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Editorial: Nisar Keshvani
Fourteen months ago, Leonardo/ISAST announced the Leonardo Educators
Initiative [1] – a multi-faceted programme to reach out to
the academic community. It includes:
* The Leonardo Abstracts Service (LABS) [2] – a comprehensive
database of Ph.D., Masters and MFA thesis abstracts in the emerging
intersection between art, science and technology. It is designed
to give young scholars an opportunity to contribute to the existing
body of knowledge, keep abreast of new developments, allow established
artists/academics to access upcoming work, use LEA as a resource
and create an opportunity for dialogue amongst individuals with
similar interests.
* The Leonardo International Academic Community [3] – a mailing
list to encourage discussion and exchange of ideas (to join email
lea@mitpress.mit.edu with a brief introduction) amongst leaders
and thinkers in academia. Academics also receive the Leonardo International
Faculty Alerts – announcing job and other opportunities in
the field.
* A free subscription to the Leonardo Electronic Almanac email digest
for faculty and students: http://mitpress.mit.edu/lea/e-mail
When first introduced in August 2003, LABS was a rudimentary system.
Scholars would email LEA with their abstracts and we occasionally
published them. Today, almost a year later, we launch a web-based
submission and searching system spearheaded by Professor Sheila
Pinkel from Pomona College.
A call for submissions was announced in June this year and within
three months, LABS received 20-odd abstracts. These abstracts were
peer reviewed by our 2004/2005 panel consisting of Pau Alsina, Jody
Berland, Sean Cubitt, Frieder Nake, Stephen Petersen and chaired
by Professor Pinkel. In this issue, we are proud to publish the
shortlisted, peer-reviewed theses abstracts by Peter Anders, Elisa
Giaccardi, Fatima Lasay and Maureen A. Nappi.
LABS is now seeking abstracts for its next publication cycle. Deadline
for inclusion is: 10 November 2004. For information and to submit
abstract: http://leonardolabs.pomona.edu
Interestingly, this month’s feature "Art by Telephone:
From Static to Mobile Interfaces," is written by Adriana de
Souza e Silva who holds the honour of being the pioneer author announced
in LABS last year [1].
Her piece discusses the evolution of artworks using telephones,
bringing her focus especially to contemporary works using mobile
phone technology. Her investigation explores the ramifications of
such technology on our notions of space, time and social interaction
and the interface between physical and digital spaces.
In Leonardo Reviews, we look a small but rich sampling of the stunning
diversity of topics being discussed by the review panel: here we
include reviews of a conference on Indian artist Sardari Lal Parasher,
a conference on art, science and spirituality, and a documentary
film about U.S. activist/author Howard Zinn.
We sincerely hope the Leonardo Educators Initiative [1] continues
to meets a need and hope to hear your comments and feedback.
Enjoy!
REFERENCES
1. Keshvani, Nisar. "Leonardo Educators Initiative,”
Leonardo Electronic Almanac 11, No. 8 (2003) <http://mitpress2.mit.edu/e-journals/LEA/TEXT/Vol_11/lea_v11_n08.txt>.
2. Leonardo Abstracts Service available online at: http://leonardolabs.pomona.edu
3. Leonardo International Academic Community available online at:
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/leofaculty
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