New Web research network gets off the ground

WSTNet brings together some of the world’s leading academic researchers in Web Science to collaborate on new academic programmes that aim to enhance the already growing influence of Web Science. The network is managed by the Web Science Trust, which brings together academics, business leaders, entrepreneurs and policy-makers from around the world to foster multidisciplinary research on the World Wide Web and describe the issues and challenges that will shape its future use and design.

Building on a number of specific agreements and commitments with the Web Science Trust, the laboratories that are members of WSTNet will support the ongoing development of Web Science.

“This is yet another important milestone in the progress of Web Science,” said John Taylor, Chair of the WST Trustee Board. “We are linking together a group of highly respected research laboratories, which are all already making internationally-leading contributions through their research. We look forward to what we can achieve together in the future, through a series of joint research programmes, events, and collaborations.”

Contributions from member laboratories will include the organisation and hosting of summer schools, workshops and meetings, including the WebSci conference series. The WSTNet Labs will also identify opportunities for new events and fundraising.

“WSTNet will extend our global research capabilities in Web Science as well as ensuring that the subject is built into university syllabuses,” said Wendy Hall, of Southampton University in the UK, who is Managing Director of WST and one of the founders of the discipline of Web Science.

Southampton University is a founder member of WSTNet, along with the Department of Computer Science, VU Amsterdam; the Digital Enterprise Research Institute, NUI Galway;  the Institute for Web Science and Technologies (WeST), Universitat Koblenz-Landau; and the Oxford Internet Institute, amongst others.