Call for Papers: Involving Citizens in Emergency Preparedness and Response

Involving Citizens in Emergency Preparedness and Response

International Conference
Location: Koç University Research Center for Anatolian Civilizations, Istanbul
Date: September 4, 2014; Thursday

New communication technologies play an increasingly important role during emergencies and crises, such as natural and man made disasters and political crises. Particularly social media can potentially enable citizens to more quickly share information, assist response and recovery in emergencies, and mobilize for action in political crises.

This conference will examine the role of citizens as first responders, social activists, and citizen journalists at times of emergencies and crises and will focus on practical, theoretical, and ethical issues related to citizen participation in emergency/crisis response/communication. The conference will result in a set of guidelines for citizens, government authorities, first responders and industry for the most effective use of ICTs to aid citizen security during crises.

Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

• The role that conventional media and social media may play in recruitment and training of emergency response volunteers
• Community involvement in emergency response planning
• Social activism, mobilization, and social media
• Citizen journalism and social media (e.g., reporting processes, threats to citizen journalists involved in coverage of emergencies, information verification)

Selected papers from the conference will be published in the Interactions: Studies in Communication & Culture journal (published by Intellect Books).

Submission Information:

• Full Papers: Submit a 500 word maximum proposal and a short author biography to Mr. Mert Bal hbal13@ku.edu.tr
• PechaKucha Poster Papers: Submit a 250 word maximum proposal and a short author biography to Mr. Mert Bal hbal13@ku.edu.tr

 Key Dates:

• Deadline for Submissions: February 14, 2014
• Announcement of Decisions Regarding the Submissions: March 15, 2014
• Announcement of the Workshop Programme: May 15, 2014
• Registration (free): May 15, 2014 – July 15, 2014
• Submission of Full Paper (format to be announced later): August 15, 2014