[Telecentres] CALL FOR APPLICATIONS - Fellowships on Open Information Policy

[Sunil Abraham]

The International Policy Fellowship Program (IPF) of the Open Society
Institute has issued its annual call for fellowship proposals. Open
Information Policy is one of the program's focal areas this year. Here are
details concerning this area, taken from the IPF website at
www.soros.org/initiatives/ipf :

"Advanced by the internet, alternatives to long-standing intellectual
property regimes have created an environment to re-assess the
relationship between democracy, open society and new information
technologies. The promise of open source technology with respect to
civil society and the incalculable leaps in information production by
means of open content and weblogs present a new platform for civic
participation. Whether and in what form such promises can be realized
lies at the basis of the research questions below.

     * Weblogs & Civic Discourse. How does the rapid expansion of
weblogs alter news production and civic discourse? Can it counter
ever-increasing concentration of ownership in the traditional mass
media? How do traditional notions of editorial standards and
journalistic professionalism apply to this new medium? Is the
'blogosphere' an enhancement of the public sphere, or does it threaten
its disintegration?
     * Open Content & Sustainability. Open Access publishing is
revolutionizing scientific publishing. New alternative licensing systems
like Creative Commons support decentralized information production, by
making it easier for creators to share and permit re-use and
modification of their work, while retaining certain rights. What are the
business models that are developing around these commons-based models of
sharing freely online? These cases are by and large un-documented and
seem to contrast starkly with well-established economic and legal norms
that rest on notions of scarcity, exclusivity and controlled access.
     * Open Content & Standards. Wikipedia, a freely available
encyclopedia, is a visible and widely cited example of collaborative,
distributed knowledge production enabled by the Internet. Such models
seem to have great promise for more equitable access to knowledge; yet
they also run the risk of dispensing with editorial standards. How can
quality standards emerge in a distributed environment? Are they robust
enough to be relied upon?
     * Open Source: Ownership and Control of Communications Technology.
Communications technology (both hardware and software, and the standards
on which most communications networks are based) is a key part of
today's infrastructure for civil society engagement. How do the
different models of ownership and control of the knowledge underlying
this infrastructure (expressed in technology standards and software,
either open or proprietary) affect access and participation by civil
society, in particular, civil society in developing countries?
     * Intellectual Property & Access to Knowledge: The case of Free
Trade Agreements. Intellectual property laws are a powerful instrument
for controlling access to knowledge, and in some cases to restrict free
speech. New standards shaped by rich-country interests are now being
globalized and imposed on poorer countries. In recent years, bilateral
Free Trade Agreements have become an important part of this process. How
do those free trade agreements undermine the rule of law and basic
principles of democratic lawmaking in countries around the world that
are signing these agreements?"


*________________________________________________________________________*

*CALL FOR PROPOSALS*

*INTERNATIONAL POLICY FELLOWSHIPS, 2006-2007*

*All applications must be submitted online by September 20, 2005 from_
__www.soros.org/initiatives/ipf_ *

*________________________________________________________________________*



The International Policy Fellowships (IPF) program is calling for
applications for 2006-2007 fellowships. Launched in 1998 and affiliated
with the Open Society Institute and the Center for Policy Studies (CPS)
of the Central European University in Budapest, these fellowships
support analytical policy research in pursuance of open society goals
such as the rule of law, democratic elections, diverse and vigorous
civil societies, and respect for minorities. Each year the IPF program
invites research proposals that address critical issues in the
development of open societies. Successful applicants will demonstrate
originality, sound project design and the strong likelihood that their
project may lead to significant impact on policy.

The IPF program seeks to enhance the quality of policy research in the
countries where the Soros Network operates, throughout Central and
Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, and Mongolia, as well as
Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. It places strong
emphasis on independent research that is both rigorous and appreciative of
practical implications. Analysis and evaluation of existing policy contexts
should be based on explicit criteria and fellows should be able to
communicate their ideas and findings in a variety of professional and
public settings.

*Applicants are encouraged to submit individual, practical and
policy-oriented research proposals in the following subject areas. The
product of each fellowship will be a detailed analysis of a major issue
to be published in English and translated into other languages:*

*2006-7 Fellowship Issue Areas: General Framework: New Frontiers of
Democratic Politics*

     * *The Challenge of Wider Europe*
     * *Open Society Promotion in Predominantly Muslim Societies*
     * *Combating Open Society Threats*
     * *Combating the Resource Curse *
     * *Roma Exclusion *
     * *Open Information Policy *


       *Main Terms of the International Policy Fellowship Award*

     * Fellows receive supervision and support from a senior policy analyst
     * Fellows are invited to Budapest in April 2006 for initial
       orientation to the program
     * Optional specialized policy research and advocacy training courses
       in Budapest
     * Monthly stipends commensurate with local salaries
     * Budget for reasonable research, communications, travel,
       publication and advocacy costs
     * Discretionary funding for conference participation

*How to Apply*

Applicants should carefully complete the online application form found
at www.soros.org/initiatives/ipf, which includes a project summary,
research proposal (maximum 4 pages), and a resume/CV including a list of
publications. Applicants may also include a letter of reference from an
affiliated organization and a writing sample on the chosen topic.

Those who have no possibility to access the Internet should send an
e-mail to fellows at osi.hu to discuss alternate application solutions.
Applications sent by mail, fax or e-mail will not be considered unless
given prior approval from IPF staff.

Applications must be submitted online by* September 20, 2005*. IPF does
not consider late applications.