Tonight at 9PM PST will be first information session the "Second Life and Public Good" Community Challenge sponsored by my friends at the USC Network Culture Project. The Challenge offers L$100,000 a month for three months for the best projects that address some social need via SL. For some reason I was chosen to be a selection panelist for this challenge, alongside such SL celebs
as Randall Moss of the American Cancer Society,
Howard Rheingold the legendary net community pioneer, and Lori Bell of
the Alliance Library System.
Come to an information session tonight at 9PM PST at International Island in SL (click here to teleport.) That's MIDNIGHT my time in New York, so all you Asia / Pacific folks better attend if I have to stay up so late! There's another info session on May 15th at Noon PST.
Click on the jump for the complete announcement or check the official USC NCP website...
The USC Network Culture Project invites the residents of Second Life to imagine new ways that virtual worlds such as Second Life can be used to make a contribution to the public good.
We are currently accepting proposals from groups, organizations, or individuals for projects that show how Second Life can enhance, develop, or sustain the public good. The best submissions will be selected based on how well they demonstrate the significance of virtual worlds for making an impact on society or culture.
Up to three finalists will be selected by community vote. The finalists will be provided with a $100,000L per month building stipend (and land, if required) for three months to execute their proposal. The projects will be showcased in Second Life at the State of Play conference to be held in Chicago, October 2008.
Projects may address any social need and could include conservation, human rights and international justice, global peace and security, reproductive health, digital media and learning, or juvenile justice. Proposals should provide a clear description of how the project uses the abilities of Second Life to advance the project goals and should provide clear metrics for assessing the success of the project.
Proposals should include:
- a completed application form
- a budget of in-world resources required to complete the project within a three-month timeframe
- a time line for completion including milestones and metrics for success
- a listing of team members
Proposals may be submitted to networkculture@gmail.com by June 1, 2008 for consideration.
The USC Network Culture Project at networkculture.usc.edu provides more information on this community challenge.
*Timeline*
- May 6th 11AM PST Launch and announcement of RFP and Challenge with Cory Ondrejka
- May 12th 9PM PST Information Session for Community Challenge (Asia/Europe/Africa/Pacific)
- May 15th Noon PST Information Session for Community Challenge (Europe/Americas)
- June 1st 5PM PST Proposals due to networkculture@gmail.com
- June 16th Semi-Finalists Announced
- June 17th Community voting cycle opens, two weeks of advocacy for finalists
- June 30th Finalists Announced
- October 16 Finalists showcased in Second Life
*Frequently Asked Questions*
Who can apply for these grants?
We welcome any and all applicants. You do not need to be a university or a non-profit to apply. You simply need to be a resident of Second Life who wants to make a difference in the world.
What kind of projects are you looking for?
We want you to be innovative and use your imagination. The submissions will be reviewed by a panel of experts from in-world and from philanthropic organizations. Specifically, the panel is looking for projects that take advantage of the unique features of Second Life and that demonstrate the significance of virtual worlds for making an impact on society or culture. Most importantly, the projects must make a recognizable contribution to the public good. One example of a successful and beneficial project was the American Cancer Society's in-world Relay for Life.
How do I get funded?
A panel of in-world and philanthropic organization experts will select up to five (5) proposals from the submissions. These projects will be given resources and opportunities to raise community awareness about their specific project for two (2) weeks. At the end of this time, Second Life residents will vote to narrow the group to at least the top three (3) projects, which will all receive a $100,000L monthly stipend for three months, with your final work presented from Second Life at the State of Play convention in Chicago, October 2008.
What should my long-term goals be?
Think of this opportunity as seed money. We are giving you a chance to make a contribution to both your online and offline community. Although the stipend only lasts for three (3) months, we hope you can use this to make your ideas into reality and will continue to develop the project after the challenge is over.
Who is the USC Network Culture Project?
We are a group of faculty, students, and staff who explore the cultural implications of new media technologies through research. The Network Culture Project produces analysis, research and documentation focused on virtual networks and develops projects that cross boundaries between virtual and physical worlds. We are based at the University of Southern California.
