Meeting the ASB faculty & grad students

Carmen is interested in doing process-tracing work similar to what Clay, Mark, and I have been doing with our STC-sponsored project. But Carmen wants to study the work of folks doing technical translation and/or localization work. Should make for a great project! We talked about methods including the combination of using some kind of event diary/logging process that feeds into a stimulated recall interview. She liked that idea better than talk-aloud protocols which I can only imagine would be nearly impossible for a translator to do while working!

Later, Peter mentioned that Carmen might be able to get funding to come and study at MSU/WIDE for a semester, all paid by the dk government. I will follow up with her on that - it would be great because she could meet with Huatong too.

After some computer snafus in the afternoon, I recieved good news - my luggage and I were once again in the same country!

In the afternoon, I gave a talk to the communication faculty explaining a bit about the WIDE center's research trajectory, our positioning within MSU and the field, and a snapshot of some of our projects. A rousing discussion followed about intersecting research interests including web site/content management analysis projects and a very good dialogue about what stake we/I had in the term "writing." I gave two response to this last one, the usual political/historical complications of terms like "communication" in the U.S. academy being the least interesting. The better answer focused on the affordances of writing and the ways that digital environments extend these affordances to heretofor ephemeral and/or serial forms (e.g. speech, movies, etc.).

We also talked about funding models and future collaborative possibilities. Peter is eager to talk more about the possibility of a dual/joint program certificate that could get both schools some funding through a special FIPSE program. That's on our agenda tomorrow when I talk to the international office at ASB.

I saw some of downtown this evening and it was as European as I've ever imagined. We ate at a local brew pub where I had a nice May Bock that was this month's special brew along with a plate of the Danish take on BBQ ribs. Good stuff - not much like home, but great tasting all the same. We also had a coffee and conversation in the Latin Quarter of Arhus, the old part of town that has 1000 yr. old charm oozing up from the cobbles.

I didn't get my camera until tonight, so no more pics yet..but tomorrow there will be some!

Tomorrow's schedule:

• writing time in the morning, yay!
• Tour of the ASB campus and library
• Meeting with Rene Lehder of the international office
• Work on MSU study abroad report and FIPSE Atlantis proposal
• Dinner with Rene & Peter to follow up on our conversation