BACKGROUND
The VOX-Pol Network of Excellence is an EU-funded academic research network focused on researching the prevalence, contours, functions, and impacts of violent online political extremism and responses to it. VOX-Pol’s inaugural two-day conference took place at King’s College London on 28 – 29 August 2014. VOX-Pol’s mid-project conference will take place at Dublin City University, Ireland on 23 – 24 June, 2016, with pre-conference workshops taking place on 22 June.
OPENING ADDRESS
The VOX-Pol conference was officially opened by Ireland’s Tanáiste (i.e. Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister for Justice & Equality, Ms. Frances Fitzgerald (TD).
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
J.M. Berger is a fellow with George Washington University’s Program on Extremism. He is a researcher, analyst and consultant, with a special focus on extremist activities in the U.S. and use of social media. Berger is co-author of ISIS: The State of Terror (2015) with Jessica Stern and author of Jihad Joe: Americans Who Go to War in the Name of Islam (2011). Berger publishes the web site Intelwire.com and has written for Politico, The Atlantic and Foreign Policy, among others. He was previously a non-resident fellow with the Brookings Institution, Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World, and an associate fellow with the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation at VOX-Pol partner institution, King’s College London.
“Extremists on Social Media, the Post-ISIS Challenge”
While far from ended, the best days of Islamic State’s social media campaign are behind it, Berger will argue in his keynote, and provide a review of lessons learned from their unprecedented efforts to leverage social media to promote violence, along with a look at the rising and vastly more complex challenges that lie ahead, as a wide variety of extremist and antisocial movements learn to use the same tools to spread hate and violence.
Dunja Mijatović is the OSCE’s Representative on Freedom of the Media. Mijatović was a founder of the Communications Regulatory Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 2007 she was elected Chair of the European Platform of Regulatory Agencies. She also chaired the Council of Europe’s Group of Specialists on freedom of expression and information in times of crisis. Mijatović is an expert in human rights, communications and media strategy and regulatory and media policy. She also has many years of experience in issues related to journalists’ safety and new media, including digitalization, convergence and the Internet.
“Exercising Free Expression to Counter Violent Extremism”
Anti-extremist legislation and CVE-programs and initiatives pose new challenges to freedom of expression and media freedom. In her address, Mijatović will discuss key issues such as surveillance, protection of sources and content blocking online and take stock of what can be done to preserve civil liberties in the face of terrorist threats.
REGISTRATION FEES
The registration fee entitles one to a name badge, copy of the printed programme, refreshments and lunch on both days, and conference dinner on evening of 23 June. (There are no fees for workshops for registered conference attendees, but one must register separately for these; see information on workshops below).
- Standard Early Bird (to 29 April 2016): €70
- Student Early Bird (to 29 April 2016): €35
- Standard (29 April to 7 June 2016): €100
- Student (29 April to 7 June 2016): €50
Attendees must register by the above 7 June deadline; there will be no on-site registration
Those choosing a Student rate should note that they will be required to supply a valid student ID from their institution at conference sign-in.
The final date for registration will be 7 June 2016; there will be no on-site registration.
WORKSHOPS
A number of half-day ‘hands on’ workshops on research tools and methods for scholars of violent online political extremism, will be held on the morning and afternoon of Wednesday, 22 June.
| DURATION | TITLE | CONVENER(S) |
| Full Day | Python for Social Scientists | Prof. Padraig Cunningham (University College Dublin), Dr. Derek Greene (University College Dublin), and Tania Malik (Dublin City University & University College Dublin) |
| Half Day (9am – 1pm) |
Internet Research Ethics for Violent Extremism & Terrorism Researchers | Prof. Elizabeth Buchanan (University of Wisconsin) & Prof. Charles Ess (University of Oslo) |
| Half Day (2pm – 6pm) |
Human Reasoning Meets Machine Learning | Heather Griffioen-Young (TNO) |
Places on these workshops will be limited, so if you are interested in attending, please email conference@voxpol.eu to register your interest. If interest exceeds the number of places available, we will review and issue decisions in early May 2016.
TRAVEL FUNDING
The conference organisers are able to provide a limited number of travel grants for PhD students, early career researchers, end-users, and colleagues from the developing world. Support may be requested towards the cost of registration fees, transportation, and accommodation. Travel grants will be processed by electronic funds transfer after the event, upon receipt of original receipts, boarding passes, proof of participation, etc. Further details regarding the application and reimbursement process will be provided when decisions are made on selected papers.
TRAVEL VISAS
Countries whose nationals require a visa to enter Ireland are listed HERE. Participants may request a letter confirming their conference registration for visa purposes only after they have registered for the conference. Requests for visa letters should be directed to conference@voxpol.eu
ACCOMMODATION
Details of a variety of accommodation options, will be made available via the conference website, in due course.
QUERIES/CONTACT
For conference-related queries, please email conference@voxpol.eu
www.meetinireland.com
