The ideas that will bring us together November 15-16 extend far beyond the conference. Many ideas are already in practice all over the University, while others are nascent and require our nurturing. Still others are gripping education and research communities far beyond Harvard. They envelop so much of Harvard’s—or any university’s—life that the conference can only touch on a fraction of the profound changes these ideas have already brought us, and the dramatic possibilities for what can come, both at Harvard and in the global community of the Internet.

In this section, we look at some of the current projects and future visions of technology and digital media in education and research, and review ideas being debated beyond Harvard—since these are ideas that influence education and research the world over.