Letter from the DirectorsThe roots of The Future of Information Alliance go back to a campus-wide brainstorming forum at the University of Maryland in November 2010. This forum was convened to determine whether there was interest and common ground for contemplating the future of information in a collaborative way. About 200 faculty, staff and doctoral students turned out -- coming from all of the university’s colleges, schools and key administrative units. Discussions brought together researchers, teachers, practitioners and students who would not generally find themselves in the same audience or on the same panel at an academic conference. They hailed from astronomy, economics, linguistics, computer science, kinesiology, information studies, business, journalism, library administration, music, art, health communication, American studies, terrorism studies, and much more.The energy in the room announced the outcome even before the discussion groups could report back on their sessions: a resounding endorsement of the idea that there was a desire and need for broadly inclusive dialogue and research on evolving issues related to the role of information in our lives. The Future of Information Alliance has been launched to answer that call. The Alliance will enable unexpected juxtapositions, facilitate exciting new research agendas, and engage the world beyond campus in this process.Future of Information AllianceFIA_8c0384b8-b9b9-11e1-bf9a-91fb9e792875While we are hardly the first generation to desire better means of finding, using, and sharing information, understanding the role information plays in our lives has never been more important. The Future of Information Alliance has been founded to address these challenges -- which exist across the full range of academic fields and in both private and public life -- by serving as a catalyst for transdisciplinary dialogue and innovative solutions.Allison DruinAssociate Dean for Research, iSchool; Co-director, The Future of Information Alliance Ira ChinoyAssociate Professor, Philip Merrill College of Journalism; Co-director, The Future of Information Alliance ResearchersTeachers Practitioners StudentsOffice of the Vice President for ResearchThe creation of the Alliance has been organized through the Office of the Vice President for Research. As co-directors, we come from the iSchool and the Philip Merrill College of Journalism. But this is not an enterprise "owned" by any particular unit at the University of Maryland. The Office of the Provost has provided key support, as has the Office of the Vice President for University Relations. So have the deans of every college on campus. Each college is represented, as well, on the "Brainstorming Board" that is helping to set the agenda for the Alliance.iSchoolPhilip Merrill College of JournalismUniversity of MarylandOffice of the ProvostOffice of the Vice President for University RelationsIt is our hope that you will be surprised by what you find, that you will engage in an unexpected conversations, that you will make connections to others in unanticipated ways, and that you will take an active part in building The Future of Information Alliance._8c0386b6-b9b9-11e1-bf9a-91fb9e792875To serve as a catalyst for transdisciplinary dialogue and innovative solutions for finding, using, and sharing information [as well as] understanding the role information plays in our lives._8c038788-b9b9-11e1-bf9a-91fb9e792875Visiting Future-istsReach out to thought leaders who can inspire us to question what we know and to reach for solutions in new ways._8c038832-b9b9-11e1-bf9a-91fb9e7928751Future-istsGoogleMicrosoft TwitterAt the outset, the Alliance is spearheading three initiatives. The first is our "Visiting Future-ists" program. Each year we will reach out to thought leaders who can inspire us to question what we know and to reach for solutions in new ways. We were delighted that our first Visiting Future-ists from Google, Microsoft and Twitter joined us during our launch week, Nov. 14 to 18, 2011, and took part in a variety of programs._8c0388dc-b9b9-11e1-bf9a-91fb9e792875GrantsAward grants to support projects involving collaboration across multiple colleges at the University of Maryland._8c03899a-b9b9-11e1-bf9a-91fb9e7928752Colleges at the University of MarylandFaculty at the University of MarylandStaff at the University of MarylandStudents at the University of MarylandThe second initiative of the Alliance is a campus-wide seed-grant program. Details will be announced in Winter 2011. Special consideration in awarding grants will be given to support projects involving collaboration across multiple colleges at the University of Maryland. Faculty, staff and students will be able to apply._8c038a58-b9b9-11e1-bf9a-91fb9e792875Online CommunityCreate an online community that can also be a catalyst for transdisciplinary networking and research._8c038b20-b9b9-11e1-bf9a-91fb9e7928753Members of the University of Maryland CommunityThe Alliance’s third initiative is what you see taking place on this website -- the creation of an online community that can also be a catalyst for transdisciplinary networking and research. Members of the University of Maryland community who use the site can log in to find out who else is involved and what their interests are. We have opted to explore the possibilities of Twitter as a means to that end -- as you will see when you peruse these pages. In addition, we have created a space for what we are calling "FIA Curators" -- members of campus community who will host pages devoted to the diverse dimensions of information and the issues going forward. Each of these curated pages will include a brief introduction to a theme, a list of useful links, and a Twitter feed that anyone can access and to which anyone may contribute by using the relevant #hashtags._8c038be8-b9b9-11e1-bf9a-91fb9e7928752012-06-18http://www.fia.umd.edu/about/letter.shtmlOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net