Dame Wendy Hall: Research 2.0: the Age of Networks October 12, 2009

Since its inception the Web has changed the ways we communicate, collaborate, and educate. In a very short-space of time we have come to live in a web-dependent society within a web-dependent world. There is a growing realization that a clear research agenda aimed at understanding the current, evolving, and potential Web is needed. Web Science embraces the study of these phenomena. In this seminar we will consider what Web Science is, and why it is important, as well as presenting ideas about how we can study the Web as both a technical and social phenomenon. We will use this discussion to explore the opportunities and challenges posed by the increasing need for interdisciplinary research undertaken by international teams to tackle the major problems faced by the world today. Researchers are increasingly using the power of social networking tools to undertake their work.

The role of government is crucial in setting policies to create an environment in which such research can flourish but in the age of networks universities may also have to radically change in order to facilitate such exciting and necessary developments and better train people to meet the needs of businesses in the future.

Wendy Hall is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southampton and was Head of the School of Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) from 2002-2007. She has published over 400 papers in areas such as hypermedia, multimedia, digital libraries, and Web technologies.

She was Senior Vice President of the Royal Academy of Engineering from 2005-2008 and is a Past President of the British Computer Society (2003-2004). She is a member of the Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology and a founding member of the Scientific Council of the European Research Council. In 2008 she was elected as President of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), and is the first person from outside North America to hold this position.

She was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday honours list in 2000, and became a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in the same year. She was awarded a DBE in the New Year’s Honours list in 2009, and became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2009.

The Duncan Davies Medal

The Duncan Davies Medal is awarded annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution toward making the UK the best-performing research and development environment in the world.

The R&D Society Board awarded the 2009 Duncan Davies Medal to Dame Wendy in recognition of her work as a role model and advocate of fair opportunities for women in science and engineering careers, which is benefiting UK R&D well beyond her own research subject area. She is a leading academic researcher who is passionate about business, maintaining links and providing expertise to innovative companies large and small.

Attending: how to book

Doors open for registration and coffee at 6pm. The meeting starts at 6.30pm and will be followed by a drinks reception at 8pm and an optional discussion dinner at 8.30pm. The discussion dinner will be held under the Chatham House Rule.

You are welcome to mark yourself as coming here, but please book by completing the online form and follow with payment online or by post to ensure your place.

The meeting fee for R&D Society members is £20. For non-members and guests the meeting fee is £40. The dinner is an additional £45 on either meeting fee.

Official Website: http://www.rdsoc.org/09L7.html