Introduction
The Blau Exchange Series reaches out to people who are interested in how the Internet and World Wide Web transform society. A core goal is that Blau Exchange interviews and roundtables contribute a useful (if unorthodox) oral history. This project honors Peter Blau, one of the 20th century's most influential sociologists.
My name is Paul DiPerna. I launched Blau Exchange in July 2006. For more than six years I worked as a social science researcher and administrator at the Brookings Institution, a public policy think tank located in Washington DC. My experiences there eventually led me to the fascination and study of websites that produce social networking communities - that pursuit began in 2004. Since then, I have been researching web-based organizations, and thinking a lot about the Web's social and political dynamics.
Purpose
Blau Exchange will promote thoughtful commentary, research, organizations, events, and other activities in order to better understand the social dynamics of the Internet and World Wide Web.
The expectation is not to be the next blogging dynamo and grow a huge readership. Rather, the main point is to document technology-driven social change, while accessing a range of personal perspectives. The assumption here is that it is valuable to enquire how the Internet and Web (as social structures) help shape our times.
Blau Exchange will reach out to graduate programs in the social sciences and point to this project as a place where students can search for and discover good insights relating to their personal goals.
Work in Progress
The Blau Exchange Series is a work in progress. To that end, I ask for your help in identifying any bugs, typos, or inaccuracies that you may come across while browsing the site. With your active participation, this site will reach its fullest potential.
Feel free to send me comments and suggestions.
Paul's Disclosure Note
My advocacy work for the Milton & Rose D. Friedman Foundation includes public outreach and education on the issue of universal school choice -- spanning school vouchers, tax credit scholarships, charter schools, and virtual schools.
Any questions I raise and opinions I express on this website are solely my own as an individual. They are my responsibility. In no way do my words here represent the Friedman Foundation or any other associates.
