In conjunction with the next Electronic Entertainment
Expo (E3), scheduled for May 10-12, 2006, we are planning a combination
of workshop discussions and conference presentations focused on new
perspectives on women, games and computing. The workshop “Beyond
Barbie and Mortal Kombat”, funded by the National Science Foundation,
will discuss on May 8th, 2006, the attractiveness of multi-player
games, efforts to bring girls into game design, and the appeal of
casual games. The workshop will bring together researchers, designers
and business people to discuss and review current trends in the area
of women and games. Topics for the workshop will include: The
New Girl Games? (women and girls in online role playing games),
Bringing Girls on Board (girls and women programming games),
and Moving Beyond Commercial Games (casual games, serious
games, educational games). We will then join on May 9th the Education
Arcade conference and visit on May 10th the E3 exhibits.
We are inviting doctoral students to join us in this workshop
and participate in our discussions. Applicants must have completed
their dissertation proposal (or equivalent) and can be at any stage
in their dissertation work.
Funding from the National Science Foundation is available for up to
8 students, covering travel, hotel, and Education Arcade conference
registration and E3 exhibit pass. International students are welcome
to apply. To apply, please submit the following materials to workapp@gseis.ucla.edu
• A cover sheet with your name, title of your dissertation,
your advisor's name, your institution, your full postal address, phone
numbers, and e-mail address (this is very important).
• A 100 word abstract
• A 2-3 page summary of your thesis work
• A letter of endorsement from your thesis advisor. This must
include an assessment of the current status of your work, and an expected
date for thesis completion.
These materials should be in one file (word or pdf). If your professor
wishes to send the letter separately, it should have a subject line
that states: workshop_student
February 15, 2006 — Submissions due by 11:59pm PST
March 1, 2006 — Notification of acceptance by email to submitter
Participants for the workshop will be selected on the basis of their
anticipated contribution to the workshop goals.
