1. Canadian Rural Research Network
(CRRN)
http://rural-research-network.blogspot.com/
Alessandro Alasia
Network coordinator
Presentation to the Rural Development Network (RDN)
Thursday, August 12, 2010
1:30 pm to 3:00 pm (EST)
August 12, 2010 1
2. Outline
• CRRN vision, development, and accomplishments
• An emerging research network model?
• Various sections of the CRRN blog and the other
social media tools
• Priorities for the coming year
• How individuals and organizations can become
involved with the CRRN
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3. CRRN vision
A vibrant, free and comprehensive on-line
community of rural research stakeholders
that facilitates links, exchanges, partnerships
and information sharing among all parties
interested in rural research by means of new
and innovative networking approaches
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4. CRRN development
• June 2009, the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation (CRRF) supports
a proposal to revitalize the network (as Canadian Rural Research Network)
with a renewed mandate and networking model
– June 2009, the CRRN blog is launched
– August 2009, first bi-monthly email update is sent out
– September/December 2009, a management committee is established
– December 2009, first online meeting of the management committee
– January/February 2010, established presence on social media
(Facebook, Twitter, YouTube)
– March 2010, first presentation of the CRRN at the BCRRHRN Scientific
Exchange
– May 2010, first annual meeting of the CRRN partners
– June 201, started LinkedIn Group
– July…. summer break…
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5. Achievements
• Over 30 provincial and national organizations
with an interest in rural research meet around a
virtual table
• A volunteer management group spread across
Canada maintains the network
• A large number of feedback from a community
of users
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6. Achievements
• Established a simple-to-use platform to compile
and disseminate rural research information
– Stats on usage over the past 15 months:
• Close to 10,000 unique visitors
• Close to 25,000 page loads
• Recently, between 20 and 30 visitors per day
• Email distribution list of about 3,500 contacts, largely in the
public (fed/prov/municipal) and non-profit sector
• Presence on major social media (LinkedIn,
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube) and RSS feeds
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7. An emerging research network model?
• Three ideas (with some simplifications) that can shape
an emerging research network model which brings
together supply and demand of rural research:
– The Wickinomics (of research information sharing)
• (Tapscott and Williams 2006)
– The Socialnomics (of research information sharing)
• (Qualman 2009)
– The world (of rural research) is flat
• (Friedman 2005)
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8. Wikinomics, Socialnomics and research networks
• Shift in Internet applications (Web 2.0): from a publishing environment to a
participative environment
• People are getting more relevant, timely and free content from their
peers via social media (Qualman 2009)
• Cost of (online) collaboration has plunged
• A new mode of production emerges: peer production
– A way of producing goods/services that relies on self-organizing, egalitarian
communities of individuals who come together voluntarily to produce a shared
outcome (Tapscott and Williams 2006)
• Peer production works for production of: (1) “information” outputs; (2) small
increment contributions are possible; (3) low cost of re-assembly parts
• Peer production can outperform traditional production models because
people self-select for tasks
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9. The (rural research) world is flat
• Several technological forces have converged and
generated a global, Web-enabled playing field that
allows for multiple forms of collaboration regardless of
distance and (soon) language (Friedman 2005)
• “Globalization 3.0” is about individuals and small groups
globalizing
• A flat rural research world is open for exploration.
Our research community should be at the cutting edge of
this exploration (because we know why and how
distance still matters!)
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26. … more work is needed …
• Get all partners more involved with CRRN activities
– “Posting guidelines” draft
– The blog can have up to 100 authors (currently about 20)
• Expand interactive applications and opportunities for
users’ interaction
– Promote the use of and participation to CRRN social media
(LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, RuralTube
– … a wiki? Other?
• Promote the use of CRRN applications within specific
groups (graduate students, professionals, public sector)
• Develop simple rules for the operation of the network as
the network grows and expands
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27. How to get involved
• Take the lead! Share and/or develop your
ideas and/or make suggestions for
improvements
• Email: crrn@bell.net
• Email the management team (see web page)
• Join the management team (see web page)
– conference call meetings every second month
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28. Thank you for your attention
--
Questions / feedbacks
August 12, 2010 28