TURRIANO ICOHTEC PRIZE

The Turriano ICOHTEC Prize (formerly ICOHTEC Prize for Young Scholars) is sponsored by the Juanelo Turriano Foundation and consists of 2,500 Euro. The prize winning book will be presented and discussed at a special session of the next ICOHTEC symposium, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 23-29 July 2017 (http://www.icohtec.org/annual-meeting-2017.html [1]). An additional 500 Euro is available to the winner in support of travelling to the conference to receive the prize.

ICOHTEC, the International Committee for the History of Technology, is interested in the history of technology, focusing on technological development as well as its relationship to science, society, economy, culture and the environment. The history of technology covers all periods of human history and all populated areas. There is no limitation as to theoretical or methodological approaches.

Eligible for the prize are original book-length works in any of the official ICOHTEC languages (English, French, German, Russian or Spanish) in the history of technology: published or unpublished Ph.D. dissertations or other monographs written by scholars who, when applying for the prize, are not older than 37 years. Articles and edited anthologies are not eligible.

For the 2017 Turriano ICOHTEC Prize (http://www.icohtec.org/resources-prizes-turriano-icohtec.html [2]) please send an electronic copy (Pdf or Word) of the work you wish to be considered for the prize to each of the three Prize Committee members. (Note: Hard copies are only accepted for published works not available electronically.) YOUR SUBMISSIONS MUST BE EMAILED NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, 3 FEBRUARY 2017. If your book is in Spanish or Russian, please also supply a summary in English, French or German of about 4,500 words. In that case, the prize committee will find additional members, who are familiar with the language in which your book is written. Please also include an abstract of no more than a half-page in length.

If the work is a Ph.D. thesis, it should have been accepted by your university in 2015 or 2016; if it is a published work, the year of publication should be 2015 or 2016. The submission should be accompanied by a CV (indicating also the date of birth) and, if applicable, a list of publications. Applicants are free to add references or reviews on the work submitted.

Any materials sent to the prize committee will not be returned.

Send a complete application by email to each of the following Prize Committee members:

Dr. Jeremy Kinney, Prize Committee Chair
Curator, Aeronautics Department Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum P.O. 37012, MRC 312 Washington, DC 20013-7012 USA E-mail: kinneyj@si.edu

Dr. Yoel Bergman Associate Researcher Cohen Institute, Tel-Aviv University 20 Hatzmaut st. Herzliya 46789 Israel E-mail: yoelb@protalix.com, bergm@post.tau.ac.il

Dr. Irina Gouzevitch Centre Maurice Halbwachs École Normale Supérieure 48, boulevard Jourdan 75014 PARIS E-mail: igouzevitch@ens.fr

Dr. Klaus Staubermann Principal Curator of Technology National Museums of Scotland Chambers Street Edinburgh EH1 1JF UK E-mail: K.Staubermann@nms.ac.uk

CfP: Philosophy and Technology’s special issue on The Governance of Algorithms

GUEST EDITORS

Marcello D’Agostino (University of Milan, Italy) and Massimo Durante (University of Turin, Italy)

INTRODUCTION
In our information societies, we increasingly delegate tasks andalgorithms. Their increased intelligence, autonomous behavior and connectivity are changing crucially the life conditions of human beings as well as altering traditional concepts and ways of understanding reality. Algorithms are directed to solve problems that are not always detectable in their own relevance and timeliness. They are also meant to solve those problems through procedures that are not always visible and assessable in their own. In addition, technologies based on algorithmic procedures more and more infer personal information from aggregated data, thus profiling human beings and anticipating their expectations, views and behaviors. This may have normative, if not discriminatory, consequences. While algorithmic procedures and applications are meant to serve human needs, they risk to create an environment in which human beings tend to develop adaptive strategies by conforming their behaviour to the expected output of the procedures, with serious distortive effects. Against this backdrop, little room is often left for a process of rational argumentation able to challenge the results of algorithmic procedures by putting into question some of their hidden assumptions or by taking into account some neglected aspects of the problems under consideration. At the same time, it is widely recognized that scientific and social advances crucially depend on such an open and free critical discussion.

TOPICS
The aim of this special issue of Philosophy & Technology is to explore questions about the governance of algorithms in light of the technological dependence of our information societies. We ask how to face theoretical and practical challenges in order to assure that technological innovations go hand in hand with human needs, beliefs and expectations. We solicit the submission of papers from different disciplines (law, ethics, economics, computer science, social studies, epistemology and philosophy of science) to address questions such as:

· How to deal with the “knowledge problem” (as Franck Pasquale put it), i.e., with the openness, transparency and fairness of algorithmic procedures and applications?
· How to govern those algorithmic procedures and applications once we delegate them the accomplishment of tasks or the solution of problems?
· By which standards the relevance and the timeliness of problems as well as the efficiency and the legitimacy of solutions are measured?
· Is the extensive functioning of automated systems, devices and agents based on algorithms able to impair human freedom and autonomy, free critical discussion and reflexivity?

TIMETABLE
December 19, 2016: Deadline for paper submissions
February 13, 2017: Deadline reviews papers
March 13, 2017: Deadline revised papers
April, 2017: Publication of accepted papers

SUBMISSION DETAILS
To submit a paper for this special issue, authors should go to the journal’s Editorial Manager http://www.editorialmanager.com/phte/
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: ” The Governance of Algorithms” from the selection provided in the submission process. This is needed in order to assign the submissions to the Guest Editors.
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:

GUEST EDITOR’S CONTACT DETAILS

Marcello D’Agostino: marcello.dagostino@unimi.it

Massimo Durante: massimo.durante@unito.it

Call for informal presentations CiE 2016

CiE 2016: Pursuit of the Universal

         Paris, France

  June 27 – July 1st, 2016

 http://lipn.univ-paris13.fr/CIE2016/

CALL FOR INFORMAL PRESENTATIONS

There is a remarkable difference in conference style between computer
science and mathematics conferences. Mathematics conferences allow for
informal presentations that are prepared very shortly before the conference
and inform the participants about current research and work in progress. The
format of computer science conferences with pre-conference proceedings is
not able to accommodate this form of scientific communication.

Continuing the tradition of past CiE conferences, also this year’s CiE
conference endeavours to get the best of both worlds. In addition to the
formal presentations based on our LNCS proceedings volume, we invite
researchers to present informal presentations. For this, please send us a
brief description of your talk (between one paragraph and two pages) by the
DEADLINE:

APRIL 23, 2016

Please submit your abstract electronically, via EasyChair
<https://www.easychair.org/conferences/?conf=cie2016>, selecting the category
“Informal Presentation”.

You will be notified whether your talk has been accepted for informal
presentation usually within a week or two after your submission.

**************************************************************
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES:

CiE 2016 has received funding from ASL (Association for Symbolic Logic) and EATCS (European Association for Theoretical Computer Science) that allows students who are members of ASL or EATCS and want to attend CiE 2016 to apply for travel funds or a reduction of the early registration fee. See the conference website (http://lipn.univ-paris13.fr/CIE2016/grants.php) for details. For female researchers, we have some modest travel funding through our Women in Computability program, sponsored by ACM-Women. See https://lipn.univ-paris13.fr/CIE2016/Women-in-Computability.php for more details.

___________________________________

CiE 2016 http://lipn.univ-paris13.fr/CIE2016/

ASSOCIATION COMPUTABILITY IN EUROPE
http://www.computability.org.uk
CiE Conference Series
http://www.illc.uva.nl/CiE
CiE Membership Application Form
http://www.lix.polytechnique.fr/CIE
Computability (Journal of CiE)
http://www.computability.de/journal/
CiE on FaceBook
https://www.facebook.com/AssnCiE
Association CiE on Twitter
https://twitter.com/AssociationCiE

EXTENDED DEADLINE: PhD Position in History of Computing

THE DEADLINE FOR THIS POSITION HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 18/04/2016.
Apply or circulate.

——

The Department of Computer Science at Middlesex University, together with the LEO Computers Society are looking for a PhD Candidate for a research project in the area of History and Philosophy of Computing. This will incorporate research into the objectives, design, construction and market penetration of the LEO I, II and III computers, developed by the catering firm J. Lyons and Co., and its subsidiary LEO Computers Limited – subsequently incorporated in different companies (English Electric LEO, English Electric Leo Marconi, ICL, Standard Telephones and Cables and finally Fujitsu).

Further details and instructions on how to apply available at

http://www.mdx.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-research-degrees/research-studentships/david-tresman-caminer-studentship-for-the-history-of-computing

Junior Fellowship, Institute for Advanced Study, Leuphana University Lüneburg

1 Junior-Fellowship Media Cultures of Computer Simulation (MECS / Institute for Advanced Study, Leuphana University Lüneburg)

Institution: MECS / Institute for Advanced Study ‘Media Cultures of Computer Simulation’,
Leuphana University Lüneburg

Duration: October 1 2016 to March 31 2017
Application Deadline: April 1, 2016

Junior-Fellowship 2016/17

The Institute for Advanced Study on ‘Media Cultures of Computer Simulation’ (MECS) is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and is located at the Leuphana University Lüneburg.

The main objective of MECS is the investigation of computer simulation in its historical and epistemological perspectives. Research at MECS is aimed at answering fundamental questions regarding the role of computer simulations in today’s science and culture. For example: Are there specific kinds of problems that are especially suited for computer simulation? Are there typical knowledge constellations that promote and enhance the use of simulations? Do computer simulations generate new forms of knowledge and, if so, to what extent do simulations mark a historical break?

Of special importance are studies focused on:
1. the computer’s specific technological materiality;
2. the research logic and laboratory practices generated by the object under investigation;
3. the actors of knowledge production.

Research at MECS is mostly conducted from the perspective of media studies and the history of knowledge. Preference is given to case study based research. MECS is a place for trans-disciplinary research. It provides an opportunity of bringing together scholars from a variety of disciplines – media scholars, historians and philosophers of science, computer scientists, engineers and more. It is also a place where young and more experienced scholars have a chance to work together and to engage in a systematic and intensive discussion of computer simulation.

For a period of six months, starting October 1, 2016 and ending March 31, 2017, the institute has an opening for the following fellowship:

· One Junior (PhD) Fellowship

Candidates for a Junior Fellowship should be at an advanced stage of their dissertation. Successful candidates will be awarded a monthly stipend in accordance with the regulations of the German Research Foundation (DFG).

MECS is based at Leuphana University in Lüneburg. Residence in Lüneburg is expected for the duration of the fellowship. Accommodation will be provided. Applications (in German or English) should include: a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a project description (no more than 1,000 words) and two scholarly writing samples (e.g., journal articles or conference papers, dissertation chapters).

Please send your application electronically no later than April 1, 2016 to:
sieling@leuphana.de

or as regular mail to:

Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, MECS
Ms. Jantje Sieling
Scharnhorststr. 1
21335 Lüneburg

For any further inquiries please contact Ms. Jantje
Sieling (sieling@leuphana.de).
www.mecs.leuphana.de

Reminder PhD Studentship in the History and Philosophy of Computing

The Department of Computer Science at Middlesex University, together with the LEO Computers Society are looking for a PhD Candidate for a research project in the area of History and Philosophy of Computing. This will incorporate research into the objectives, design, construction and market penetration of the LEO I, II and III computers, developed by the catering firm J. Lyons and Co., and its subsidiary LEO Computers Limited – subsequently incorporated in different companies (English Electric LEO, English Electric Leo Marconi, ICL, Standard Telephones and Cables and finally Fujitsu).

Further details and instructions on how to apply available at
http://www.mdx.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-research-degrees/research-studentships/david-tresman-caminer-studentship-for-the-history-of-computing

Master of Music

The Institute for Music and Media (IMM) of the Robert Schumann School of Music and Media Düsseldorf offers a four-semester master’s degree program:
Form und Forschung, Master of Music (M.Mus.)
Following the principle of the unity of research and teaching, the Form und Forschung master’s degree program combines aesthetic, technical and theoretical approaches. The program is based on the unique features for which the Institute for Music and Media is known: composition, performance, and algorithmic art forms have been established here for many years as highly varied facets of contemporary art.

During their studies, master’s degree candidates autonomously develop their own stance with respect to a range of artistic, media-based, economic, scientific and cultural contexts, to design, influence, advance and even anticipate developments in the 21st century.

Musicality is not exclusively attached to musical instruments – it includes many aspects of artistic and scholarly work. That is not least of all the reason why this degree program is open to graduates from all disciplines.
It is therefore particularly appropriate for those who are interested in the diversity of media forms, schools of thought and topics. The institution of a Musikhochschule is exceptionally well suited to promote exchange among interests and abilities in different domains.

Thereby, the projects of students is central. In the course of their studies, students learn to re-conceptualize their proposed project on the basis of critical and differentiated feedback and to bring it to fruition at a high level through collaboration with other students. They carry out their project in one of two areas of focus – Artistic Research or Time-Based Form – both of which open up completely new perspectives in the environment of a state conservatory.

For more information see: http://musikundmedien.net/en/studies/master/

PhD Studentship in the History and Philosophy of Computing

The Department of Computer Science at Middlesex University, together with the LEO Computers Society are looking for a PhD Candidate for a research project in the area of History and Philosophy of Computing. This will incorporate research into the objectives, design, construction and market penetration of the LEO I, II and III computers, developed by the catering firm J. Lyons and Co., and its subsidiary LEO Computers Limited – subsequently incorporated in different companies (English Electric LEO, English Electric Leo Marconi, ICL, Standard Telephones and Cables and finally Fujitsu).

Further details and instructions on how to apply available at

http://www.mdx.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-research-degrees/research-studentships/david-tresman-caminer-studentship-for-the-history-of-computing