Overview: University Service

New Media Commons

My academic service for UC Berkeley to date culminated in the opening of the New Media Commons at Moffitt Library during the 060606 conference on June 06, 2006. At the intersection between the Humanities buildings and the Sciences buildings on the Berkeley campus, the Commons space allows the University community to access high-end presentation and collaboration tools and systems for the critical study production of New Media. 

CNM Commons view of performance by Seny Lee
New Media Commons, Performace by Seny Lee, 2006

Funded by the UC Berkeley Library, the Center for New Media and private donors, the space reflects a major effort among all involved parties to bring together diverse campus agendas. The Commons include a soundproof media presentation room for about 50 people featuring:

  • excellent Meyer Sound speakers
  • a 60-foot projection wall for multiple simultaneous projections
  • extensive picture rail and push pin walls
  • controllable lighting
  • a high-end digital projector.
The space is intended for special events related to New Media, concerts and screenings. Surrounding the space, there are four video editing suites, an equipment checkout room for laptops, cameras and tripods, and a media lounge designed to encourage small group collaboration. We announce current public events at the New Media Commons on the CNM website.

Ph.D. Dissertation Committee Services

According to my broad engagement for New Media as part technology and as part human experience, I participated in a range of Ph.D dissertation committees for:

  • Leslie Ikemoto, Computer Science: Motion Synthesis and Evolution
  • Gokce Kingalou, Architecture: The Role of Sound in the Making of Place
  • Roberto Morales, Music: Turning Point
  • Jane McGonigal, Performance Studies: This Might Be a Game
  • Zabet Patterson, Film Studies
  • Frank Wilderson, Film Studies
  • Meredith Hoy, Film Studies
  • Irene Chien, Film Studies: Race, Cinema, Video Games
  • Dan Perkel, School of Information
  • Matt Fargo, Japanese Studies: The Role of the Narrator
  • Rena Abbound, Architecture, @Home: The Internet's effects on Privacy, Rootedness and Interpersonal Relationships in the U.S. Home.

University Committee Services

Since Fall of 2005, I served on the Committee of Research, which supports faculty and lecturer research through small and mid-size research grants and bridging grants. In this committee, I am particularly concerned with identifying strategies for evaluation of creative projects, as well as for fiscal responsibility and the implementation of a new application database and an online application process.

Since 2004, I served on two search committees. The search for a new video professor in Art Practice resulted in the hire of Anne Walsh. The search for a professor for Interaction in the Center for New Media is still pending.

Since 2003, I served on the Executive Committee of the Center for New Media, under Committee Chairs Linda Williams (2003-2005) and Yehuda Kalay (2005-2007) .

Senate Art Show

In the Spring of 2006, I curated a semi-permanent art show for the chambers of the Faculty Senate at UC Berkeley. The show includes tapestries, prints, glass etchings, and sculptures by Squeak Carnwath, Ken Goldberg, Richard Shaw, Katherine Sherwood, Anne Walsh, and myself. The show was supported by the Department of Art Practice and by Senate Chair Alice Agogino.

Garron Reading Room

As a regular service for the Art Department, I maintain the Garron Reading Room. This beautiful space is reserved for the study of art monographs and magazines, and is staffed by student interns. The regular hours for the Garron Reading Room are Monday to Friday from noon to 7 PM. The space features thousands of artist monographs published from the 1930's to the present.

0n0n0n Conference Series

Since 2001, I organized new media conferences on topics ranging from Social Technologies to Serious Games. The conferences are located in Berkeley and are always scheduled on the day when the number of the month, day and year coincide.
06060 in the New Media Commons, Moffit Library: Jane McGonigal leads the audience into a playtest experience, Nick Reed is sitting in the foreground.

 Previous 0n0n0n colloquia included: 010101 (SFMOMA, here I was a artist participant), 020202 (INTEL Research Berkeley, from here on I was the main organizer), 030303 (INTEL Research Berkeley), 040404 (UC DARNET, Berkeley), 050505 (Center for New Media, Berkeley) and 060606 (New Media Commons, Berkeley). At 060606, particiants decided that 070707 will be dedicated to chance operations, and will be held in Reno, Nevada, probably.