On November 1, SIRM at RUC held a symposium on Community Informatics (CI) in digital China. Over 60 teachers and students from Peking University, Renmin University of China and other universities attended the conference, discussing how these related disciplines can cooperate in the era of digital China.

Professor Zhang Bin, Dean of SIRM, Professor Abdul Alkalimat, School of Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Professor Lai Maosheng, Department of Information Management, Peking University, gave speeches.

Speakers of this conference includes : Associate Professor Han Shenglong, Department of Information Management, Peking University, Professor Yang Xiudan and Associate Professor Chen Zeqian, School of Management, Hebei University, Dr. Fan Zhenjia, School of Business, Nankai University, Dr. Honglei Sun, School of Information Management, Nanjing University, Professor Zhao Yuxiang, School of Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Dr. Xiaoning Sun, School of Information, Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, Associate Professor Yang Feng, School of Public administration, Sichuan University, Dr. Yu Binbin, School of Public Management, Tianjin University of Commerce, Professor Zhou Wenjie, School of Business, Northwest Normal University, Associate Professor Wang Jin, School of History and Archives, Yunnan University, Associate Professor Wang Sufang, School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University, Professor Zhou Xiaoying and Associate Professor Yan Hui from SIRM, Renmin University of China. Shi Jing, from “Information and Documentation Services” and Kong Yehan, director of the editorial department of “Journal of Library and Information Science in Agriculture ” attended the meeting.

In his speech, Professor Zhang Bin briefly reviewed the development history of community informatics. He expected that experts and scholars would cooperate with each other sincerely to promote the sustainable development of this field.

Professor Lai Maosheng said that the seminar brought together experts and scholars engaged in community informatics teaching and research in China, which is of strategic significance for the development and cooperation in related fields.

Professor Abdul Al Kalimat said that experts and scholars engaged in community informatics should form an academic community to jointly promote the progress of teaching, research and social services in the field of community informatics.

The first portion of the conference “Progress in Related Disciplines” was hosted by Associate Professor Kate Williams, School of Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Professor Zhou Xiaoying focused on the topic of how health informatics and community informatics cooperate in the promotion of national health. Professor Zhao Yuxiang shared the results of an empirical study on the impact of ICT on eliminating loneliness in the elderly. Professor Yang Xiudan reported on her understanding of mainstream thinking in the information society and how to apply it to community informatics. Dr. Sun Honglei shared her insights on social informatics and ICT social and cultural dimensions. Wang Jin, associate professor, reviewed the academic history and current situation of the research team of community informatics and ethnoinformatics in Yunnan University.

The second portion of the conference “History and Status of Community Informatics” was hosted by Professor Abdul Alkalimat. Professor Zhou Wenjie put forward the methods that integrating community informatics into the theoretical and practical system of library and information science. Han Shenglong, associate professor, explained the development strategy of community informatics through the development history of community informatics. Associate Professor Chen Zeqian systematically reviewed core knowledge points of Community Informatics, and proposed a series of values of community informatics for the digital China. Dr. Fan Zhenjia systematically reviewed the development process of community informatics in China and introduced his research cases of community informatics. Dr. Binbin Yu compared the similarities and differences between the personal information world and community informatics, and proposed a combination development ideas.

The third portion of the conference “Future Prospects in Digital China ” was hosted by Associate Professor Han Shenglong. Dr. Wang Sufang shared her findings on the daily information behavior of urban poor and marginalized groups, and proposed the relationship with community informatics. Dr. Yang Feng shared the field research results of information poverty in Liangshan Yi area, Sichuan Province. Dr. Sun Xiaoning introduced the latest empirical research results in social search and digital poverty. Associate Professor Yan Hui proposed the knowledge structure of community informatics, and predicted the future of 2030 from four aspects: practice, theory, research and teaching.

In the open discussion session of the conference, it is proposed to strengthen the academic community of community informatics, continue to carry out diverse academic exchange activities, and hold the community informatics symposium. The participants jointly decided that the next session would be held in Yunnan University.