The aim of the 2005 HCSNet Conference Speed Paper session on Wednesday December 14th is to help network members get to know one another's research interests and expertise, to encourage discussion of The Big Questions in Human Communication Science, and to facilitate new collaborations and interdisciplinary and/or risky projects.

The speed paper concept is somewhat like speed dating, a phenomenon that a friend of yours may have tried. You get four minutes to tell the assembled audience about a project you are already doing, or would like to do. Everyone in the audience has a form on which they can scribble relevant comments and feedback on your project. You get to do the same for the other speed papers. We collate those comments for you and on the following day, Thursday December 15th, there will be an opportunity to meet up over coffee, exchange research ideas, papers, email addresses, etc. We hope that this session will be the start of novel collaborations across the grid of possible HCSNet interactions.

Speed papers:

• provide a great way for HCSNetters to learn about our range of disciplines and collaborative opportunities;

• provide a large amount of varied feedback on your research ideas for very little effort;
• give you a reduced registration fee of $50; and
• enable free travel to the conference if you are travelling from somewhere in Australia outside Sydney.

You can download the PowerPoint template for your speed paper. If you are not able to use PowerPoint, please send us an email for advice.

Speed paper presentations will be printed for distribution at the conference, and will be made available on the SummerFest CD and website. You don't need to provide the slides for your speed paper until 21st November; however, during the registration process you'll be asked to provide a 150-200 word abstract for the project you want to present, to assist us in planning. You can change your abstract via the HCSNet website later.

Your speed paper presentation will consist of four PowerPoint slides. Our template shows the basic design and ideas for different types of speed paper content. For example, you may wish to

• outline a project that you are interested in –- a current project, or one that is planned, or maybe even one that has been rejected by a funding body;

• describe and discuss the Big Question in your field;
• describe and discuss a whacky or whimsical idea couched within the safety of a 'Festival of Doubt'-type approach;
• appeal for collaboration; or
• provide an overview of your career so far.

The idea is to adopt one of these approaches and discuss the material within four slides -– there is no need to try to cram all of these different things into four minutes! Select the approach that is most suited to your interest in being part of HCSNet.

Replace the text on the four slides with your own material as follows.

Slide 1: Title Slide

A photo of yourself; project title; your name, discipline, and affiliation; research interests.

Slides 2-3: A Project I’m Interested In ...

• should be forward-looking;

• might be project-based -– a project that is current, planned or has been rejected; or
• the Big Question in my field; or
• a whacky or whimsical idea raised without fear of embarrassment in an HCSNet 'Festival of Doubt'; or
• an appeal for collaboration; or
• an overview of your career so far.

Slide 4: Implications, Applications

What are the implications of the project or ideas for:

• theory

• applications
• further research

Bear these ideas in mind as you write your abstract as part of the registration process.