Mirko Tobias Schäfer – författare

The influence of austerity measures and neoliberal ideologies has sparked discussions about the relevance and value of academic institutions, particularly in the humanities and social sciences. Universities are redirecting academic focus towards greater societal engagement. This book argues that academia has much to gain by moving beyond its institutional walls, in our case, by doing data work with stakeholders and civil society. This collaborative work benefits citizens in our democratic, open societies and advances our knowledge economies., Collaborative Research in the Datafied Society offers a combination of theoretical insights, practical methodologies, and case studies, showcasing the power of collaborative research with stakeholders across diverse communities and civil society to tackle challenges that address pressing issues stemming from data practices and social justice issues. Taken together, the book's chapters formulate relevant concepts for grounding societally engaged research in the theories and methodologies from different disciplines. In addition, the book informs university administrators and research directors how to advance academia effectively towards mutual knowledge transfer with societal sectors.|Focusing on current changes in academia: a) introducing novel methods for societally engaged research b) showcasing actual examples of research initiatives and their societal impact c) discussing challenges raised through these novel practices. This book is a blue print for a more inclusive and societal engaged university

Three decades of societal and cultural alignment of new media have yielded a host of innovations, trials, and problems, accompanied by versatile popular and academic discourse. New Media Studies crystallized internationally into an established academic discipline, and this begs the question: where do we stand now? Which new questions are emerging now that new media are being taken for granted, and which riddles are still unsolved? Is contemporary digital culture indeed all about 'you', the participating user, or do we still not really understand the digital machinery and how this constitutes us as 'you'? The contributors to the present book, all employed in teaching and researching new media and digital culture, assembled their 'digital material' into an anthology, covering issues ranging from desktop metaphors to Web 2.0 ecosystems, from touch screens to blogging and e-learning, from role-playing games and cybergothic music to wireless dreams. Together the contributions provide a showcase of current research in the field, from what may be called a 'digital-materialist' perspective.

Research into hacking, fan communities and Web 2.0 applications that demonstrates how the dynamic of innovation, control and interaction have shifted the boundaries of the traditional culture industry into the user domain.

Internet research, data analysis, data visualization, social media, data journalism, society

This book critically reflects on the role and usefulness of big data, challenging overly optimistic expectations about what such information can reveal.