About Us
The Web Science Trust (WST) is a UK-based charity promoting the understanding of the Web, through education and research in the discipline of Web Science. It co-ordinates the Web Science network (WSTNet) of leading Web Science laboratories from around the world.
Mission
Our mission is to help grow an understanding of the Web through interdisciplinary scientific methods.
We need to understand the Web, because it is evolving alongside society. Social and technical innovation drive each other. There is no longer a distinction between online and offline; the Web involves virtually all of us to some degree. If it is to benefit humankind, we need to understand the Web, engineer it sensitively and sustainably, anticipate its effects, and also anticipate the consequences of social change upon it. Web Science must therefore involve both engineering the technology, and analysing its impact.
Evolving technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things, new practices, such as social machines and telemedicine, and new contexts, such as the impact of generative AI, will only accelerate social and technical change via, and as a direct result of, the Web.
Web Science must therefore include, at a minimum, mathematics, network science, sociology, law, ethics, psychology, computer science, media studies, linguistics, geography, and so on. Virtually all disciplines have something to say about the Web. The Web, as a diverse network, demands a research community to reflect the diversity of cultural, legal, political, commercial and technical structures which affect, and in turn are affected by, the Web.
Our History
The origins of the Web Science Trust can be found in the Web Science Research Initiative (WSRI) which was established in 2006. WSRI was originally set up as a Memorandum of Understanding between MIT CSAIL and the University of Southampton with the ambition to coordinate and support the study of the World Wide Web.
Since the launch of this Initiative, the concept of Web Science has been widely disseminated and has established itself as an important area of activity.
WSRI historically focused on:
- Articulating a research agenda for the broader scientific community
- Coordinating the development of Web Science educational material and curricula
- Engaging in thought leadership for this emerging field.
In 2010, the Web Science Trust succeeded WSRI and was established into a charitable body.
The origins of the Web Science Trust can be found in the Web Science Research Initiative (WSRI) which was established in 2006. WSRI was originally set up as a Memorandum of Understanding between MIT CSAIL and the University of Southampton with the ambition to coordinate and support the study of the World Wide Web.
Since the launch of this Initiative, the concept of Web Science has been widely disseminated and has established itself as an important area of activity.
WSRI historically focused on:
- Articulating a research agenda for the broader scientific community
- Coordinating the development of Web Science educational material and curricula
- Engaging in thought leadership for this emerging field.
In 2010, the Web Science Trust succeeded WSRI and was established into a charitable body.