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Home , Deborah McGuinness, James Hendler, Nigel Shadbolt, The Virtual Revolution, Web science, Web Science Trust

REVIEW 2011

research + thought leadership + education www.webscience.org Trust

The is an independent charitable body. It was established in 2009 to raise awareness of Web Science, and to build Contents the foundations and framework for this important new discipline. The origins of the Trust are found in the Web Science Research Initiative (WSRI) set up in 2006 between the Massachusetts Institute 04 Foreword of and the University of Southampton. WSRI’s aims were to coordinate and support the study of the , 05 Directors and Trustees Report a role now assumed by the Web Science Trust. 06 Web Science: a new frontier The Web Science Trust’s main aim is to advance education and research in Web Science for the benefit of society. To this end, the 08 Achievements and Activities Trust promotes and encourages multidisciplinary and collaborative + Research research; provides thought leadership through a global forum of interested individuals, institutions and companies; and supports + Thought Leadership curriculum development in universities and research institutions + Influence to train future generations of Web Scientists. These activities are + Education intended to improve the visibility and understanding of Web Science, and the issues it raises, amongst key international constituencies, 16 Partners and Supporters including governments, industry, public and private sector enterprises, the media and the general public. 18 WSTNet

The Web Science Trust is continuing to meet these objectives by 19 People supporting, encouraging and promoting an impressive portfolio of activities within its three key areas of interest: research, thought leadership and education.

02 [email protected] | www.webscience.org Web Science Trust review 2011 Web Science Trust review 2011 [email protected] | www.webscience.org 03 Foreword Directors and Trustees John Taylor Report Chair of WST Trustee Board

It is my privilege to welcome you to the first Review of the Web This Review summarises the activities of the Web Science Trust The Trust, like the Web, has had to move quickly. From our Science Trust. We have set ourselves a demanding mission, and we since its inception in December 2009. time moves swiftly. involvement with the landmark BBC series, “The Virtual Revolution” are assembling a very impressive set of colleagues and collaborators Looking back over the past year, the system we are trying to to the prestigious Royal Society meeting, “Web Science – a new to carry it forward. Over the past 30 years, we have seen a period understand – the Web – has continued to evolve as rapidly as ever. frontier”, we have been promoting and supporting an understanding of unprecedented change and innovation, from the Internet to The Trust has to move quickly too – this is part of the challenge of how the Web permeates almost everything we do. We have the World Wide Web to Google and – in the last 10 years – to social and excitement of our field. organised a series of workshops covering issues from ethics and networking phenomena, from to and . privacy to curriculum design. We have organised another successful 2010 began with an extraordinary demonstration of the power of the Web Science Conference and established our first 10 International Our mission is to promote and support the emergence of Web. On January 12, an earthquake devastated the capital of Haiti. Web Science Laboratories (WSTNet). We have continued to work Web Science as a major new discipline that will be at the heart As the world rushed to help, the relief agencies realised they had a closely with the World Wide Web Foundation to bring the benefits of understanding and managing the most important global problem. There were no detailed maps of Port au Prince. Too poor to of the Web to more of the planet. infrastructure the world has ever seen. afford a mapping agency, this piece of digital infrastructure had never been built. Two weeks later relief workers, government and citizens In setting our strategy we will continue to coordinate research, In this Review we set out what we are trying to achieve, and why and were using detailed maps of the entire capital. How did this happen? thought leadership and education around Web Science; and how. We present, I believe, an impressive summary of what has been The use of Web-based open source mapping software provided a consolidate and expand our success in these areas. In particular, we done so far, and outline our plans for the next few years. platform that enabled an army of volunteers to “crowd source” data. want to show how our understanding of Web Science will promote This data gradually filled in the map – details of streets and roads, growth and innovation in our economies. We must nurture the next As well as documenting our successes to current supporters and buildings and amenities. As Web Scientists, we want to understand generation of entrepreneurs who will build the Web companies of stakeholders, the purpose of this Review is also to encourage a much how our technology adapts and evolves to combine human energy the future. The business of Web Science needs our attention too. wider community of interest to get to know us, get involved with us, and ingenuity in such a dramatic way. The understanding we gain and help us to take this whole enterprise forward - at “webspeed”. through Web Science will make such examples routine.

The emergence of a Web of Data has been a key feature this year. We want to show how our We have witnessed governments releasing huge amounts of public understanding of Web Science will data via the Web. Some of us have been centrally involved in this. promote growth and innovation in our People are beginning to use Open Government Data in ways the “ economies. We must nurture the next originators never imagined. For Web Scientists, the challenge is generation of entrepreneurs who will to understand the impact of these developments from multiple build the Web companies of the future. perspectives – the economic and legal implications as much as the The business of Web Science needs demands placed on technical infrastructures. our attention too.

[ Tim Berners-Lee ] Director, World Wide Web Consortium Director, World Wide Web Foundation ” Professor in Engineering and Computer [ ] [ John Taylor ] Science, Massachusetts Institute of [ ] Technology Professor of , Former Chairman, Roke Manor [ Noshir Contractor ] Professor of and Research Ltd Professor of Computer Science, Dean of Physical and Applied Sciences, University of Southampton Jane S & William J White Professor of [ ] University of Southampton University of Southampton [ Rosemary Leith ] Director, World Wide Web Foundation [ Daniel J Weitzner ] Former Director of Hewlett Packard Behavioral Sciences and Director, Science Tetherless World Professor of Computer Laboratories, Europe Member of the UK Public Sector of Networks in Communities (SONIC) Chair of the EC’s Information Society and and Assistant Dean, Director, World Wide Web Foundation Member of the UK Public Sector Deputy Chief Technology Officer, The White Former Director General of Research Transparency Board Research Group, Northwestern Advisory Group (ISTAG) Information Technology and Web Science, Member of Global Transparency Board House Office of Science and Technology Councils UK Open Data Adviser to UK Government University Past President of the ACM Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Agenda Council, Internet Security Open Data Adviser to UK Government Policy, US Government

04 [email protected] | www.webscience.org Web Science Trust review 2011 Web Science Trust review 2011 [email protected] | www.webscience.org 05 Web Science: ©Internet Structure, courtesy of Matthew Hurst A New Frontier

Over the last 20 years, the World Wide Web has assumed a What’s exciting about the Web is vital role in our lives and transformed the way people share that people are building new social information. People shop, socialise, trade and communicate “ on the Web. Few of us stop to think about how the Web works systems, new systems of review, or what we would do without it. We take the Web for granted. new systems of governance. However, there has been a growing recognition that the Web My hope is that those will produce “ecosystem” needs to be treated as an important and coherent area new ways of working together of study. This is Web Science. It is “science” in its broadest sense: the quest to build up an organised body of knowledge better to effectively and fairly, which we can understand a fundamental aspect of the world in which we live – the use globally to manage ourselves far-reaching impact of the emerging Web on global society. as a planet.

Web Science also looks to the Web of the future, one that will have Tim Berners-Lee even greater significance in our daily lives. The “experiential Web” will record and encode our everyday activities and personal experiences, replaying them on a range of Web-based media. A greater number of ” objects, from refrigerators to buses, clothing to scientific sensors, could have a Web presence. The emerging “Web of ” will link together increasing amounts of information. Such developments will give rise to new and unforeseen opportunities and issues, from wider access to the Web in the developing world to issues of privacy and trust throughout the world.

Understanding the Web has wide-reaching implications. It is on a par with other great scientific challenges, such as understanding our climate, our biological nature or the wider universe. If we are to anticipate how the Web will develop we will require insight into our own nature.

Web Science is a new frontier Web Science brings together a new generation of enquiring and exciting minds. It is an endeavour that draws inspiration and ideas from disciplines including mathematics, physics, computer science, , design, sociology, law, ecology, political science, and economics.

06 [email protected] | www.webscience.org Web Science Trust review 2011 Web Science Trust review 2011 [email protected] | www.webscience.org 07 Achievements and Activities ©ECS photoarchive, University of Southampton Research

The Web Science Trust continues WSTNet The Trust will continue to organise, support to play a leading role in developing and promote the annual Web Science The Web Science Trust established the Web a worldwide research agenda and Conference, and the 2011 event will be the Science Trust Network of Laboratories detailed research “roadmap” for first of the series to be an Association of (WSTNet) to bring together some of the Web Science. The Trust also produces Computing Machinery (ACM) conference. world’s leading academic researchers in Web a range of significant papers and It will take place in June at the Institute for Science to address key research challenges, publications in Web Science, including Web Science Technologies, the University and develop new academic programmes that the influential journal “Foundations of Koblenz-Landau, Germany. Keynote will enhance the growing influence of Web and Trends in Web Science” published speakers will include Barry Wellman, Science. At present, there are 10 founding by Now Publishers. In 2011 the journal Director of NetLab at the University of laboratories, whose recent activities are will publish the Web Science roadmap, Toronto, and Jaime Teevan of detailed on page 18. compiled by the Trust’s Programme Research, USA. The Web Science Conference Directors, which will form the basis By the end of 2011, the Trust aims to have a is also supported by the International of the Trust’s research and education network of up to 20 leading Web Science Communication Association (ICA) and by the agenda over the coming year. Trust research laboratories around the ACM Special Interest Group on , world. Each laboratory will have specific Hypermedia and the Web (SIGWEB). The roadmap identifies a number of agreements and commitments to support research challenges fundamental to our the Trust’s research agenda, criteria which Discussion Meetings understanding of the Web. Each research will be published on the Trust’s website. Over the last year, the Web Science Trust challenge can be approached either from The annual WSTNet meeting will be hosted held a series of workshops, discussion a variety of multidisciplinary perspectives at the University of Koblenz-Landau in meetings and distinguished lectures to share including computational, mathematical, 2011, alongside the annual Web Science and disseminate Web Science research. Each sociological, economic or legal, or via key Conference (see below). event focused on specific topics or themes, inter-related themes identified by the and some events were hosted and organised Trust, such as the openness of the Web, WebSci ‘10 and ‘11 by WSTNet as part of their contribution to its dynamics, patterns and structures, its Web Science: a new frontier Ethics and the Web the Web Science Trust. facilitation of , or the The annual Web Science Conference was held in April 2010 at the Raleigh Convention In September 2010, the Trust supported In December 2010, the Trust and the British perennial issues of privacy, security, trust, Privacy and Identity in the Royal Society in organising a discussion Library (in association with its “Growing inference and provenance. These are the Center, Raleigh, NC, USA. The aim of the conference was to: a Digital Age meeting in as one of the Society’s Knowledge” exhibition) co-sponsored a current key research challenges, but we 350th Anniversary meetings to highlight workshop to explore the ethical and moral In March 2010, the Trust presented a panel must expect them to change and evolve “embrace physical and social science, subjects of “pivotal importance” for the issues raised by the Web, including the virtues discussion at the Royal Society, London to alongside the Web itself. drawing on computer and engineering future. The event was coordinated by appropriate to online behaviour, what counts discuss privacy and identity – a central issue in sciences, sociology, economics, political Nigel Shadbolt and featured presentations as the ethical use of the Web for research, and To put these research challenges into the development of the Web. Questions raised science, law, management, geography by and discussions with some of the world’s how our offline ethical concepts translate practice, the Web Science Trust continues included how governments will keep our and psychology. Web Science 2010 leading researchers in Web Science. Issues to the Web environment. The workshop to promote, support and encourage records safe, what rules there should be about brings these disciplines together in under debate included the processes that included keynote speeches, panel discussions a wide range of multidisciplinary the availability and use of our private records, creative and critical dialogue, and have driven the growth of the Web; how and debates with an invited audience of and collaborative research ventures and what our understanding of privacy has crosses traditional boundaries…” such a large-scale structure has emerged practising engineers, academic researchers throughout the world. Over the next year, become in the online era of Facebook and from a simple set of protocols; how the and philosophers. we will ensure that it maintains its leading Key speakers included Jennifer Chayes of similar initiatives. Web works as a socio-technical system, role in developing a worldwide research Microsoft Research, Melissa R. Gilbert of Workshops and discussion meetings will agenda for Web Science. Temple University and Tim Berners-Lee. what drives the viral uptake of certain Web phenomena and what might fragment the be held throughout the world in 2011 and The papers presented at the conference 2012, including Europe, the US, South-East In April 2012 there will be a Web Science played an important part in advancing the Web. Manuscripts of the presentations will The Web is critical to the social, Asia, India and South America. Key issues track for the first time at the International Web Science Trust’s research roadmap, be included in “Royal Society Transactions A” political, and industrial fabric of our under discussion will be Web Indexing, Open World Wide Web Conference WWW2012 providing insights into the Web’s relations to be published in 2011. in Lyons, France. “world and we must understand it at a Government Data, and why industry needs with society, individual communities, and far more fundamental level. The Web The event was webcast live on royalsociety.tv, Web Science. The latter issue will be the main the growing quantity of available data. Issues Science Trust is working to create the and audiences could participate remotely topic of discussion at “Profiting from the debated ranged from collective intelligence scientific agenda for the study and using the Web’s own such as New Web”, a joint event with Intellect UK to through to research methodologies for analysis of the key questions in building Twitter. All the presentations are available be held in May 2011. Web Science. this understanding. from http://royalsociety.org/events- Web-Science-Presentations.aspx Each WSTNet Laboratory will be invited to James Hendler suggest speakers and submit further ideas for workshops to take place throughout ” 2011 and 2012.

08 [email protected] | www.webscience.org Web Science Trust review 2011 Web Science Trust review 2011 [email protected] | www.webscience.org 09 Achievements and Activities Thought Leadership Web Science in High Places

In March 2011 it was confirmed that The Web Science Trust has continued Web Science in the UK Web Science in India Daniel Weitzner had been appointed to provide thought leadership to the In January 2010, the Web Science Trust Wendy Hall delivered the keynote address on as Deputy Chief Technology Officer scientific community, the public, co-hosted a breakfast seminar to help local “The Emerging Science of the Web and Why in President Obama’s White House governments, public and private businesses prepare for and anticipate the it is Important” at Compute 2010, the flagship Office of Science and Technology enterprises. This has been achieved next stage of the evolution of the Web, conference of ACM Bangalore Chapter in Policy, where his particular brief will through public engagement, particularly the impact of the emerging India. On the occasion of the World Wide be Internet Policy. The Web Science and through direct influence on Web of Linked Data. WST Directors made Web Conference 2011 in Hyderabad, Wendy, Trust welcomes the appointment of key figures and organisations in a number of prominent appearances to Nigel Shadbolt and Tim Berners-Lee hosted a a strong supporter of Web Science government and industry. discuss the Web and promote Web Science. dinner at which distinguished guests from both to this key position. Public Engagement In June, Wendy Hall and Tim Berners-Lee industry and academia, including Microsoft appeared in “Future Technologies”, joining Research India, Wipro Technologies, W3C Over the past year, the Web Science Trust a panel with , Jim Haseloff of India, Infosys Technologies, Tata Consultancy organised, supported and participated Cambridge University and Bill Thompson, Services, International Institute of Information in a wide range of activities to engage the technology critic of the BBC, to discuss Technology, Bangalore, and the Indian Institute interest of the media and the public in Web how current inventions could change our of Technology, Hyderabad, were able to discuss Science. This included commissioning image of technology and the culture we live the Trust’s plans to grow Web Science activity and writing articles for appropriate in. This was part of the Royal Society’s “See in India, particularly through the establishment high profile, national and international Further” celebration of its 350th anniversary. of Web Science Research Laboratories. publications; giving interviews online, on Also in June, Nigel Shadbolt took part in The radio and television and in newspapers, Guardian’s Activate Summit, featuring in a Web Science in Brazil and hosting public lectures and meetings. panel on “Politics, Democracy and Public In August 2010, Noshir Contractor delivered Life” with Martha Lane-Fox, UK Digital Through 2011 and 2012, the Trust will a keynote address on “From Disasters to Champion, Steven Clift of E-Democracy, continue to work with its public relations WoW: Using Web Science to Understand and Beth Simone Noveck, Deputy Chief advisors, Edelman Southside, to increase and Enable 21st Century Multidimensional Technology Officer at the White House the awareness of Web Science around Networks”, at a workshop to celebrate the Open Government Initiative. In November, the world. opening of the Brazilian Institute for Web Nigel was invited to give an open public Science in Rio de Janeiro. Later in the year, lecture at the Royal Society, on “Opening the Noshir gave a keynote address to the World Information Floodgates.” He talked about Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Conference the challenges and opportunities created in Belo Horizonte. by the emerging Web of Linked Data, and Web Science in Korea The Virtual Revolution the impact it will have on our lives. Web Science in Greece James Hendler served on the advisory board The end of January 2010 marked a milestone in the Trust’s engagement with the media. of the new Web Science and Technology Web Science in the US In May 2010, Wendy Hall gave a public lecture The BBC screened “The Virtual Revolution”, a ground-breaking four-part documentary at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the programme at the Korea Advanced Institute produced by Dominic Crossley-Holland and presented by Aleks Krotoski about how Throughout 2010 and 2011, James Hendler largest university in Greece. She also presented of Science and Technology, the first major the Web is shaping almost every aspect of our lives, both positively and negatively. and Noshir Contractor delivered invited a lecture to MSc students on the Web Science Web Science activity in that country. Closely advised by Nigel Shadbolt and Tim Berners-Lee, the production was open and and keynote talks on Web Science at a wide programme of the University, which is taught A symposium in February 2011 featured collaborative. Co-produced with the , “The Virtual Revolution” won a range of venues. The talks were aimed at in the City of Veria. This was to commemorate James together with Wendy Hall and Nigel BAFTA and Digital Emmy Award in recognition of the series’ innovative multiplatform practitioners from many different disciplines the establishment of a graduate programme Shadbolt as keynote speakers. production process. and professions, in academia and the Nigel Shadbolt at the Royal Society in Web Science, based on the study of private sector. Web assessment, mathematical modelling Web Science in Davos ©Courtesy of Aleks Krotoski and operations, combined with business At the World Economic Forum at Davos, Noshir has secured four new grants related applications and societal transformations Switzerland, in January 2011, Wendy Hall to Web Science from the National Science in the knowledge society. moderated a discussion on Web Science with Foundation and the Army Research Alex Pentland, Toshiba Professor of Media, Our relationship with the web is a synergy: Laboratory, while James is heading up the Web Science in Italy Arts and Sciences at the Massachusetts as it matures, so will we. And as it draws us first undergraduate Web Science program “into its networks and its hyperlinks, we will In March 2010, James Hendler visited the Institute of Technology and author of in the US at Rensselaer Polytechnic shape them in our global image. It is the most University of Genoa to deliver a colloquium on ‘Honest Signals’, Yair Goldfinger, CTO Institute. revolutionary evolution that we as a planet “Linked Open Government Data”, and a special Dotomi, Israel, and instant messaging guru, have ever participated in. tutorial on Web 3.0. He later gave a public talk and Charlie Beckett from the London School of Economics. on “The Future of the World Wide Web” at Aleks Krotoski, the Chamber of Commerce in that city. Presenter of “The Virtual Revolution” writing in The Observer 24 January 2010”

10 [email protected] | www.webscience.org Web Science Trust review 2011 Web Science Trust review 2011 [email protected] | www.webscience.org 11 ©Courtesy of Matthew Hurst Achievements and Activities Influence Open data makes governments “transparent, accountable and efficient. It can create social and economic value. At a global level, open data could be The Trust will focus on its influence Open Data with industry and government through transformative. Since 2009, Tim Berners-Lee, James Hendler 2011 and 2012, continuing to build and Nigel Shadbolt have been central to Nigel Shadbolt relationships with key partners and the development of Open Data technology sponsors. and policy for the UK and US governments. ” The Web is vital for business and commerce Their work has provided a wealth of public and many of the services, industries and data which, in particular, is being used by the companies of the future will emerge from community of entrepreneurial developers new opportunities in the evolving Web to create apps that can empower citizens, ecosystem. Part of our mission is to help helping them understand and negotiate chart and anticipate these developments. their environment. The WST website will play a crucial role Thanks to the efforts of the WST Directors, in disseminating current and relevant developers now have access to thousands information to interested parties. The of government data sets – everything from Trust will work with UK government on spending and crime to transport and the Open Government Data, and on possible environment. The idea of making public investment in a UK Web Science initiative. data available has, as a result, really caught The Trust will help to develop a European hold. New government commitments to Union approach to Web and Internet transparency and data have been made, and Science, and advise international other countries, regional authorities governments on open data release. By the and individual cities are all making public end of 2011, the Trust will plan to produce data available. four reports of significance that influence both national and international government The Open Data revolution is one that could decision–making. apply to all sectors. We have recently been promoting its use within Higher Education and the University of Southampton has made much of its data openly available. Already students and other developers are using the data to create whole new sets of useful applications. Recently, in an article for Google’s new magazine Think Quarterly, Nigel Shadbolt argued that the approach will work for business as well – we expect to see this as a real area of development over the next few years as a Web of Data complements and extends the existing Web.

www.data.gov.uk www.data.gov www.data.southampton.ac.uk www.thinkquarterly.co.uk/01-data/ open-for-business/

12 [email protected] | www.webscience.org Web Science Trust review 2011 Web Science Trust review 2011 [email protected] | www.webscience.org 13 Achievements and Activities Education

Following on from a successful curriculum The third Web Science Doctoral Summer Important ideas spread virally on workshop at WebSci ’09 in , the School will be held in July 2011 at the Digital the Web. That is what is happening Web Science Trust sponsored and led Enterprise Research Institute, NUI Galway. “ the development of an international The Trust’s aim is for its doctoral summer with Web Science. We give talks in curriculum for teaching Web Science and schools to become regular and renowned Europe and North America, India training Web practitioners and educators. events, attracting leading researchers, The University of Southampton hosted educators and students from a diverse and China; and everywhere we a second annual workshop in September range of backgrounds and international go people have heard about Web 2010, which produced the first draft of laboratories. In 2012 the Doctoral Summer Science and are excited by it. the Web Science Subject Categorisation School will be held in The Netherlands. that will help institutions to define and NOSHIR CONTRACTOR describe their Web Science curricula. The Trust will assist with establishing new The 2011 workshop will be co-located Web Science research facilities at centres with ACM WebSci ‘11 at Koblenz. throughout the world, including the ” University of the Highlands and Islands, The Web Science Trust website acts as a Massachusetts Institute of Technology, central curriculum resource, including the University of Southampton and centres details of what is being taught and by whom. in South America and South Korea. Web Science educators are encouraged to use the website to share ideas, papers, By the end of 2011, the Trust will have conference and workshop proceedings and established an updated Web Science teaching materials. As part of its curriculum curriculum, including the first online MSc development, the Trust is helping to develop in Web Science; a stronger wiki presence, online curricula for distance learning. and distance learning resources.

Web Science courses are now available Innovation at a wide range of institutions including The Trust continues to work on adapting its the 10 founding WSTNet Laboratories, as philosophy in order to facilitate private sector well as the American University of , innovation on the Web. Its explicit goal is to Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, UIR Web be a catalyst – an amplifier of critical methods, Science at USJ Beirut, Brazilian Institute for techniques and ideas. It achieves this goal Web Science Research, Johannes Kepler with a threefold strategy. University, Semantic Technology Institute at •  It fosters the right contacts The Open University, Millennium Institute Support. between researchers and developers. at the University of the Highlands and Islands, In particular, the Trust identifies relevant and University of New Brunswick, USA. The research, and encourages University of Southampton has established between practitioners of different a Web Science Doctoral Training Centre, disciplines, each of which can bring their while Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has own unique perspective to a set pioneered the teaching of Web Science of common problems. at undergraduate level. • Intervention. Via thought leadership and the example of the Directors’ own ground-breaking research, the Trust has helped shape the direction of the Web’s future development. • Openness. The Trust’s own work is publicly available, and is unencumbered by restrictive IPR claims.

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The Web Science Trust has enjoyed BT Highlands and Islands The Web Science Trust has helped us lay the support of a number of leading the groundwork for news transparency Operating in more than 170 countries, BT Enterprise public and private enterprises. “on the web - the web is profoundly is one of the world’s leading providers of HIE is the Scottish Government’s economic Their financial commitment and changing media and journalism, and communications solutions and services. and community development agency for a active participation in our work has together with the WST we have been diverse region that covers more than half of enabled us to lay solid foundations www.bt.com able to explore and anticipate these Scotland. The Web Science Trust has been in collaborative research, thought changes to develop the basis for working with HIE to hold a Web Science leadership and education - Open University of Catalonia consistent news . workshop in the Highlands and Islands; for which we are very grateful. The Open University of Catalonia’s mission is to establish Web Science research at the to provide people with life-long learning and Martin Moore, University of the Highlands and Islands; to Director, Media Standards Trust We believe the Trust has a unique position education opportunities through full access set up a link between UHI, the University as a not-for-profit, neutral convener to to knowledge above and beyond scheduling offer expertise and value to corporates of Southampton and other WSTNet ” and location constraints. and governments as they explore the Laboratories, and to look at providing an implications and opportunities presented www.uoc.edu/portal/english on-line Web Science curriculum for UHI. by the Web. CSAIL www.hie.co.uk Over the coming year the Web Science CSAIL is the largest interdepartmental IBM United Kingdom Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute World Wide Web Foundation Trust is actively seeking to broaden laboratory at Massachusetts Institute IBM is a globally integrated enterprise RPI is a private research university that was its collaboration with companies and of Technology with over 800 members. The Web Science Trust works in close partnership with the World operating in over 170 countries. Today IBM founded for “the application of science public policy deliverers. We will use our Its legacy of innovation includes time- Wide Web Foundation, set up by Tim Berners-Lee. The Foundation’s UK has around 20,000 employees, bringing to the common purposes of life”. It is the knowledge, networks and platforms sharing, public-key encryption, bit-mapped principal objective is to advance and promote the Web’s positive innovative solutions to a diverse client oldest technological university in the to bring about tangible change across displays, workstations, networks, computer impact on society everywhere. base to help solve some of their toughest English-speaking world, and is known for its markets, and help deliver better, faster, architecture, computer vision, business challenges. In addition to being the success in the transfer of technology from The World Wide Web Foundation has a mission to advance the Web as a medium commercial and social applications. and speech. world’s largest IT and consulting services the laboratory to the marketplace. RPI is a that empowers people, regardless of language, ability, location, age or income; Please contact [email protected] www.csail.mit.edu company, IBM is a global business and member of the Web Science Trust Network to communicate, collaborate and access the information that they need to discuss how the Web Science Trust technology leader, innovating in research and of Laboratories. positively to change their lives and communities. ECS University of Southampton development to shape the future of society can work with you to explore the www.rpi.edu opportunities and issues that will be ECS is the UK’s leading academic department at large. IBM’s prized research, development relevant to all of us as the Web rapidly integrating computer science, electronics and technical talent around the world partner The Media Standards Trust develops and evolves. and electrical engineering. It is a pioneer with governments, corporations, thinkers The Media Standards Trust is an independent Our success will be measured by of world-leading teaching and research in and doers on ground-breaking real-world registered charity that works on behalf of the Web Science, its new developments and problems to help make the world work better “how well we foster the creativity public to preserve and foster high standards applications. and build a smarter planet. of our children. Whether future in news journalism. www.ecs.ac.uk www..com/ibm/uk scientists have the tools to cure www.mediastandardstrust.org EPSRC NESTA diseases. Whether people, in Wipro Technologies developed and developing economies alike, can EPSRC is the main UK government agency for NESTA is the National Endowment for Wipro is one of the largest global IT services funding research and training in engineering Science, Technology and the Arts. It invests distinguish reliable information from propaganda and product engineering companies with and the physical sciences. It invests more in fledgling companies, informs and shapes interests in consumer products and lighting or commercial chaff. Whether the next generation than £800 million a year in a broad range of policy, and delivers practical programmes to solutions. subjects, from mathematics and materials those involved in solving the challenges of will build systems that support democracy and science to information technology and the future. www.wipro.com promote accountable debate. structural engineering. www.nesta.org.uk Tim Berners-Lee www.epsrc.ac.uk The Web Science Trust supports the Foundation’s efforts by promoting the study of the Web and its impact on society. Over the” next two years, the Trust expects to be the Foundation’s lead partner with various joint programmes of work. These include promoting the Web to support Open Government Data initiatives around the world, and developing a Web Index to measure the use and impact of the Web in different regions.

[email protected] www.webfoundation.org

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Annenberg Networks Network, and SPITFIRE; designed a PhD and Masters Tsinghua-Southampton Web The Web Science Trust is based at Programme Board Administrative Team University of Southern California programme in Web Science, and has been Science Laboratory at Shenzhen the University of Southampton and preparing to host the Web Science Trust its activities are driven by two boards Sir Tim Berners-Lee Susan Davies: Administration Manager Amongst many other activities in 2010, ANN In September 2010, the laboratory welcomed Doctoral Summer School in July 2011. which meet quarterly. The Trustee Noshir Contractor Craig Gallen: Operations Manager held a network theory workshop on “Network 15 new postgraduate students and focused Board is the Trust’s governing body, Multidimensionality in the Digital Age” at the its research on Web Science-related topics Dame Wendy Hall Christopher Gutteridge: Webmaster Institute for Web Science and while the Programme Board directs the Annenberg School, USC (co-sponsored by including human computation theory, Technologies (WeST), University Web Science research and education James Hendler Joyce Lewis: Communications and the SONIC Lab at Northwestern University, semantic ontology and Web mining. Recent of Koblenz-Landau curriculum, and promotes Web Marketing Manager a WST affiliate). Several WST members graduates are now on industrial placements Nigel Shadbolt Science through a series of workshops, attended the workshop and presented papers, In July 2010, WeST held a Summer Academy. for one year. Their work involves travel Daniel J Weitzner With support from Samantha Collins conferences and public speaking including Noshir Contractor, Wendy Hall and This enabled PhD students studying Web data analysis, Web traffic modelling and and Nichola Need events. Nigel Shadbolt. Other distinguished speakers Science to come together, receive lectures and prediction, and the development of Web WSTNet Directors Support Services included Yochai Benkler, Manuel Castells, training from the best international scientists in search engines. Massachusetts Institute Bruno Latour and Ernest Wilson. Papers from the field, and share research and experiences. Trustee Board Hal Abelson: Coutts & Co, London: Bankers of Technology the workshop have been peer reviewed and From November 2010 to October 2013, WeST Web Science Research Centre, Sir John Taylor: Chair Matthews Mist and Co, Southampton: will be published in the International Journal is coordinating an EU integrated project, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Hans Akkermans: VU Amsterdam Dame Wendy Hall: Managing Director Accountants ROBUST (Risk and Opportunity management of Communication in Spring 2011. In June 2010, Rensselaer hosted the Leslie Carr: University of Southampton of huge-scale BUSiness communiTy Sir Tim Berners-Lee Skadden Arps Slate Meagher and Flom International Provenance and Annotation Decentralised Information Group, cooperation). The aim of ROBUST is to analyse Manuel Castells: University of Southern (UK) LLP, London: Lawyers Network. The event included a “Provenance James Hendler how the health of online communities can be California Massachusetts Institute of Hackathon” which drew international Edelman Southside, London: Public measured and supported in order to improve Rosemary Leith Technology researchers, and encouraged local industry Stefan Decker: NUI Galway Relations business objectives, including innovation and Nigel Shadbolt Throughout 2010, the group explored the and government participation. Rensselaer’s Helen Margetts: marketing. The project has five academic and Special thanks to: Michael Brodie, technical and public policy challenges of Web data.gov group received national coverage five industrial partners, and a budget of 10.3 Deborah McGuinness: Rensselaer , Joanna Lewis, Sudarshan information systems. Projects included HTTA, for its link to and from the front page of the million Euros to develop methods of analysis Polytechnic Institute Murthy, Kieron O’Hara, Catherine Pope, a Web protocol designed to address privacy US White House data.gov site. This was in and supporting technology. Thanassis Tiropanis, Mark Weal, Bebo White, recognition of the group’s leadership in Peter Monge: University of Southern and information misuse problems on the the WSRI and Members of the developing Web Science tools, technologies California Web; context computing designed to mitigate Oxford Internet Institute, WSRI Scientific Council, all of whom were and outreach materials. privacy risks; propagator networks; and the University of Oxford Steffen Staab: University of Koblenz- incredibly supportive and influential in the The University of Southampton has AINTNO project, a platform for experimenting Landau establishment of Web Science and the OII researchers are engaged in a variety of Web Science Research Group, backed the Web Science Trust to the with information accountability. setting up of the Trust. projects covering social, economic, political, University of Southampton “hilt, for which we are very grateful. Brian Uzzi: Northwestern University legal, industrial, technical and ethical issues Department of Computer Science, Last year, the Group welcomed 17 We have a great team of people at Jianping Wu: Tsinghua-Southampton of the Internet in everyday life, governance VU Amsterdam multidisciplinary postgraduate students Southampton who work in this area Web Science Laboratory at Shenzhen and democracy, science and learning and The Network Institute at VUA engaged in a wide into its Web Science Doctoral Training and who give their time and support shaping the Internet. WSTNet Director, Helen variety of Web Science research and events. The Centre. Their proposed research projects to the Trust without question because, Margetts, was awarded a three year ESRC Institute’s multidisciplinary nature resulted in span crowdsourcing for solving large-scale like us, they are inspired by the vision Professorial Fellowship for “The Internet collaborative projects related to the Web Science social problems, ethical frameworks for for Web Science. and Political Science: re-examining collective Trust’s research agenda, including web-oriented cyber warfare, using the for action, governance and citizen-government Wendy Hall social network analysis and semantic analysis investigating ancient civilisations, evolving interactions in the digital era”. of public debates. In April 2010, VUA organised consumer behaviour and anti-phishing a symposium on self-organising knowledge SONIC Lab, Northwestern policies. The group also organised the “Why ” Study the Web?” event at the Royal Society systems and, in June, hosted the Dutch Semantic University Web “Meet-up”. VUA also participated in Web in March 2010. The group’s current research Science events and discussion meetings at SONIC Lab hosted seven events in 2010 as activities include the EnAKTing project that the Royal Society, London. part of the SONIC Speaker Series. The invited focuses on the Web Science challenges in speakers were Leslie DeChurch, Scott Field, developing the Web of Data. 2010 marked Digital Enterprise Research Benjamin Elbert, Marc Smith, Thomas Friemel, a decade of the group’s involvement Institute, NUI Galway Mauro Cerubini and Filip Agneessens. The Lab in promoting open access to scientific also secured four new grants related to Web DERI was pleased to have six papers accepted publications and data through its EPrints Science; and the Director, Noshir Contractor, at the 2010 Web Science Conference. In repository software. promoted Web Science through distinguished September, several DERI members attended lectures and keynote addresses at world the Web Science Curriculum Workshop and conferences.The Lab co-organised the second Royal Society discussion meetings. DERI was international workshop on network theory, also involved in several EU projects relating “Network Multidimensionality in the Digital to Web Science, including LOD2, ROBUST, Age” at Annenberg.

18 [email protected] | www.webscience.org Web Science Trust review 2011 Web Science Trust review 2011 [email protected] | www.webscience.org 19

The Web Science Trust is an independent charitable body hosted by the University of Southampton. The Trust’s main aim is to advance research and education in Web Science for the benefit of society. The Trust’s activities are intended to improve the global visibility and understanding of Web Science within governments, industry, public and private sector enterprises, the media and the general public. To find out more about the Web Science Trust, its people, programmes and events, and the opportunities to get involved, contact: [email protected] www.webscience.org

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