Anglia Ruskin University

The first annual conference of the Cultures of the Digital Economy Research Institute was held in Cambridge on 27-28 March 2012. Itself a multidisciplinary initiative, CoDE invited participants from a range of scholarly disciplines to present research related to digital culture and the digital economy.

On the eve of the conference delegates attended a performance which saw Anna Scott deliver a mesmerising recital of cello and voice with digital looping effects, as well as Julio d'Escrivan and the Mechanical and Electroacoustic Music Ensemble performing experimental and improvised sounds to create a live film soundtrack. The evening was rounded off by dinner and drinks, which enabled a social and informal approach to academic discussion and networking.

The conference itself embraced all aspects of the digital economy and utilised digital methods of communication and interaction. Jessica Thompson gave her paper presentation live from Toronto via Skype, a conference iPhone app was made available and delegates were kept up-to-date on presentations and research outputs through CoDE's new Twitter feed, with over 150 tweets posted on the first day. Keynote speakers were Dr Jussi Parikka (Southampton University) and Dr Astrid Ensslin (Bangor University), whilst the main themes covered included 'Materiality and Materialism', 'Performance, Production and Play', and 'Digital Humanities - Archives, Interfaces and Tools'.

The CoDE team were also extremely proud to see our very first CoDE research student Michelle Lewis-King present at the conference. Of her presentation Michelle said: "Never having presented at a conference before, I was really surprised to find that, after nervously writing my paper and fretting about how I'd come across on the day, it was actually an exhilarating experience.

"Not only did it give me the opportunity to connect with others working on similar research, it was fascinating to witness the emergence of certain themes arising from the other papers being presented, which spoke more about what is 'in the air' at the moment. Having the platform to present my research to such a wide range of academics and receive their diverse and insightful feedback has accelerated my learning, given opportunities to connect with other students and really lifted my confidence in putting my ideas 'out there'."

Beatrice Fazi, from the Centre for Cultural Studies at Goldsmiths was also enthusiastic: "I am very happy that I had the chance to discuss part of my current research during CoDE 2012. My presentation concerned what we could call the 'ontological foundations' of computational aesthetics. I addressed the antithetical (but interrelated) idealist and materialist perspectives that, in my view, underpin some of the contemporary conceptions of the aesthetic within digital culture. It has been very useful to discuss my work with people who are actively engaged in interdisciplinary research, and I hope that this intellectual exchange will continue in the future."

Dr Lorraine Warren of Southampton University summed up the two days by telling us: "It was a super event and really well organised."

Dr Samantha Rayner, CoDE's Director, commented: "This conference absolutely delivered in terms of showing the range of research CoDE covers and the strength that interdisciplinarity brings to projects. Talking to people who work in related - or even at first glance non-related - subject areas really can catalyse exciting work. I've loved the fact that the CoDE team have had such positive feedback, and that Anglia Ruskin is now beginning to be known internationally as a place where research on the digital economy, and creative communication in all its varieties, is happening. We are already looking forward to next year!"

A big thank you to the entire CoDE team who worked hard to make the conference a success. Our thanks go also to Estates, Catering and Digital Copy Services for their support.

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