Doctoral Training Centre in Web Science

网络科学博士培训中心

• 批准号: EP/G036926/1
• 负责人: Wendy Hall
• 金额: $ 764.06万
• 依托单位: University of Southampton
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Training Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2009 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FG036926%2F1
• 关键词: Doctoral; Training; Centre; Web; Science

The centrality of the Web for scientific research and economic activity has not been matched by our understanding of its complex relationship with the embedding society. In part this is because of its Protean nature and ubiquity. It exists at a variety of scales, from engineering protocols to websites, small communities to giant e-government and e-commerce systems. It is engineered technology, and a network of overlapping social networks.Hence the Web's study is legitimate from many disciplinary perspectives. To engage with it as a first-order object requires an interdisciplinary overview, grounded by an understanding of its engineering principles, that currently few researchers can achieve. The aim of this Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) proposal is to create a cohort of researchers that (a) have appropriate research skills, (b) have a breadth of understanding of multidisciplinary approaches to the Web, and (c) are a coherent community.Such a cohort will enhance our understanding of the Web in a number of ways. They will carry out deep and committed research, which they will be able to situate in a wider context. The number of researchers will create a critical mass, able to promote Web Science in the academic community and help make it a hub for research investment over the medium term.The DTC aims to produce PhDs to fill the need, but who are also aware of each other's work and the work of relevant fields. This community awareness will be fostered in a number of ways. Students will: (i) begin with an MSc to equip them for the technical methods required for Web Science; (ii) have a base in the School of Electronics and Computer Science and the Web Science Research Initiative (WSRI) wherever their main location; (iii) share a core introduction to relevant disciplines, and to the protocols that make up the Web; (iv) be partly assessed on interdisciplinary group projects; and (v) attend joint research seminars. In this way the DTC will add value compared to a stream of isolated DTAs.The DTC will avoid introspection, and will be outward-looking. The Web is an international phenomenon, and WSRI is affiliated with other Web Science labs in a global network. All DTC funded students will be offered the opportunity to spend up to 3 months studying at one of these labs, or in an industrial placement. Furthermore, WSRI will host international scholars of all levels from other labs, and students will be able to attend their seminars and discuss their work.The creation of a cohort of researchers will be beneficial for the Web and our interactions with it. The continuing health of the Web is clearly a matter of interest for everyone, and this DTC will help develop a set of researchers able to understand the Web at varying scales, from varying points of view, and with a clear perception of the international dimension.A PhD in Web Science will be a valuable asset in many industries operating in the digital economy, including e-health, the media, finance or e-defence, where quality of service provided depends both on technological developments and the integration of technology into a social context. Issues such as security, privacy and collective intelligence matter just as much as methods of inference or the structure of the Web. The breadth of understanding that Web Science provides will also be vital in the software and hardware development companies which not only add value to the British economy but also support the Web itself.Finally, the Web is an important tool for government, in terms of communication and coordination within itself, and of delivery of services and supply of information to citizens. Once more, Web Science would enable an understanding of the technology and the social context for the next generation of government officials, allowing them (a) to apply current Web technology to existing problems, and (b) to engage with the future development of the Web in socially beneficial ways.

Web在科学研究和经济活动中的中心地位，与我们对其与嵌入社会的复杂关系的理解不相匹配。这在一定程度上是因为它的千变万化和无处不在。它存在于各种规模，从工程协议到网站，从小型社区到大型电子政府和电子商务系统。它是一项工程技术，是一个由重叠的社交网络组成的网络。因此，从许多学科的角度来看，网络的研究是合法的。要将其作为一流的对象进行研究，需要跨学科的概述，基础是对其工程原理的理解，而目前很少有研究人员能够做到这一点。这项博士培训中心(DTC)计划的目标是建立一批研究人员，他们(A)具有适当的研究技能，(B)对网络的多学科方法有广泛的理解，(C)是一个连贯的社区。这样的群体将在许多方面加强我们对网络的理解。他们将进行深入和坚定的研究，他们将能够在更广泛的背景下进行研究。研究人员的数量将创造一个临界群体，能够在学术界促进网络科学，并有助于使其成为中期研究投资的中心。DTC的目标是培养满足需求的博士，但他们也了解彼此的工作和相关领域的工作。这种社区意识将通过多种方式培养。学生将：(I)从理科硕士开始，为他们提供网络科学所需的技术方法；(Ii)在电子与计算机科学学院和网络科学研究计划(WSRI)的任何主要地点都有基地；(Iii)分享相关学科和组成网络的协议的核心介绍；(Iv)在跨学科小组项目中进行部分评估；以及(V)参加联合研究研讨会。这样，与一连串孤立的DTA相比，DTC将增加价值。DTC将避免内省，并将向外看。网络是一种国际现象，WSRI隶属于全球网络中的其他网络科学实验室。所有DTC资助的学生将有机会在其中一个实验室学习长达3个月的时间，或在工业安置中学习。此外，WSRI将接待来自其他实验室的所有级别的国际学者，学生们将能够参加他们的研讨会并讨论他们的工作。建立一支研究人员队伍将有利于网络及其与我们的互动。Web的持续健康显然是每个人都感兴趣的问题，这一DTC将帮助培养一批研究人员，能够以不同的规模、从不同的角度理解Web，并对国际维度有清晰的认识。在数字经济中运营的许多行业，包括电子健康、媒体、金融或电子防务，网络科学博士将是一笔宝贵的财富，在这些行业，提供的服务质量既取决于技术发展，也取决于技术与社会背景的整合。安全、隐私和集体情报等问题与推理方法或网络结构一样重要。Web Science提供的理解广度也将对软件和硬件开发公司至关重要，这些公司不仅为英国经济增加价值，而且支持Web本身。最后，Web是政府的重要工具，在其内部的沟通和协调方面，以及在向公民提供服务和提供信息方面。再一次，网络科学将使下一代政府官员了解技术和社会背景，使他们(A)将当前的网络技术应用于现有问题，(B)以对社会有益的方式参与网络的未来发展。