Conference SitePRESENCE 2001 was hosted by the School of Communications and Theater at Temple University, a large, state-related public research university in the city of Philadelphia and the state of Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia and the Region
Philadelphia is the birthplace of the nation, a city rich in history and steeped in culture. It is conveniently located between New York and Washington, D. C. (each approximately 2 hours away by train) in the northeastern part of the country. (Note: The 51st Annual Conference of the International Communication Association (ICA) was held in Washington, D. C. on dates immediately following PRESENCE 2001; for further information visit http://www.icahdq.org).
Philadelphia is the fifth-largest city, and fourth largest media and telecommunications market, in the United Sates. Despite its size, it is a city of small, diverse neighborhoods. The heart of the region is the downtown area, called Center City, which contains not just a dynamic business district, but a large residential population. Within Center City are several historic areas, including Independence Mall and National Park (home to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell); many cultural institutions including museums, galleries, and performance spaces; and a wide variety of excellent restaurants in every price range.
Weather in the Philadelphia region in late spring is generally mild and pleasant. The average temperature in May is 63 degrees (F), with lows in the 50s and highs in the 70s. Here are other weather details for May (from STORMFAX; see link below):
Percent of days with sunshine: 56
Mean number of clear days: 6
Mean number of partly cloudy days: 11
Mean number of cloudy days: 14
Average morning relative humidity: 75%
Average afternoon relative humidity: 52%For more information about Philadelphia and the region visit these web sites:
About Philadelphia (Temple University's web site) http://www.temple.edu/about/about_philadelphia.html
Philadellphia Attractions (Cityhits)
http://www.cityhits.com/philadelphia/attractions.shtmlPhiladelphia Restaurants (Yahoo) http://restaurants.yahoo.com/rest/Pennsylvania/Metropolitan_Areas/Philadelphia_Metro/
Libertynet
http://www.libertynet.orgPhiladelphia Online (from area newspapers)
http://www.phillynews.comPhiladelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau
http://pcvb.org/ab_philGo Philadelphia
http://www.gophila.comSTORMFAX Weather Service
http://www.stormfax.com/phlpage.htmCommonwealth of Pennsylvania
http://www.state.pa.usPennsylvania Visitor's Network
http://pavisnet.com/The Online State - New Jersey
http://www.state.nj.us
Temple University
Temple University is one of Pennsylvania's three public research universities. Founded by Dr. Russell H. Conwell in 1884, it has a 115-year-old mission of providing high-quality education at an affordable cost. Today, the Temple University community includes nearly 29,000 students and a distinguished faculty in 16 schools and colleges. Temple is the 35th largest university and the largest provider of professional education (law, dentistry, medicine, and podiatric medicine) in the United States. It also is an international university, with undergraduate and/or graduate programs in China, France, Germany, Ghana, Great Britain, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Puerto Rico, and Spain.
For more information about Temple University, visit these web sites:
Temple University
http://www.temple.eduAbout Temple Page
http://www.temple.edu/about.html
School of Communications and Theater
The School of Communications and Theater (SCAT) at Temple was established in 1968 and currently contains five departments: Broadcasting, Telecommunications and Mass Media; Film and Media Arts; Journalism, Public Relations and Advertising; Speech Communication; and Theater. The Mass Media & Communication program is the School's interdepartmental doctoral program, and an interdepartmental New Media undergraduate program has recently been created. There are over 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in SCAT degree programs.
SCAT facilities include three theaters, an FM radio station, broadcast and film production/editing rooms, computer labs, a 75-seat screening room, and an extensive communication library. Temple University is currently investing several million dollars to build or expand digital television studios, 'smart' classrooms, computer labs, and a cable-television station. The recently opened Tuttleman Learning Center is Temple's new cyber-age classroom and computer laboratory building.
The Dean of SCAT is Professor Concetta M. Stewart, an authority on new media, the use of technology in education, and global telecommunication. She has been at the forefront of joint faculty and administrative efforts to prepare Temple for the new digital age of international communications and the global marketplace through on-line education and distance learning. She chairs the Teaching and Learning with Technology Roundtable (TLTR), a University-wide faculty and administrative group charged with strategic technology planning for Temple, and she serves as a consultant on technology issues to corporations and other colleges and universities. One of her special interests is the impact of telecommunications and technology on society.
For more information about SCAT visit these web sites:
School of Communications and Theater
http://www.temple.edu/scatSchool of Communications and Theater History
http://www.temple.edu/scat/about_intro.htmIntercom, SCAT's Newsletter
http://www.temple.edu/scat/intercom
