[okfn-discuss] Research project: "Histories of open knowledge"

Thu Apr 5 10:30:41 UTC 2012

Antti,

That sounds like a project which could be crowd-funded, with interested
people committing small sums upfront and maybe getting a copy of the work
at the end.  Kickstarter is the well known platform in this space, but
doesn't support projects based outside the US. You could look at SPonsume
or IndieGoGo. This would give you the funds upfront if there was real
community interest in the project.

Print on demand platforms such as Lulu.com might be easier than a
traditional publisher, too...

Good luck,

Laura

-- 

Dr Laura James
Foundation Coordinator, Open Knowledge Foundation

http://okfn.org

On 4 April 2012 14:04, Antti Halonen <antti.halonen at finnish-institute.org.uk
> wrote:

> Dear all,
>
> I have been planning to start a research project on the history of open
> data and open knowledge movements (i've only recently finished a report on
> the contemporary open data policies -
> http://finnish-institute.org.uk/images/stories/pdf2012/being%20open%20about%20data.pdf
> ).
> Sam Leon from OKF encouraged me to post a rough draft proposal to this
> list for feedback and possible ideas. In a nutshell the idea is to write a
> communal history of open knowledge movement, that is a narrative of how
> community members themselves perceive the conceptual development of open
> knowledge and its significance for the society.
> I think the most urgent issues are the overall feasibility of the project
> and also identifying potential funding sources.
> Please find the draft attached below. I'd be very glad for all the
> comments and ideas and am happy to tell more.
>
> Best wishes,
> Antti
>
> *Project proposal*
>
>
>
> *Title*:
>
> Histories of open knowledge
>
>
>
> *Project coordinator: *
>
> Antti Halonen
>
>
>
> *Contact email: *
>
> antti.halonen.10 at ucl.ac.uk
>
>
>
> *Project description: *
>
>
>
> Purpose of the project is to write a history of the open knowledge
> movement, as perceived by the open knowledge community itself. Now that
> open knowledge movement has increasingly started to gain leverage and the
> principles of transparency are being introduced in both governmental and
> civil-society levels, it is time to compile a narrative of how open
> knowledge has emerged as a global movement.
>
>
>
> According to one widely accepted view of historiography history is
> necessarily a combination of many different histories and several
> recollections of the past (for instance, Kalela 2012). Therefore this
> project aims at presenting a history of open knowledge like the members of
> the global open knowledge community perceive it. Community members are
> encouraged to take part in research circles and provide their recollections
> on the past. A young historian (project coordinator) will facilitate the
> project and conduct the final editing process. The outcome of the project
> will be a communal narrative of the conceptual development of open
> knowledge.
>
>
>
> Methodology of the project will be based on the idea of history as a joint
> communal project. The sole authority of a historian is questioned and
> instead, the community itself will be given a voice on about what is
> relevant and how the subject should be reviewed. Effectively, participants
> will be asked to “write their own histories” What kind of issues have
> influenced their own thoughts and opinions? Why have they decided to take
> part in the open knowledge movement? What events have influenced their own
> thought and ideas about the society and the open knowledge movement?
>
>
>
> *Timeline*:
>
>
>
> Phase 1:
>
>
>
> Project coordinator conducts a literature review on the emergence of open
> knowledge as a concept and drafts a methodology on how to study the history
> of open knowledge in an open manner.  (May – June 2012)
>
>
>
> Phase 2:
>
>
>
> Open knowledge community members are asked to provide their own
> recollections on how they got involved in the movement and what are their
> perceptions of the open knowledge concept. (June – September 2012)
>
>
>
> Phase 3:
>
>
>
> During Open Knowledge Festival the project coordinator will lead a history
> workshop where the community recollections and perceptions are discussed
> and compiled into a draft version of the history. Before the workshop a
> renowned professor of history (for instance Jorma Kalela) will give a
> keynote speech on history as a joint communal project. (September 2012)
>
>
>
> Phase 4:
>
>
>
> Project coordinator edits the draft and conducts the final narrative.
> Final work is approved by the community and published under open access
> regulations. (September – October 2012)
>
>
>
> *What is needed:*
>
>
>
> Financial support to enable six months’ part-time work (50%, May-October
> 2012) of the project coordinator (€8.000)
>
> Space for the history workshop at OKFest (two days)
>
> Publisher for the final report
>
> --
> Antti Halonen
> Fellow
> The Finnish Institute in London
> 35-36 Eagle Street
> WC1R 4AQ
> London
>
> @ajhalo
> +447748950741
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> okfn-discuss at lists.okfn.org
> http://lists.okfn.org/mailman/listinfo/okfn-discuss
>
>
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