 1
September 2023.*

To supplement our annual October conference, the Association of Internet
Researchers is seeking proposals for a one-day AoIR Flashpoint Symposium to
take place before the end of August 2024. As the 2024 AoIR conference takes
place in Sheffield, UK, only proposals for locations outside of Europe will
be considered.

An AoIR Flashpoint Symposium is a small event that provides an opportunity
to deepen or foster conversations about internet research among regions,
groups, and/or thematic research areas that have thus far been
underrepresented in the Association of Internet Researchers and its
conferences. The Association is making available one grant of up to
US$8,000 for the purpose of supporting a one-day symposium that will
contribute to the life and mission of AoIR and feed into its annual
conference.

Each symposium will be a standalone event to take place in a region of the
world that differs from that of the 2024 annual conference (Sheffield, UK).
Preference will be given to regions and locations where an AoIR conference
has not yet been held, but where at least one active AoIR member, who will
be on the Flashpoint Symposium planning committee, resides. We also require
that the symposium makes a contribution to the main 2024 AoIR conference in
some way (e.g., a panel, pre-conference workshop, or another format that
presents key contributions and outcomes from the symposium). In addition to
local participants, all AoIR members are invited to attend the Flashpoint
Symposium.

*Deadline for the submission of this proposal is 1 September 2023, with a
decision returned by the end of October 2023.* Proposers are invited to
engage in conversation with the AoIR symposium committee.

Proposals should:

   - Be no more than 1-2 pages in length.
   - Outline a distinct issue or theme to be addressed by the symposium,
and demonstrate how this theme has not been sufficiently addressed by AoIR
conferences to date.
   - Include a proposed date (between 1 April and 31 August) and schedule
for the one-day event, and identify potential keynote speakers (keeping in
mind AoIR’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity). Note: the proposal
should ideally not suggest parallel sessions but rather envision a day of
consecutive sessions (i.e. a single stream only).
   - Include a brief description of the leadership team’s history with AoIR
and their plans for future involvement.
   - Demonstrate how this Flashpoint Symposium will connect with AoIR more
broadly.
   - Include a preliminary budget that demonstrates in-kind support and/or
sponsorship from the host institution(s) and creates a preliminary plan for
cost items. Please note that AoIR funding is not to be allocated for the
funding of participant travel costs, staff costs in support of the
symposium’s organization, or indirect costs (such costs must be borne by
local sponsorship), but may include  keynote honoraria, travel of keynote
speakers, meals, venue or labor costs.
   - Indicate how regional and transnational graduate students will be
encouraged to participate.
   - Include a discussion of projected outcomes from this symposium and its
potential for ongoing benefit to AoIR more broadly (e.g., AoIR conference
panel, special issue, etc.). A selection of organizers and delegates should
make a firm commitment to present key contributions and outcomes from the
Flashpoint Symposium at the year’s annual conference.


AoIR’s commitment to the symposium will include:

   - Support for promotion and administration through our various channels
and platforms (e.g. via organization social media accounts and email
lists), as well as limited AoIR administrative support.
   - Up to $US8,000 disbursed in the form of reimbursements and invoices to
cover costs related to organizing of the symposium.
   - Mentorship from members of AoIR Executive Committee related to the
organization of the symposium and subsequent deliverables/outcomes.
   - Allocation of one session slot (panel, roundtable, fishbowl,
experimental session, or pre-conference workshop) on the annual AoIR
conference program to the symposium organizers. This session is invited and
will be planned jointly by the symposium organizers, the AoIR Executive
Committee, and the AoIR Conference organizers in order to present the
symposium’s major themes and outcomes. It must involve several participants
selected from among the organizers, keynote speakers, and/or other
participants of the symposium in order to allow the symposium conversation
to continue at the main annual conference.
   - An additional $US2,000 in travel awards to help bring a panel of
Flashpoint participants to the AoIR conference in Philadelphia. (This
cannot be reallocated for any other purpose.)


Proposals will be ranked in relation to their ability to:

   - Advance AoIR’s goal of diversification of membership and the expansion
of geographical presence at the annual AoIR conference.
   - Address a theme, topic, or issue not yet prominent in AoIR’s annual
conferences.
   - Articulate a clear outcome that will foster conversation in the future.
   - Demonstrate a commitment to encouraging graduate student
participation, particularly from those in the host region.
   - Demonstrate capacity for carrying out the symposium in a manner that
contributes to the benefit of AoIR and the individual organizer(s).
   - Demonstrate a commitment to present outcomes at the annual AoIR
conference.

(This listing does not imply any ranking in the importance of these
requirements.)

AoIR will accept one symposium proposal for 2024.
Submit your proposals to symposia @ aoir.org by 1 September, 2023.