Remit

To determine how best to characterise the disciplinary extent and scope of the Network.

HCS Executive Contact Point

Denis Burnham [Chair, Conferences and Liaison]

Core Members

Marija Tabain (Chair); Helen Fraser; Sally Andrews

Comments

At the HCSNet Launch Meeting on January 27, 2005, we presented the disciplinary scope of the network in terms of a number of 'proto-disciplines'. Discussion at the meeting suggested that this might not be the ideal characterisation of the scope of the network, and that other ways of characterising the scope might be considered. Having a good definition of our intellectual scope is important since it impacts on participation by individuals and the planning and funding of events. Scope might be defined in a number of different ways: for example, in terms of a range of participating disciplines, or in terms of an elaborated definition of what we mean by human communication science, or in terms of key problems that fall within the Network's remit. Our aim here is to derive a notion of scope that we can use as a diagnostic to help determine what counts as being within-remit for the Network.

Target Deliverables

By April 1st 2005, a report that indicates:

• a variety of possible ways of characterising the disciplinary extent and scope of the network;
• the pros and cons of each of these ways of characterising the scope of the network, and a case for any preferred system;
• what, if any, implications these characterisations of scope might have for the operation of the HCSNet Participants' Register, the funding of HCSNet events, and the types of HCSNet events that should be conducted.