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I see de-emphasizing conferences as a very bad idea. I find conferences FAR more stimulating from a research perspective than just reading journal papers. A conference is, at its best, collaborative - two-way communications. A journal paper, no matter how good, is just a one-way communication. On the other hand, if the writing is on the wall, then we must learn to adapt. Perhaps virtual meetings? The web is still a weak replacement for a face to face meeting, but its better than nothing at all. We should also push for 'open access' and 'open review' journals, because they can provide alternative means for communications. Again, imperfect, but better than nothing. Cheers. Fil Terence Love wrote: > Hello, > In Australia, we have received clear signals from the government that > conferences will become much less relevant in research quality assessment. > Instead, the focus will be on citations of refereed papers in first-rank > journals with high impact factors. (Design Issues is in the citation list, > Design Studies is not). > > This impact directly on income for education institutions and cash that is > made available to academics. > I gather this sea-change is a world-wide phenomenon. > > Some implications are: > * Funding for attendance to conferences will be significantly restricted, > particularly for anyone under professorial rank who does not have their own > research income stream. > * Conference viability will be reduced. > * Conferences will become less relevant to building the research field > * Conferences will have a biasing effect on the growth of the field because > the networking will comprise a restricted subset of participants that will > exclude many researchers in early/mid career > * Increased conservatism in the field (conferences only with existing > established professors). > * Increased emphasis on well-justified research outcomes rather than > contextual and philosophical discussions. > > This might be the time to think twice for those thinking of planning future > design research conferences? > > Thoughts? > > Terry > ____________________ > Dr. Terence Love > Curtin Research Fellow, FDRS, AMIMechE > Design-focused Research Group, Design Out Crime Research Group > Key Researcher, Centre for Extended Enterprise and Business Intelligence > Research Associate, Planning and Transport Research Centre > Curtin University, PO Box U1987, Perth, > Western Australia 6845 > Mob: 0434 975 848, Fax +61(0)8 9305 7629, [log in to unmask] > Visiting Professor, Member of Scientific Council > UNIDCOM/ IADE, Lisbon, Portugal. > Visiting Research Fellow, > Institute of Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development, Management School, > > Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK, [log in to unmask] > ____________________ -- Filippo A. Salustri, Ph.D., P.Eng. Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Ryerson University 350 Victoria St, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada Tel: 416/979-5000 ext 7749 Fax: 416/979-5265 Email: [log in to unmask] http://deseng.ryerson.ca/~fil/