Welcome to Seattle and IR12

Welcome to the 12^th annual conference of the Association of Internet Researchers, an organization for scholars in any discipline in the field of Internet studies.  As the Dean of the University of Washington iSchool, I observe a common bond between iSchools around the world and AoIR. iSchools and AoIR draw together scholars who are doing complex, important and high impact work on emergent and new interdisciplinary topics. The UW Information School is celebrating 100 years on the UW campus this year. We are very pleased to be a sponsor of the AoIR conference and invite you to come to visit us – just a short bus ride away on our beautiful University of Washington Campus.

At the UW iSchool we want everyone to know how vital information is to all aspects of life. The relationships among information, people, and technology pervade every aspect of our research, teaching, and service. We are a collaborative intellectual culture based on inclusiveness, relationships, and connections—within the School, on campus, and into the broader community. The School is dedicated to preparing information leaders, researching the problems and opportunities of information, and designing solutions to information challenges.  Through our specific goals and objectives in instruction, research, service and outreach we create a dynamic learning environment dedicated to preparing our students to respond not only to the opportunities of today, but to the challenges we all face in the 21^st century.

Warmest best wishes for a successful conference.  Congratulations on your accomplishments. Thank you for your research and scholarship.  I know that your work is making our world a better place.

Harry Bruce
Dean and Professor