Cluster focus

The goal of the Communication Technologies Research Cluster is to engage in research and develop curricula that address the political, economic, cultural and social dimensions of communications and information technologies. The cluster’s current focus is on: 1) how laws regarding copyright issues will have to change to protect intellectual property rights in the era of digital libraries; 2) how technology is affecting political rhetoric; 3) how technologies have changed the way people communicate and interact with each other, looking specifically at the cultural effects of message boards, blogs and other online communication methods; and 4) how people are using new technologies to engage in the political system through political blogging, online chats and information seeking, and online campaign contributions.

Cluster accomplishments

  • The cluster has developed a strong group of prominent scholars with expertise in communications technologies and strong interest in collaboration. Cluster faculty have published extensively in both disciplinary and interdisciplinary journals. Funded by Taiwan's National Science Council, the UW East Asian Legal Studies Center and the UW Global Lega Studies Initiative, one cluster member has taught communications technology law as a visiting scholar at two of Taiwan's most prestigous universities, National Tsing Hua University and National Taiwan University. In addition, one faculty recently received the “Young Scholar Award for Early Career Research” from the International Communication Association.
  • Cluster faculty are working with faculty in the School of Medicine and Public Health, the Department of Sociology, and the Holtz Center for Science and Technology Studies on work related to the role that nanotechnologyplays in society.
  • The cluster has developed a formalized curriculum in communications technology to benefit students in the School of Journalism & Mass Communication, School of Library and Information Studies and others. For example, the cluster offers a doctoral seminar in Internet and Civic Life and is working to develop an undergraduate minor in communications technologies.
  • The technology communications graduate emphasis in the School of Journalism & Mass Communication is ranked ninth in the nation and the program is preparing UW-Madison graduate students for communications technology faculty positions that are now opening up at universities across the county.
  • The cluster’s outreach activities include working on a practical manual for scientists that contains strategies to communicate about complex issues, like stem cell research and nanotechnology. This effort will also contain model scientific outreach lectures on the Web.
  • The cluster, in partnership with the Public Relations Society of America-Madison Chapter, is investigating developing an online blog and/or other methods to help citizens become more connected to their local governments.

Cluster structure

The cluster’s work is guided by a Communication Technologies Steering Committee, comprised of cluster and other core faculty, which meets on a regular basis to discuss interdisciplinary research and work on grants and other projects. A larger group of affiliated faculty provides regular input to the steering committee. The cluster faculty connect with an affiliated faculty network across campus, including those in Life Sciences Communications and Science and Technology Studies. Also, since each cluster faculty member is contractually bound to teach for the cluster, a consistent number of new courses exploring the affect of communications technologies are being offered.

Cluster coordinator, faculty and lead dean

Cluster Coordinator

  • Dietram Scheufele, Professor, School of Journalism & Mass Communication and Department of Life Sciences Communication

Cluster Faculty

  • Anuj Desai, Assistant Professor, Law School
  • Robert Howard, Assistant Professor, Communication Arts
  • Dietram Scheufele, Professor, School of Journalism & Mass Communication and Department of Life Sciences Communication
  • Kristin Eschenfelder, Associate Professor School of Library and Information Studies

Lead Dean