Author: Giuseppe Primiero

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CfP: The epistemological significance of methods in computer simulation

Following the HaPoC sponsored Summer School on Computer Simulation Methods, a Special Issue in the Journal Minds & Machines is being advertised.
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Call for Papers for Minds & Machines special issue on
The epistemological significance of methods in computer simulation
http://philo.hlrs.de/?p=277

Guest Editors
Prof. Michael Resch, Director of HPC Center Stuttgart (HLRS), University of Stuttgart http://www.hlrs.de/en/about-us/organization/people/person/resch/
Dr. Andreas Kaminski, Head of Philosophy of Science & Technology of Computer Simulations Unit, HPC Center Stuttgart (HLRS), University of Stuttgart http://philo.hlrs.de/?people=andreas-kaminski

Description
The transformation of science through computer simulation is often considered to be methodological. However, the relation between computer simulation methods and their epistemological significance is complex. Many of the techniques used follow pragmatic motives: in order to reduce the (mathematical, temporal) complexity of computer simulations, additional assumptions are introduced, and these are usually simplifications. Often further changes (follow-up assumptions) are necessary to mitigate the consequences of the first simplification. This engineering procedure makes it problematic to define the epistemic status of computer simulations. The investigation of the epistemic significance of methods in computer simulation is a subject of interdisciplinary efforts. Philosophers as engineers, sociologists and mathematicians are interested in it. This special issue will collect articles focusing on aspects of the scientific methods in the context of simulations; the methodological limitations and design constraints that simulation techniques impose on hypothesis formulation and testing in several scientific disciplines. The special issue addresses these problems by offering philosophically invested and technically motivated contributions on computer simulation methods. The goal is twofold: collecting original analyses addressing both theoretical and technical problems and fostering interdisciplinary research.

We invite the submission of papers focusing on but are not restricted to:

-Epistemic opacity as a methodological challenge
-The specific Role of (applied) Mathematics in Computer Simulation
-The epistemological consequences of parametrization and discretization
-Verification, Validation & Evaluation of Computer Simulations
Trust in & Reliability of Computer Simulations Results
-Visualization and Understanding of Computer Simulations
-Machine Learning and Computer Simulation

Timetable
Deadline for paper submissions: 2018-05-01
Deadline for paper reviewing: 2018-06-30
Deadline for submission of revised papers: 2018-09-01
Deadline for reviewing revised papers: 2018-11-01
Papers will be published in December 2018

Submission Details
To submit a paper for this special issue, authors should go to the journal’s Editorial Manager https://www.editorialmanager.com/mind/default.aspx The author (or a corresponding author for each submission in case of co- authored papers) must register into EM. The author must then select the special article type: “Computer Simulations in the Natural, Social and Artificial Sciences” from the selection provided in the submission process. This is needed in order to assign the submissions to the Guest Editor.

Submissions will then be assessed according to the following procedure:

New Submission => Journal Editorial Office => Guest Editor(s) => Reviewers => Reviewers’ Recommendations => Guest Editor(s)’ Recommendation => Editor-in-Chief’s Final Decision => Author Notification of the Decision.

The process will be reiterated in case of requests for revisions.

For any further information please contact:

Dr. Andreas Kaminski: kaminski@hlrs.de

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CiE2018 CfP and HaPoC Grants

The First Call for Papers for Computability in Europe 2018 is available at

http://sat.mdx.ac.uk/cie-wp/index.php/2017/10/19/cie2018-cfp/

As for previous editions, the programme includes a Special Session on the History and Philosophy of Computing, organised by Liesbeth De Mol (Lille) and Giuseppe Primiero (Middlesex University London).

The HaPoc Council is happy to announce the availability of two HAPOC travel grants of 250USD each to support participation to the conference. To be eligibile for a grant, a paper or informal presentation in the area of history and/or philosophy of computing accepted at CiE 2018 is required.

In order to apply for a grant, please send the following details to info@hapoc.org:

(1) cv
(2) the paper or informal presentation submitted, accompanied by the acceptance email
(3) a detailed budget indicating any other funding possibilities (if available)

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Conference EMF – special group on “Mathematics and Computer Science” (in French)

[Call in French, for a conference in French]

Bonjour,
je vous rappelle l’appel à contribution dans un nouveau groupe spécial au colloque EMF (Espace Mathématique Francophone, autour de l’enseignement et l’apprentissage des mathématiques, détails ci-dessous) :

SPE5: Mathématiques et informatique
appel ici : https://emf2018.sciencesconf.org/data/pages/EMF2018_SPE_5.pdf
En espérant recevoir vos contributions prochainement et vous rencontrer lors du colloque.
Cordialement,
Simon MODESTE

——– Message transféré ——–

Bonjour,

Dans un an jour pour jour débuteront les travaux du colloque EMF 2018 https://emf2018.sciencesconf.org/

Pendant 5 jours, chercheurs, formateurs et enseignants échangeront et discuteront sur leurs activités diverses autour des mathématiques et de leur enseignement dans l’Espace Mathématique Francophone

L’appel à contributions aux différents groupes de travail et projets spéciaux est encore ouvert jusqu’au 26 novembre 2017 : https://emf2018.sciencesconf.org/resource/page/id/3

Au plaisir de vous accueillir nombreux le 22 octobre 2018

Maha Abboud
Présidente du CS EMF 2018

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Minutes of HaPoC General Assembly held in Brno

The Commission for the History and Philosophy of Computing held a General Assembly meeting at the HaPoC 2017 symposium in Brno. Around 25 of the symposium attendees were able to join us, together with 4 out of the 6 newly elected council members.

The topics discussed included an update on the activities of HaPoC over the last two years, plans for upcoming events, update on new project and also the topic of finding (or establishing) a good publication venue for HaPoC-themed papers.

You can find a detailed summary of the discussion in the attached meeting minutes.

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News from the Commission

Dear Members,

the last month has been very important and intense for the Commission.

From 4 to 7 October, the 4th International Conference on the History and Philosophy of Computing has taken place (https://hapoc2017.sciencesconf.org/): we all wish to thank again the Chairs Helena Durnová (PdF MU), Jana Horáková (FF MU) and Jiří Raclavský (FF MU) for a successful and well-organised event.

At the General Assembly held in Brno during HaPoC4, the term of the First Council of the Commission has formally come to an end. We wish to thank all its previous members for their great work to create and support the Commission and welcome the new members. For the new structure of the Commission see https://hapoc.org/node/240 and https://hapoc.org/node/36.

This week we have also issued the First Call for Papers for the 4th Symposium on the History and Philosophy of Programming, to take place on 23 March 2018, at the Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, co-located with BSHM Meeting on History of Computing, and chaired by Tomas Petricek and Ursula Martin. Details of the Symposium and the call are available at https://hapoc.org/node/241 and https://www.shift-society.org/hapop4/. The deadline for submissions is January 1st 2018.

It is an unfortunate coincidence that in the last few weeks a bug in our host’s SMTP server has prevented the posts on the website to be automatically announced via email to the members. The problem is now fixed and we are using this blog post to give you a summary update.

Please remember that the website is available to members for posting news and publications, you are welcome to make use of it.

We are all looking forward to the next steps of the Commission and its Community.
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The HaPoc Council

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HaPoP 2018, Oxford – Call for extended abstracts

In a society where computers have become ubiquitous, it is necessary to develop a deeper understanding of the nature of computer programs, not just from the technical viewpoint, but from a broader historical and philosophical perspective. A historical awareness of the evolution of programming not only helps to clarify the complex structure of computing, but it also provides an insight in what programming was, is and could be in the future. Philosophy, on the other hand, helps to tackle fundamental questions about the nature of programs, programming languages and programming as a discipline.

HaPoP 2018 is the fourth edition of the Symposium on History and Philosophy of Programming, organised by HaPoC, Commission on the History and Philosophy of Computing. As in the previous editions, we are convinced that an interdisciplinary approach is necessary for understanding programming with its multifaceted nature. As such, we welcome participation by researchers and practitioners coming from a diversity of backgrounds, including historians, philosophers, computer scientists and professional software developers.

In addition to submissions in a wide range of areas traditional for HaPoP (outlined below), we especially welcome submissions that explore the nature of scientific progress with respect to computer programming as a discipline. We are interested in investigations concerning the methodology of computer programming, whether it follows a form of scientific method that allows it to increase its problem solving ability, whether its development more is akin to science, engineering or rather art, and what examples from the the history of programming can be provided to support either argument.

For more information, see the symposium web site at https://www.shift-society.org/hapop4/