Beyond creativity, towards collaboration in practice - Alpine Ski Seminar on Information Systems 12th edition

A revamped interest for creativity has recently concerned Design Studies, Computer Sciences, as well as Social Sciences and Humanities. Indeed, research in these fields has started focusing on the relationship between creativity and innovation. Phenomena such as Fab Labs, Maker Faires, Hackerspaces, and Living Labs are relevant examples of novel bottom-up sociotechnical phenomena. At the same time, a wider scenario of policies and funding programmes have influenced both the innovation and knowledge development, as well as the optimization and exploitation of such production processes, co-creation included. It is noteworthy that the European H2020 framework programme has recently emphasised the catalyst role of ICT for art and creative industries. 

This context prompts us to critically discuss about the creativity and collaboration. On the one hand, we take seriously the risks of transforming such concepts into new “buzzwords”. On the other hand, we aim to step forward by stating that the innovation relies on the creative and collaborative processes. Our purpose is to delve into participatory practices. Accordingly, we are interested in understanding how to foster collaboration in practice while paying attention to the heterogeneity of people and things to involve. ALPIS embodies a friendly context for comparing perspectives and experiences on new challenges, the serendipitous and unexpected outcomes of the fieldwork, the pitfalls and opportunities for researching into and/or practicing collaboration.

The seminar paves the way for improving the participants’ research experiences in ICT as well as in other fields, by going beyond the mystique of creativity towards collaboration in practice.

We are pleased to announce the list of the invited senior speakers: 

- Peter M. Bednar - University of Portsmouth
- Andrea Botero - Aalto University, School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Media Lab
- Dagny Stuedahl - Norwegian University of Life Sciences 
- Maurizio Teli - University of Trento  

Similarly to the previous editions, during ALPIS seminar the mornings will be free for participants to enjoy the nature, the surroundings or the ski resorts, whereas the afternoons (15:00-19:00) will be devoted to the following scientific activities:

• Session for senior lectures (with a discussant and Q&A)
• Session for PhD students/candidates, and early stage researchers (projects presentations + Q&A)
• Session for open discussion

A preliminary agenda of the Symposium will be made available by the end of January 2016.

We welcome contributions from PhD students/candidates and early stage post-doc researchers. We invite people interested in applying to send an email to: alpis@list.disi.unitn.it with the following documents by Sunday 17th, January 2016:

• An expression of interest (max 1000 words) that includes:
  • motivation (i.e. why you are interested in participating);
  • description of your research area/interest;
  • a small abstract about the topic you would intend to present (NOTE: if you only want to attend, without presenting, skip this last item);
• A short bio (max 200 words).

We aim at accepting a maximum of 15 applications. We strive for an inclusive approach that will lead us to select the applications according to their relevance and scientific quality. Each application will be evaluated upon the submission and notification of acceptance will be forwarded to the attendees immediately after the selection process by e-mail, in order to allow the participants to make all travel arrangements. 

A limited number of scholarships might be available for covering the registration fees, depending on the final number participants. Applicants who would like to be considered for a scholarship must explicitly request and motivate it in their expression of interest (max 300 additional words). We will only be able to cover a limited number of scholarships, and we make the PhD status our priority. Confirmation of scholarships will only be given after the closure of application period.

ALPIS 2016 will take place in the Antica Vetreria, in Carisolo, Rendena Valley, in the province of Trento (Italy).
The Antica Vetreria is a refurbished glass factory near the Sarca River, at the entrance of Genova Valley and near the beautiful Adamello Brenta Park (see the map).
Carisolo is at the center of a ski area with multiple winter sport centers.
Have a look at the surrounding landscape by checking the following photos.

Antica Vetreria  includes the following facilities:

• shared bedrooms: 2 rooms x 4 beds, 2 x 6 beds, 2 x 8 beds,1 x 10 beds
• 4 shared bathrooms with 9 showers
• furnished shared kitchen with dishwasher
• heating system
• yard and park on the Sarca river

You can find more images about the Antica Vetreria and its surroundings here:
 

In case you wish to book your stay at Albergo Cavento, please contact the hotel directly.

Albergo Cavento di Silvana Ciurletti & C. sas
Piazza 2 Maggio, 40 - 38080 Carisolo (TN)
tel. +39 0465 501178
info@albergocavento.it

• 200,00 EUR: ALPIS registration plus accommodation in the Antica Vetreria
• 80,00 EUR: ALPIS registration only

Registrations are open! To registrer upload the registration form available on the box on the right.

Upon notification of acceptance, participants will receive further instructions regarding the payment.
Participants are kindly invited to confirm their attendance via email before that date. The number of possible scholarships depends on the actual number of participants.
Participants belonging to the University of Trento must upload the file "Partecipazione Interni" and send it (filled and signed by their Responsible) by email to : comunicazione-collina@unitn.it, or by fax to: 0461 261392

Carisolo can be reached in less than two hours by buses leaving from Trento bus station (which is next to the train station).

Bus n. 201 towards Campo Carlomagno:
Trento-Carisolo 
8.02-10.06 – Direct Connection
10.15-12.20 – Change with bus n. 215 in Tione,
11.20-13.28 – Direct connection

Bus n. 231 n. 201 towards Trento:
Carisolo-Trento
16.27-18.10 – bus n. 201 Direct Connection
17.16-19.10 –  Change with bus n. 201 in Tione

Transfer via Taxi is very expensive, unless it is shared by many (fares approximately around 90 Euro).
We recommend to arrive in Trento the day before the opening of the seminar. We suggest reaching Carisolo in the morning of February 10th.
Based on the final number of participants and on organizational opportunities, local organizers will try to arrange collective transportation from Trento to Carisolo, and back.

By plane: The closest airports to Trento are the following:
Verona Catullo Airport - 90 km
Innsbruck Airport - 180 km
Milano Malpensa - 300 km
Bologna - 230 km
Venice  - 270 km 

By train: Two main lines reach Trento: the Brennero line (from Rome to Innsbruck) and the Valsugana line (from Venice to Trento).
For additional details:
Trenitalia
Deutsche Bahn
ÖBB

The 12th edition of ALPIS is organized by the following members of the interAction Lab:
Michela Cozza, Francesca Fiore, Teresa Macchia, Giacomo Poderi, Linda Tonolli and the support of the Department of Information Engineering and Computer Science of the University of Trento.