News & Events
Pandemic platform governance: Mapping the global ecosystem of COVID-19 response apps
As part of the international App Studies Initiative, CDI members Michael Dieter and Nate Tkacz have published the findings of their study of Covid apps, funded by the ESRC. Here is the abstract, published in the :
This article provides an exploratory systematic mapping of the global ecosystem of COVID-19 pandemic response apps. After considering policy updates by Google Play鈥檚 and Apple鈥檚 App Store, we analyse all the available response apps in July 2020; their different response types; the apps鈥� developers and geographical distribution; the ecosystem鈥檚 鈥榞enerativity鈥� and developers鈥� responsiveness during the unfolding pandemic; the apps鈥� discursive positioning; and material conditions of their development. Google and Apple are gatekeepers of these app ecosystems and exercise control on different layers, shaping the pandemic app response as well as the relationships between governments, citizens, and other actors. We suggest that this global ecosystem of pandemic responses reflects an exceptional mode of what we call 鈥榩andemic platform governance鈥�, where platforms have negotiated their commercial interests and the public interest in exceptional circumstances.


Networks: A Skills Workshop
Network analysis offers an interesting way of exploring and visualising networks between social, economic and political actors.
This workshop will be led by Dr Kate Davison (University of Sheffield, History Dept.), assisted by Prof Mark Philp, Steve Ranford, and his colleagues Godwin Yeboah and James Tripp (of the newly formed Information and Digital Group Technology for Research; they are also part of the Centre for Digital Inquiry).
The concept and utility of social network analysis will be explored, and some of the software illustrated. The session will be hybrid. You are encouraged to prepare for the session by reading the Kadushin listed in below webpage, but this is not essential if you do not have the time beforehand. Although this is an event organised by the History department's Early Modern and Eighteenth Century Centre, it is open more widely to others in History and more widely. Please read more (and register if interested or share) using the following webpage.
Introductory Social Media data collection and Analysis using R
How can you collect and examine social media data? In this workshop, we will use the R statistical programming language to download and begin to examine social media data from Twitter and Reddit. We look closely at the data and then zoom out to consider overall trends. The aim of this workshop is to introduce the collection and analysis of social media data. The materials for this workshop are available on GitHub .
The workshop is available for Warwick staff and students, who can sign up here. If you have any queries then please contact james.tripp@warwick.ac.uk
How to create a map for print and web using QGIS
Do you want to learn a new skill in Term 2? Have you ever thought of creating a basic map for a presentation or publication? What about creating an interactive web map for your own website or just to experiment how that will look in an internet browser? If you answered yes to any of these questions, and you are in Warwick, this workshop is for you!
In this introductory course, we will give you an overview on how to use different cartographic techniques to effectively present outcomes of digital data exploration using QGIS software. We assume no prior knowledge of GIS (Geographic Information System) and will explain how to get data into the GIS as well as how to produce maps using data. The workshop lead is Dr Godwin Yeboah (g.yeboah at warwick.ac.uk).
CDI Research Support Scheme 2021/22: Rolling call
The Centre for Digital Inquiry research support scheme aims to support digital research at Warwick. We are interested in projects and/or events that either engage with digital tools and methods in critical, reflexive, and creative ways, or that substantively engage with the digital and closely related topics (data, AI, platforms, networks, etc.). Note: The CDI is a research centre and is only able to support projects that contribute toward research.
This year, the scheme will remain open until the funds are spent. All supported projects must be concluded by July 10, 2022. Up to 拢2,000 is available per project. The application form is available here.
Introductory Social Media Analysis with R - A Twitter and Reddit comparison
Our public discourse is often mediated by social media. Both the personalities and the structure of the platforms shape our debates, to construct meaning and foster our shared selves. Finding means to collect, collate, and form narratives around these platforms is useful for scholars in the Arts and humanities.
In this workshop, we (a) look at tools for interacting with APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to collect data, (b) explore some basic analysis and (c) consider critically what our tool and methods allow us to learn about these platforms and the debates within.
Introduction to QGIS: Creating a map for print and web
Do you want to learn a new skill? Have you ever thought of creating a basic map for a presentation or publication? What about creating an interactive web map for your own website or just to experiment how that will look in an internet browser? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this workshop is for you!
In this introductory course, we will give you an overview on how to use different cartographic techniques to effectively present outcomes of digital data exploration using QGIS software. We assume no prior knowledge of GIS (Geographic Information System) and will explain how to get data into the GIS as well as how to produce maps using data. The workshop lead is Dr Godwin Yeboah (g.yeboah at warwick.ac.uk).
Posthuman Eros
Join us for the 鉂わ笍 Summer of Love 鉂わ笍 grand finale, featuring Dominic Pettman (The New School) in conversation with Sarah Cefai (Goldsmiths). We will talk about economies and ecologies of desire vis-脿-vis current political, technological and environmental challenges.

Sexy Algorithms & Postdigital Intimacies
In the next episode of the 鉂わ笍 Summer of Love 鉂わ笍 Adrienne Evans (University of Coventry) and Shuaishuai Wang (University of Amsterdam) explore postdigital cultures of intimacies and their interplay with algorithmic configurations of gender and sexuality. Join them and Carolina Bandinelli (91影视破解版) for the next episode of the Summer of Love.
July, 8th 16:00 17:30 BST



