MeshForum 2006 will be 7-9 May in Chicago

MeshForum is a conference on Networks - bringing together an interdisciplinary mix of academics, artists, business leaders and government experts for three days of learning and collaboration. Our mission is to foster the overall study of networks - across fields of industry and academia.  Our 2006 main event will be held 7-9 May in Chicago.  Registration is open.

Confirmed speakers at MeshForum 2006 include Robert Scoble and Shel Israel, authors of Naked Conversations, and Manuel Lima of VisualComplexity.com, as well as a mix of academics and business people. We also hope to once again have experts from the Pentagon (Office of Force Transformation) and FEMA.

The format of MeshForum is unusual, and we hope it is not a typical conference. Modeled somewhat after PC Forum (Esther Dyson was a speaker at MeshForum 2005, we hope she can join us again in 2006), as well as conferences such as PopTech and TED, our first two days (May 7th and 8th this year) are a single track of speakers or small groups of speakers, each having one hour on stage. Of that hour, at least 15 minutes is open to questions and interaction with the audience. Interspersed with the formal sessions are shorter Interstitial presentations by artists (or other surprise guests) and interactive sessions (often led by a speaker) are planned for lunch and dinner each day.  All of the sessions at MeshForum 2006 will be recorded and made available online at IT Conversations (see our recordings from MeshForum 2005).

On the third day our format changes to Open Space, speakers and audience members get the full day (led by Michael Herman and other experts in Open Space) to break into small groups and work together on the discussions which have arisen out of the previous two days. Our goal is that MeshForum provides more than just a chance to present and hear great content, that it also provides a forum for interaction and collaboration, especially between people in different fields and industries.

Pre-registration at the moment is just $500, inclusive of all meals and conference materials.  And early registrants will receive a copy of Scoble & Israel's Naked Conversations.

We also have opportunities available for sponsorship. MeshForum is a non-profit but we welcome the support of corporations and foundations in furthering our mission of bringing together a fantastic mix of thinkers.

The principal organizer of MeshForum, Shannon Clark, can be reached at 1.800.454.4929 or via our contact form.  He has recently moved from Chicago to Berkeley CA and would welcome the opportunity to meet with anyone interested in MeshForum in person.

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