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As open data becomes firmly cemented in the policy mainstream, there is a pressing need to dig deeper into the dynamics of how open data operates in practice, and the theoretical roots of open data activities. Researchers across the world have been looking at these issues, and this workshop offers an opportunity to bring together and have shared dialogue around completed studies and work-in-progress.Submissions are invited on themes including:

• Theoretical framing of open data as a concept and a movement;
• Use and impacts of open data in specific countries or specific sectors, including, but not limited to: government agencies, cities, rural areas, legislatures, judiciaries, and the domains of health, education, transport, finance, environment, and energy;
• The making, implementation and institutionalisation of open data policy;
• Capacity building for wider availability and use of open data;
• Conceptualising open data ecosystems and intermediaries;
• Entrepreneurial usage and open data economies in developing countries;
• Linkages between transparency, freedom of information and open data communities;
• Measurement of open data policy and practices;
• Critical challenges for open data: privacy, exclusion and abuse;
• Situating open data in global governance and developmental context;
• Development and adoption of technical standards for open data;

Submissions are invited from all disciplines, though with an emphasis on empirical social research. PhD students, independent and early career researchers are particularly encouraged to submit abstracts. Panels will provide an opportunity to share completed or in-progress research and receive constructive feedback.Submission detailsExtended abstracts, in French, English, Spanish or Portuguese, of up to two pages, detailing the question addressed by the research, methods employed and findings should be submitted by February 28th 2015. Full papers will be due by May 1st. Abstracts should be submitted via Easy Chair: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=odrs15Paper formatAuthors of accepted abstracts will be invited to submit full papers. These

should be a maximum of 20 pages single spaced, exclusive of bibliography and appendixes. As an interdisciplinary and international workshop we welcome papers in a variety of formats and languages: French, English, Spanish and Portuguese. However, abstracts and paper presentations will need to be given in English. Full papers should be provided in .odt, .doc, or .rtf or as .html. Where relevant, we encourage authors to also share in a repository, and link to, data collected as part of their research. We are working to identify a journal special issue or other opportunity for publication of selected papers.ContactContact savita.bailur@webfoundation.org or tim.davies@soton.ac.uk for more details.Programme committee

• Dr Savita Bailur, Web Foundation, UK (Co-chair)
• Tim Davies, University of Southampton, UK (Co-chair)
• Fabrizio Scrolini, ILDA (Co-chair)
• Dr Raed M Sharif, International Development Research Center, Egypt
• Sumandro Chattapadhyay, India
• Dr Fernando Perini, International Development Research Center, Canada
• Dr Sherwin Ona, De La Salle University, Philippines
• Silvana Fumega, University of Tasmania, Australia
• François van Schalkwyk, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
• Leonida Mutuku, iHub Research, Kenya
• Dr Jennifer Shkabatur, Interdisciplinary Center (IDC), Herzliya, Israel
• Dr Carla Bonina, University of Surrey, UK

About the Open Data Research NetworkThe Open Data Research Network was established in 2012 as part of the Exploring the Emerging Impacts of Open Data in Developing Countries (ODDC) project. It maintains an active newsletter, website and LinkedIn group, providing a space for researchers, policy makers and practitioners to interact. This workshop will also include an opportunity to find out how to get involved in the Network as it transitions to a future model, open to new members and partners, and with a new governance structure.