IS4SI 2021

Call for contributions

The IS4SI Summits are regularly scheduled, biannual academic events consisting of several coordinated and co-located conferences on the subject of information integrated by plenary lectures and discussions, intended as a forum for the exchange of ideas and sharing knowledge about recent developments and achievements in the research on information. The Summits reflect diverse perspectives and methodological frameworks of this research and aspire to foster cooperation, integration, and cross-fertilization in this domain of study. In 2021, due to the special circumstances of the pandemic, the IS4SI Summit will be in the online format, free of conference fee, and with multiple forms of the publication of its proceedings.

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS OF EXTENDED ABSTRACTS TO ALL CONTRIBUTING CONFERENCES IS EXTENDED TO JUNE 15, 2021!

President’s Theme Statement for the 2021 IS4SI Summit

Information Study for the Benefit of Humanity:

Learning from the Past and Building the New Normal

Marcin J. Schroeder

The 2021 IS4SI Summit is coming in the shadow of the global crisis of new coronavirus pandemic. Dozens of millions of people have been already infected, some of them suffered but managed to recover but more than a million perished. Millions lost their sources of income, jobs, businesses. The word “crisis” comes from the Greek discernment, judgement, which describes well our present experience. There are now many examples of an authentic heroism manifested by people who risk their health or lives bringing the medical care to those infected with the virus and there are many examples of unscrupulous exploitation of human suffering for political or economic gains.

Recently, there is hope that new vaccines will soon bring the spread of the virus under control and that life will return to normal. In this desire to return to normal and putting the dramatic experience behind us there is a hidden danger of forgetting about what we can learn from it. Hegel in the Introduction to his Philosophy of History pessimistically claimed “What experience and history teach is this – that people and governments never learned anything from history, or acted on principles deduced from it.” Now, almost two centuries later this assessment of the short span of memory among politicians and in the general public is equally accurate, but this should not be an excuse for the academic community to forget and not to learn from our experience. Going back to the “old normal” would have been a defeat of the reason and betrayal of those who suffered and those who sacrificed themselves in the fight with disease.

It is important not only not to forget and to learn, but what to learn. If the lesson we were given was only about the lack of responsibility of political and economic leaders, their lack of imagination, about the deficiency of their morals, or about frequently irrational reactions of the general public, then the pain brought by the pandemic would have been in vain. We have multiple examples of those in the past centuries or even millennia. Only someone really naïve can expect that next time will be different. Searching someone to blame for errors cannot replace searching for sources of errors. We can see that a lot of damage and suffering was a result of ignorance fueled by anti-scientific and anti-intellectual attitudes frequent both among political and economic leaders and within broad masses of human population. It would be counterproductive to be satisfied with this diagnosis, in particular in the latter case. Are we, members of the academic community without blame? It is our responsibility to promote knowledge and understanding of the world through education. Can we be satisfied with what we offer our societies? Do we have a comprehensive, consistent scientific, or more generally intellectual view of reality which we could all understand and share among ourselves and which we can present to the global society?

It does not mean that we have to seek consensus regarding the answers to specific research questions. Progress in science and philosophy always depended on competing ideas, but the productive competition requires common foundations, common rules and mutual understanding.

So, we can disagree about answers, but we have to understand each other’s questions. It is very important that we can present this common foundation to general public, which does not have any reason to trust in our advice when confronted with the lack of agreement and mutual understanding among scientists and intellectuals in stark contrast to the extreme self-confidence of those who unite in the fight for political and economic power.

There is a desperate need for building the common foundation for science, philosophy, humanities, for the construction of a comprehensive view of reality integrating the results of diverse methods of inquiry to restore the position of knowledge and reason as guides for global society. IS4SI has special role to play in this task. The concept of information, as probably no other concept in modern thought, is not only present and fundamental in virtually all academic and technological disciplines, but it is familiar (admittedly without very deep understanding) to the majority of human population. Its universality qualifies it as the best tool to build authentic transdisciplinary vision of reality and at the same time its familiarity for the general public makes it good tool for the propagation of this vision. The 2021 Summit will consist of several component conferences grouping experts in specific forms of inquiry of information, but it will include plenary activities bringing together all participants. These conferences will be an opportunity to present to fellow researchers the most recent developments within their foci of expertise and the plenary events of the Summit will have the role of a forum for the exchange of views coming from multiple perspectives for seeking mutual understanding and cooperation.

Call for Contributing Conferences/Symposia/Workshops

Marcin J. Schroeder , President of IS4SI mjs@gl.aiu.ac.jp

The 2021Summit will consist of the series of conferences dedicated to the diverse perspectives on information in its multiple manifestations, conceptualizations, and on its various forms of involvement in natural processes and artifacts. The main goal of the Summit is to promote mutual understanding between those who are engaged in the study of information or who search for innovative and creative applications of the results of this study.

Some conferences contributing to the 2021 IS4SI Summit already established their own traditions as core events of former IS4SI Summits. Since the Summit is intended as a forum for exchange, discussion, and integration of different perspectives on information, we invite proposals of these already established, continuing events and also of proposals of new conferences, symposia, workshops and other forms of academic and creative activities promoting study and application of information.

Proposals of such events (hereafter called conferences, but they may have diverse forms not necessarily associated with this particular form of academic gatherings) should include:

• The title of a conference.

• Short but informative description of the conference.

• The names, email addresses, and affiliations of the organizers with a clear identification of the contact person for communication

• Instruction about submission of extended abstracts including their deadline and expected format.

The proposals should be submitted to the organizer of the Summit by March 15, 2021.

Once the affiliation of a conference with the Summit is approved the proposal will be posted on the website of the Summit as the announcement of the event.

The organizers will be responsible for the review and acceptance of submissions. Also, they will schedule presentations or other activities of their respective conferences. Organizers of the Summit will schedule plenary activities of the Summit and these plenary schedules should be excluded from the schedules of contributing conferences. The organizers will be asked to select (typically) one Invited Speaker for plenary session to represent the conference. Finally, we would like the organizers to prepare and implement a plenary discussion engaging all participants of the entire Summit. The discussion may be scheduled immediately after Invited Talk. The organizers of contributing conferences will forward all reviewed and accepted extended abstracts to the organizers of the Summit no later than May 15, 2021 for the publication on the web site of IS4SI. The final responsibility will be to review and accept short papers submitted by the participants after the Summit for the publication in the Proceedings

THE 2021 IS4SI SUMMIT ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

Each of the eleven Contributing Conferences has own Organizing Committee. The mission of the IS4SI Summit Organizing Committee is to integrate Contributing Conferences into a coherent whole of the Summit maintaining its unity of the focus on the concept of information within the diverse perspectives of its studies.

Confirmed members of the Committee:

Marcin J. SCHROEDER mjs@gl.aiu.ac.jp (IS4SI President and Chair of the Summit)

Syed Mustafa ALI mustafa.ali@open.ac.uk

Charalampos ALIFIERIS babis@aegean.gr

Peter BOLTUC pbolt1@uis.edu

Joseph BRENNER joe.brenner@bluewin.ch

Mark BURGIN burginmark994@gmail.com

Zhicheng CHEN czc0910@163.com

Gordana DODIG-CRNKOVIC gordana.dodig-crnkovic@chalmers.se

Raffaela GIOVAGNOLI raffa.giovagnoli@tiscali.it

Annette GRATHOFF annette.grathoff@is4si.org

Masami HAGIYA hagiya@is.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Wolfgang HOFKIRCHNER wolfgang.hofkirchner@is4si.org

David J. KELLEY david@ArtificialGeneralIntelligenceInc.com

Hans-Jörg KREOWSKI kreo@uni-bremen.de

Robert LOWE robert.lowe@ait.gu.se

Pedro MARIJUÁN pcmarijuan.iacs@aragon.es

Dénes NAGY snagydenes@gmail.com

Yasuhiro SUZUKI ysuzuki@nagoya-u.jp

Vera VIANA veraviana@veraviana.net

Kun WU wukun@mail.xjtu.edu.cn

Yixin ZHONG zyx@bupt.edu.cn

Announcement and Call for Submissions of Extended Abstracts

Theoretical and Foundational Problems (TFP) in Information Studies

The goal of the Conference is to bring together academics, researchers and practitioners providing beneficial conditions for presenting and discussing recent achievements and problems of information theory and its applications to theoretical issues of science and humanities, as well as information-oriented and information-based theories in different areas.

The intention of the conference, as well of the entire Summit, is to bring together a widest possible range of perspectives from philosophical or scientific, to visionary and artistic. There will be an opportunity to present original and creative contributions without any restriction by disciplinary divisions or level of advancement of research. The Conference consists of two streams, Theoretical Information Studies and Foundations of Information and Information Studies.

Theoretical Information Studies

Information theory constitutes the basic component of theoretical information studies but there are also other components. One of them is application of information studies to the theoretical areas of science and humanities, e.g., application to theoretical physics or to theoretical computer science. Another component consists of information-oriented and information-based theories in different areas, e.g., genetics, which treats hereditary information, or theoretical computer science, which studied information processing.

The areas of interest to the Stream Theoretical Information Studies include (but are not confined to):

- Information theory

- Theoretical computer science as it studies information processing by technical devices

- Theoretical linguistics as it studies information processing by natural and artificial languages

- Semiotics as it studies symbolic information processing

- Psychology as it studies information processing by people

- Pedagogy as it studies information transmission and knowledge acquisition

- Application of information theory to theoretical physics (information and the Universe)

- Application of information theory to theoretical computer science (information, computation and networking)

- Application of information theory to the theory of complexity (information and complexity)

- Application of information theory to mathematics (information and structure)

- Application of information theory to theoretical linguistics (information and language)

- Applications of information theory in ecology (information and environment)

- Application of information theory to decision-making (information and decision-making)

- Applications of information theory in economics and finance (information and economy)

- Application of information theory to pedagogy (information and education)

- Applications of information theory in sociology (information and society)

- Applications of information theory in psychology (information and creativity)

- Applications of information theory in biology and medicine (information and the organism)

- Applications of information theory in anthropology (information and human beings)

- Application of information theory to semiotics (information and symbols)

- Application of information theory to epistemology (information and cognition)

- Application of information theory to esthetics (information and beauty)

- Application of information theory to ethics (information and moral)

- Application of information theory to law (information and law)

- Application of information theory in humanities

- Information-oriented and information-based physical theories

- Information-oriented and information-based psychological theories

- Information-oriented and information-based biological theories

- Information-oriented and information-based theories of decision-making

- Information-oriented and information-based economical theories

- Information-oriented and information-based sociological theories

- Information-oriented and information-based ecological theories

- Information-oriented and information-based epistemology

- Information-oriented and information-based esthetics (information and beauty)

- Information-oriented and information-based ethics (information and moral)

- Information-oriented and information-based anthropological theories

Foundations of Information and Information Studies

The areas of interest to the Stream Foundations of Information and Information Studies include (but are not confined to):

- Mathematical Foundations of Information and Information Studies

- Logical Foundations of Information and Information Studies

- Philosophical Foundations of Information and Information Studies

- Methodological Foundations of Information and Information Studies

- Linguistic Foundations of Information and Information Studies

- Physical Foundations of Information and Information Studies

- Biological Foundations of Information and Information Studies

- Psychological Foundations of Information and Information Studies

- Social Foundations of Information and Information Studies

- Technological Foundations of Information and Information Studies

- Ecological Foundations of Information and Information Studies

Researchers are invited to send their abstracts for presentation, as well as to suggest organization of special sessions and discussion panels at the Conference.

Abstracts must be in English clearly describing the content of the presented work.

Submissions can be sent until the deadline to the Conference Chair or to any of the members of the Organizing and Program Committees.

Short abstracts will be published online in the Book of Abstracts of the Summit.

Extended abstracts will be published in the Summit Proceedings.

The best contributions will be published in the journals affiliated with the Summit and/or included in the book published after the Conference.

Types of presentations

- Topical presentations 20 minutes each

- Plenary conference presentations 30 minutes each

- Plenary combined conference & Summit presentations 50 minutes each

It will be also several discussion sessions where the participants will be able to discuss and topics related to information.

Important dates/ deadlines

- Expression of the intent for a presentation with submission of a tentative title: February 1, 2021

- Expression of the intent for a presentation with submission of a short abstract (from 5 sentences to 1 page): March 1, 2021

- Expression of the intent for a session or panel organization with a tentative title: April 1, 2021

- Extended abstract (1 - 2 pages) submission: May 1, 2021

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS OF EXTENDED ABSTRACTS TO ALL CONTRIBUTING CONFERENCES IS EXTENDED TO JUNE 15, 2021!

CONFERENCE CHAIR

Mark Burgin, UCLA, Los Angeles, USA

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Institute for a Global Sustainable Information Society, Vienna, Austria

Krasimir Markov, Institute of Mathematics, Sofia, Bulgaria

Marcin J. Schroeder, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan

Yixin Zhong, University of Posts and Telecom, Beijing, China

Gordana Dodig-Crnkovic, Chalmers University of Technology and University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

PROGRAM COMMITTEE

Andrew (Andy) Adamatzky, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK

Joseph Brenner, International Society for Studies of Information, Vienna, Austria

Cristian Calude, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

Rao Mikkilineni, Golden Gate University, San Francisco, USA

José María Diaz Nafria, Madrid Open University, Madrid, Spain

William (Bill) Seaman, Duke University, Durham, USA

SECRETARY

Annette Grathoff, Institut für Design Science, München, Germany

Online Workshop at the

International Society for the Study of Information (IS4SI) Online Summit, 12-19 September 2021*

ORGANISATION

Special Interest Group Emergent Systems, Information and Society(@IS4SI, @The Institute for a Global Sustainable Information Society (GSIS), and @Leibniz Society of Sciences to Berlin e.V. (LS)), and Forum Computer Professionals for Peace and Social Responsibility(FIfF)

CHAIRS

Wolfgang Hofkirchner, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria, GSIS, and LS

Hans-Jörg Kreowski, University of Bremen, Germany, FIfF, and LS

PROGRAM COMMITTEE

Kirsten Bock, Unabhängiges Landeszentrum für Datenschutz Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany

Yagmur Denizhan, Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey

Helena Knyazeva, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia

Mina Koukou, independent researcher, Nice, France

Robert K. Logan, University of Toronto, and Ontario College of Art & Design University, Toronto, Canada

Yurii Mielkov, Institute of Higher Education of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine

José María Díaz Nafría, Madrid Open University, Spain

Rainer Rehak, Weizenbaum Institute Berlin, Germany

Britta Schinzel, University of Freiburg, Germany

Tomáš Sigmund, University of Economics, Prague, Czech Republic

Modestos Stavrakis, University of the Aegean, Greece

SUMMIT KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Julian Nida-Rümelin, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany

Rainer E. Zimmermann, Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin, Germany, and Clare Hall, UK

Topic:

The current pandemic crisis is a reminder that the humankind lives in an age of global challenges. Responses require worldwide efforts to assure survival and a better life for all. What can we learn from the failures and successes during our performance in the COVID-19 crisis for tackling even deeper crises – crises regarding how we develop our societies, our natural environment and our technologies? How can we avoid passing points of no return? How can we empower humankind to do what needs to be done? How can we shape digitalisation for mitigating and solving those crises instead of escalating them?

The Vienna Manifesto on Digital Humanism claims: “We must shape technologies in accordance with human values and needs, instead of allowing technologies to shape humans. Our task is not only to rein in the downsides of information and communication technologies, but to encourage human-centered innovation. We call for a Digital Humanism that describes, analyzes, and, most importantly, influences the complex interplay of technology and humankind, for a better society and life, fully respecting universal human rights.” [https://dighum.ec.tuwien.ac.at/]

Digital Humanism sets out for an update of humanism – the image of human beings – in times of digitalisation, aiming at promoting a humane digitalisation. Humane digitalisation needs to take account of the dangers that threaten humanity with extermination. It must provide tools for mastering those global challenges.

This workshop focusses on discussing

• the foundations of Digital Humanism as well as

• steps towards its implementation from the design to the use of information and communication technologies for a techno-eco-social transformation to cope with the global challenges.

Thus, contributions are welcome to bridge different disciplines from

• social and human sciences including philosophy, cultural sciences, political science, economics, and arts, to

• any field of informatics including, in particular, artificial intelligence, robotics, cyber-physical systems, human-machine interaction, and data science

– in an inter-/transdisciplinary attempt as, for example, science and technology studies, technology assessment, future studies do.

SUBMISSIONS

Please, email

• extended abstracts between 300 and 500 words for intended presentations in English until the extended deadline of 15 June 2021 to office@gsis.at “re: DIGHUM”. Submissions will be reviewed according to the scope of the workshop, you will be notified soon.

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS OF EXTENDED ABSTRACTS TO ALL CONTRIBUTING CONFERENCES IS EXTENDED TO JUNE 15, 2021!

• Short papers of around 5 pages based on accepted presentations will be published in the proceedings of the Summit. Details will be announced in due time. Publication of

• full papers will be considered for publication in a special issue of New Explorations: Studies in Culture and Communication after the workshop. .

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask the chairs under the same email address.

* The workshop is part of the IS4SI Summit 2021: https://is4si.org

IWNC Announcement and Call for Submissions of Extended Abstracts

The series of International Workshops on Natural Computing initiated in 2006 grew up from the original interest in molecular computing. However, within the years following this original initiative the topic of natural computing became one of main directions of study in several disciplines. Natural processes or even entire life started to be considered a form of information processing with characteristics of computing. On the other hand, information processing in natural systems became a source of inspiration for innovation in computer science, artificial intelligence and engineering. Moreover, computer simulation became a common tool for the study of nature.

The plan for the Workshop was cancelled in 2020 due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus. Since it is difficult to predict the future conditions the Workshop is planned in the online format along with the cluster of other conferences of the 2021 IS4SI Summit. This will be a unique opportunity to engage in the interaction and discussion with participants of multiple conferences of the Summit.

Following this general trend of mutual interactions of disciplines, the 13th International Workshop on Natural Computing continues already established tradition of the IWNC series to devote its sessions to the recent and future developments in research, practice, philosophical reflection and creative activity within the crossroads of nature, computing, information science, cognitive science, study of life and culture.

The 13th International Workshop on Natural Computing will be associated with the symposium on Morphological, Natural, Analog and Other Unconventional Forms of Computing for Cognition and Intelligence, which has its own tradition within the Summits of IS4SI.

The intention of the 13th International Workshop on Natural Computing is to bring together a very wide range of perspectives from philosophical to scientific ones, to visions of artists. There will be an opportunity to present original and creative contributions without any restriction by disciplinary divisions or the level of advancement of research. Contributions from the beginning of the academic or intellectual career are as welcome as those from its peak.

CONFIRMED INVITED SPEAKERS:

Andrew Adamatzky (Unconventional Computing Laboratory, UWE, Bristol, UK)

Yukio-Pegio Gunji (Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan)

Genaro Juarez Martinez (Computer Science Laboratory, IPN, Mexico)

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

Marcin J. Schroeder (Tohoku University, Japan) mjs@gl.aiu.ac.jp

Masami Hagiya (Tokyo University, Japan) hagiya@is.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Yasuhiro Suzuki (Nagoya University, Japan) ysuzuki@nagoya-u.jp

Gordana Dodig-Crnkovic (Chalmers University, Sweden) gordana.dodig-crnkovic@chalmers.se

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS (ABSTRACTS)

We invite submission of extended abstracts for intended presentations at the workshop. Extended abstracts should be in English and they should be sufficiently extensive to describe clearly the content of presented work. Their expected volume is within 300-500 words. There is no required format of extended abstracts, except that they should include the title of the presentation, the names of authors with their affiliations and e-mail address of the corresponding author. All extended abstracts will be published on the IS4SI website prior to the Summit. This way the participants of all conferences within the Summit will be able to select presentations of special interest and to attend not only those belonging to this conference, but also presentations belonging to other conferences of the Summit. The subject matter of presentations is not restricted to specific disciplines or topics, but the originality of the presented work and relevance to the main theme of the workshop and the Summit is expected. The format of papers and information about the access to the template for the submission to Proceedings after the Summit will be announced later.

Contributed presentations are planned for 30 minutes including 20-25 minute lecture and 5-10 minute discussion.

THE PRELIMINARY DEADLINE for extended abstract submissions: May 1, 2021.

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS OF EXTENDED ABSTRACTS TO ALL CONTRIBUTING CONFERENCES IS EXTENDED TO JUNE 15, 2021!

Acceptance notices will be sent soon after submitted extended abstracts are reviewed by organizers. Late submissions may be considered, but to secure full consideration, please meet the deadline. Submissions can be sent any time after this announcement to any of the members of the Organizing Committee.

Extended abstracts of the papers scheduled for presentation will be published on the website of IS4SI and papers, ca. 5 pages will be published in the Proceedings of the Summit. High quality papers of any extension will be invited to be published in journals cooperating with IS4SI.

PAST WORKSHOPS IN THE IWNC SERIES

1st, Dec 14-15, 2006 : University of West-England, Bristol, UK

2nd, Dec 10-13, 2007 : Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan

3rd, Sept. 23, 2008 : Yokohama National University, Yokohama, Japan

4th, Sept, 23-19, 2009 ; Himeji International Exchange Center, Japan

5th, Sept, 21, 2010 ; Ascoli Piceno, in ACRI2010, Italy

"Winter School of Hakodate", Mar, 15-16, 2011; Future University Hakodate, Japan

6th, Mar, 28-30, 2012; Tokyo University, Tokyo, Japan

7th, Mar, 20-22, 2013; Tokyo University, Tokyo, Japan

8th, Mar, 18-19, 2014; YMCA, Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan

9th, Mar. 15, 2015; Tokyo University, Tokyo, Japan

10th, May 14-15, 2016; Akita International University, Akita, Japan

11th, May 13-14, 2017, Akita International University, Akita, Japan

12th, May 26-27, 2018, Akita International University, Akita, Japan

MORCOM-2021: Morphological Computing of Cognition and Intelligence

MORCOM Announcement and Call for Submissions of Extended Abstracts

Adopting the framework of Computing Nature with natural computation performed spontaneously/intrinsically by different natural systems on variety of levels of organization, from physical-, chemical- and biological- to cognitive systems – it becomes necessary to re-consider and re-examine the fundamental concepts, such as computing, cognition and intelligence. There are examples of novel studies, for instance of morphological computing and embodied cognition, that succeed in escaping the inertia of thinking habits and question conventional theoretical and practical approaches to computing, cognition and intelligence.

Morphological computing entails that the morphology (shape + material properties) of an agent (physical system, a living organism or a machine) both enables and constrains its possible physical and social interactions with the environment. That constraints its development, including growth and reconfiguration. The role of morphological computation for cognitive systems includes the off-loading of control onto the body and its interaction with the environment thus enabling flexible and adaptive behavior. It is specifically studied in the robotics.

Embodied cognition means that cognition is grounded in environmental interactions in the world that is invisible in classical symbolic representation accounts of cognitive function, construed “in abstracto”. It is conceived in opposition to “computational cognition” where both cognition and computation are modeled on human “thinking” or “mentality” that is abstract symbol manipulation. However, modern computational perspectives on cognition such as natural computation (with its different representations such as info-computation, and morphological computation) account for embodiment in a natural way, whereby cognitive processes are considered to emerge from interactions (implemented as information exchanges/computations) of the agents in the world.

In this event we encourage open and constructive debate on the perceived differences in the various perspectives on constructivist and computationalist accounts of computation as the dynamics of information in its natural and artifactual realisations. Proposals for contributions, panels and workshops should be send to organizers.

THE PRELIMINARY DEADLINE for extended abstract submissions: JUNE 15, 2021

PLENARY KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Aaron Sloman, The University of Birmingham, UK

Michael Levin, Tufts University, USA

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Jordi Vallverdú, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

INVITED SPEAKERS

Susan Stepney, University of York, UK

Vincent C. Müller, The Technical University of Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Lorenzo Magnani, University of Pavia, Italy

Rao Mikkilineni, Golden Gate University, US

Zoran Konkoli, Chalmers Technical University, Sweden

CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS

Guillermo Rodriguez-Navas, Nokia Bell Labs - IL/Kfar Sava

Ana Teixeira de Melo, University of Coimbra, Portugal

Marcin J. Schroeder, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan

Gordana Dodig-Crnkovic, Chalmers Technical University, Sweden

ORGANIZERS

Gordana Dodig-Crnkovic, Chalmers University of Technology & Mälardalen University, Sweden, dodig@chalmers.se

Marcin J. Schroeder, Tohoku University, Akita International University, Japan, mjs@aiu.ac.jp

Call for Papers

This event is inspired by the interesting discussion that took place at the IS4SI Summit 2017 (Gothenburg) and IS4SI Summit 2019 (Berkeley)

Habits and rituals play a fundamental role in human life and are worthy to be considered also because they represent a form of embodied knowledge. They have been studied mostly by disciplines like anthropology, sociology and psychology. Philosophy as well offers interesting analyses from different perspectives, from Aristotle to Bourdieu. Aristotle represents a fundamental perspective to investigate the dimensions entailed by the notion of habit, while Peircean habits connect to the life of symbols. Very interesting researchers investigate the relationship between habits, code and learning in biosemiotics. Of all human belief systems and practices, religions are strongest connected to habits and rituals in form of prayers, meditations, sacrifices, sermons, services, trances, initiation rites and more. Habits and rituals offer a common ground that can help to stimulate the discussion from different scientific and cultural perspectives.

We invite contributions on the following or similar topics in relation to contemporary trans-disciplinary and trans-cultural debate:

1. The nature and role of habits in natural and social sciences

2. Ethical issues of habits and AI, for example the implication of introduction of robotics and intelligent agents in different contexts

3. The nature and role of rituals in multicultural societies

4. Ethical issues of habits and rituals and their relevance for human life

5. The relationship between habits and rituals as continuity or discontinuity between personal and social context

INVITED SPEAKERS

Jose Angel Lombo (Pontifical University of Holy Cross)

Lorenzo Magnani (University of Pavia)

PROGRAM COMMITTEE

Gordana Dodig-Crnkovic (University of Gothenburg, Chalmers)

Anna Hennessey (University of California, Berkeley)

Guido Seddone (University of Parma)

Gianfranco Basti (Pontifical Lateran University)

Philip Larrey (Pontifical Lateran University)

Robert Lowe (University of Gothenburg)

Pawel Kawalec (John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin)

Anna Kawalec (John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin)

Stefania Operto (School of Robotics, Genoa)

Raffaela Giovagnoli (Pontifical Lateran University)

ORGANIZERS

Raffaela Giovagnoli (Pontifical Lateran University)

Robert Lowe (University of Gothenburg)

SUBMISSIONS

- Extended abstracts between 300 and 500 words for presentation in English until May 1, 2021 to giovagnoli@pul.it

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS OF EXTENDED ABSTRACTS TO ALL CONTRIBUTING CONFERENCES IS EXTENDED TO JUNE 15, 2021!

- Extended abstracts will be posted on the IS4SI web site before the Summit.

- Short versions of the presented paper (up to 5 pages) submitted within a month after the Summit will be published in the proceedings of the Summit.

- For more information you can send an email to giovagnoli@pul.it

Call for Papers

To whom it may concern:

The 2021 World Information Summit organized by International Society for the Studies of Information (IS4SI for short) will be held online during September12-19^th, 2021. The China Chapter will organize two sub-conferences during this summit, namely, the 3^rd Global Forum for Artificial Intelligence (GFAI) and the 5^th International Conference on the Philosophy of information (ICPI). Now, the 5^th ICPI is calling for papers. The 3^rd GFAI has released its call at the meantime.

The former four ICPI’s were held respectively at Xi’an (China) in October 2013, Vienna (Austria) in June 2015, Gothenburg (Sweden) in June 2016 and Berkeley (U.S.A.) in June 2019. Those conferences attracted many scientists and philosophers and achieved fruitful results.

After the 4^th ICPI, the studies on philosophy of information have made further progress. Based on these new developments, we have chosen the following thematic topics for the 5^th ICPI and would also welcome some other topics that are consistent with the theme.

The theme of the conference:

To contribute to a better life for human beings

To meet the challenges of the information and intelligence society

To construct and develop a philosophy reflecting the spirit of our new era

Research topics - for reference

1. The philosophical issues posed by the new developments in information and intelligence science and technology

2. The philosophical issues arising from the theory and practice in the information and intelligence economy and society

3. The study of the interrelationships between information, data, knowledge, meaning, symbols and intelligence

4. The various research approaches and paradigms to the studies for philosophies of information and theories of the information and intelligence society

5. Forecasting analysis of the possible prospects and relevant issues of future intelligent society

6. The study of possible evolutionary modes of the human beings and developing forms of our society caused by intelligence science and technology

7. The study on the possible developing forms of human beings, robots and cyborgs and the relationships among them

8. Possible “new thinkings” driven by the development of the intelligent society, about the relationship between nature and society, individuals and society, self and other, human and machine, and on the links within levels and fields of human future development, and also on the ethical principles that they may be involved

9. The study of the possible new styles and features of human cultural concepts and living conditions brought about by the developing intelligent society

10. The study of the positive and negative effects brought about by the development of the intelligent society and analysis of the possible strategic responses

11. An extended study of the basic theories of information philosophy and its branch fields

12. The study of the history of the establishment and development of information philosophy

13. The study of the possible prospects and new patterns of information and intelligence science and technology, human culture and arts

(The above topics are only for reference. Participants may submit papers consistent with the conference theme, based on their own studies. )

Contributions and participation

The official language for the conference is English. If it is allowed by government, and depending on the epidemic situation, we would plan to hold an on-site meeting in China, the location of the meeting is to be confirmed later.

Please submit a extended abstract, at least 2 pages, to one of our conference contacts before May 15^th, 2021.

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS OF EXTENDED ABSTRACTS TO ALL CONTRIBUTING CONFERENCES IS EXTENDED TO JUNE 15, 2021!

CONFERENCE CONTACTS

Kun Wu，cell phone：+86 13399284026；Email：wukun@mail.xjtu.edu.cn

Joseph Brenner， cell phone : +4179 425 73 45 ; Email：joe.brenner@bluewin.ch

Jian Wang，cell phone：+86 15094030651； Email：wangjian0501@163.com

Zhensong Wang，cell phone：+86 18392619539；Email：zhensong@xjtu.edu.cn

Ping Wang，cell phone：+86 18502120805 ；Email：phoebe0805@126.com

Kaiyan Da，cell phone：+86 18966903388； Email：dky850731@stu.xjtu.edu.cn

International Society for the Study of Information (IS4SI)

International Society for the Study of Information—China Chapter (IS4SI-CC)

International Center for Philosophy of Information, Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTU-ICPI)

Research Base for Philosophy of Information and Intelligent Society Basic Theories (XJTU-RB4PI&ISBT)

Call for Papers to GFAI’2021

The 2021 World Summit on Information Science, organized by the International Society for The Studies of Information (IS4SI), will be held on-line in September 12-19, 2021. As one of its component conferences, the Third Global Forum on Artificial Intelligence (GFAI) will be carried on at the same time under the flag of IS4SI World Summit’2021.

The Aim and the Theme of the Forum is to mutually share the latest progress from each other, to make new contributions to the world Artificial Intelligence research, and through which to make cooperation possibly among the participants.

The Topics of The Forum are focused on, but not limited to, the following problems:

1. THEORETICAL ISSUES

1-1 Are you satisfied with the current advancement in AI? Why yes, or why not?

1-2 What is your suggestion and contribution for the breakthrough in AI research?

1-3 What comments you would like to make for deep networks and deep learning?

1-4 What comments you would like to make for expert systems?

1-5 What is the proper concept of Semantic Information?

1-6 Do you think AI could successfully be implemented only through Statistical Approach?

1-7 What do you think of the interrelation between intelligence and information?

1-8 Are you satisfied with the logic theories related to AI?

1-9 Are you satisfied with the mathematical foundation for AI?

1-10 Do you think it possible to establish the universal theory for AI?

2. TECHNICAL ISSUES

2-1 What is your own interest and progress in AI research?

2-2 New progresses in machine learning research.

2-3 New progresses in deep network research.

2-4 New progresses in machine translation.

2-5 New progresses in game playing.

2-6 New progresses in pattern recognition.

2-7 New progresses in Autonomous driving.

2-8 New progresses in NLP (Natural Language Processing).

2-9 New progresses in intelligent robot.

2-10 Any other topics related to AI.

3. APPLICATION ISSUES

3-1 AI Application in manufacture.

3-2 AI application in education.

3-3 AI application in transportation.

3-4 AI application in medicine.

3-5 AI application in security.

3-6 AI application in energy.

3-7 AI application in management.

3-8 AI application in agriculture.

3-9 AI application in industry.

3-10 Any other applications related to AI.

The Language, Paper Format and Submission

The language of the Forum is English.

The extended abstract of 2 pages in length is solicited.

The extended abstract should be submitted to the Program Committee using the following e-mail addresses before April 15, 2021:

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS OF EXTENDED ABSTRACTS TO ALL CONTRIBUTING CONFERENCES IS EXTENDED TO JUNE 15, 2021!

Prof. Zhicheng Chen, e-mail: czc0910@163.com

Prof. Yixin Zhong, e-mail: zyx@bupt.edu.cn

Call for Submissions to Philosophy and Computing

Organized by Philosophers assembled over the years around the APA Newsletter on Philosophy and Computers and the APA Committee on Philosophy and Computers (both now discontinued) and related organizations: Association on Philosophy and Computing (APC) affiliate of the APA, which started in 2020 - the current conference is its first external activity https://philosophyandcomputing.wordpress.com/ ; philosophy interest group within BICA Society (which also organizes its own conference at this IS4SI); PHAEDE (Philosophy of Engineering and Artifact in the Digital Era (within the Romanian Society for Philosophy, Engineering and Techno-ethics) with long tradition of organizing related conferences and publications; Philosophy and Science PAN (journal of the Polish Academy of Science), which will publish a whole large issue from the conference free of charge for the authors [in print and online – free access], also other organizations and groups focused on philosophical issues in our digital world.

Virtual Conference on Zoom, 12-19 September 2021 contributing to the 2021 Summit of the International Society for the Study of Information (IS4SI) administered from Japan in collaboration with Zoom administered through AGI Laboratory, USA.

There is no registration fee for the main publishing options in Philosophy and Science PAN and in Proceedings of MDPI

CONFERENCE CHAIR

Peter Boltuc, University of Illinois, Springfield, USA

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

David J Kelley, AGI Laboratory, Seattle, USA

Mark Waser, GBA, Virginia, USA

Program Committee:

Gary Mar, Philosophy, Stony Brook

Ricardo Gudwin, Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Campinas

Viorel Guliciuc, University of Suceava, Romania (PHAEDE)

Susan Castro, Philosophy, Wichita State University

Riccardo Manzotti, Robotics and Theoretical Philosophy, University of Milan

Daniel Susser, Information Science and Technology, Penn State

Robin Hill, Computer Science and Philosophy, University of Wyoming

Sean Welsh, University of Canterbury, NZ

Krsten Zbikowski, Hibbing College, MN

PLENARY SPEAKERS

Ben Goertzel, OpenCog Foundation, Hong Kong, Patternism 2021: Toward a General Philosophy & Science of Intelligent Information Processing

Jack Copeland, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, NZ, The Indeterminacy of Computation: Slutz, Shagrir, and the mind.

PLENARY PANEL

Artificial Inventors, Ai, Law and Institutional Economics

Presenting Panelists: Stephen Thaler (Creativity Engines Inc.); Kate Gaundry (Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP). Commenting Panelists: Peter Boltuc (University of Illinois Springfield; Warsaw School of Economics); David Kelley (AGI Laboratory, Seattle)

INVITED CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

Jun Tani, Cognitive Neurorobotics, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), Japan “Cognitive neurorobotic self in the shared world”

B. Stuart Dambrot, AGI Laboratory, NYC, NY, USA “Philosophy of AI as general theory within AI”.

Ricardo Gudwin, Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Campinas, Brasil “From Signals to Knowledge and from Knowledge to Action: Peircean Semiotics and the Grounding of Cognition”.

Riccardo Manzotti University of Milan The ontology of information revisited

Susan Castro, Philosophy, Wichita State University, “Paradigms for Smart Farming: Chemical, Ecological, Algorithmic”

Mark Waser, GBA, Virginia. “AGI, Consciousness & Morality”

Mark Burgin, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA; Rao Mikkilineni, Golden Gate University, San Francisco, USA: Symbiotic Computing: A methodological analysis

Daniel C. Elton, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA: Bayesian epistemology and Solomonoff induction are bad foundations for understanding intelligence

Vincent C. Müller & Alexandre Erler, TU Eindhoven & ChU Hong Kong: The ethics of AI as IA

Max Talanov, B-Rain Labs LLC https://b-rain.org/ and Kazan Federal University: Neuroprosthetics and neurosimulations technologies

Andrew Targowski, Western Michigan University: The Panoramic Leadership – a New Paradigm of Teaching

Sean Welsh, University of Canterbury NZ, The ICRC's Call for Regulation on Autonomous Weapons

DESCRIPTION

We research all aspects of philosophy and computing.

The topics related to philosophical issues in computing will have a special place due to the nature of the general multiplex conference.

Other main topics include:

Philosophy of AI: Philosophical issues in AI; Ethical issues in and around AI; Artificial General Intelligence; Social acceptance of AI.

Machine consciousness: Conscious-like functionalities; AI and first-person consciousness.

Ethics and Equity in digital world: Computer ethics; fairness in algorithms; social equity in AI

AREAS OF INTEREST

Those are merely proposed areas, papers on philosophy and computing in other areas are also welcome.

- Philosophy of AI

- Philosophical Issues in Advanced Cognitive Architectures

- Machine Consciousness

- Machine Personhood and Machine Intelligence

- Application of Information Science in Philosophy

- Traditional Philosophical Problems in Computer Science

- History of Philosophy of Information (including Turing)

- Ethics of Information

- Artificial General Intelligence and related moral questions

- Privacy and Transparency

- Moral Obligations of the Tech Community

- The Intimacy of AI Personal Assistance

- Data as Property and Alternatives

- Equity of Access in Cybersecurity

- AI and Military Ethics

- Contractual vs Liability Paradigms for Data Law

- Supervising Algorithms Across Global Discontinuities

- Defining Thick Concepts, (e.g. fairness) in the context of recommender systems

- Comparative Psychology and Machine Intelligence

- Memes, Fake News, and Other Viral Internet Phenomena

- Disinformation and Malinformation

- Problem of demandingness in algorithmic justice

- Smart Algorithm and Internet of Things

- Topics for education in information technology in two and four year colleges

SUBMISSIONS

Extended Abstract: Abstracts should be in English, sufficiently extensive to clearly describe the content of the presented work, circa 300-500 words. All presentations should have their abstracts for presentations submitted prior to the deadlines listed below including any suggestions for special presentations or panels as early as possible. All presentations and abstracts describe the content of said presentations. All accepted abstracts will be published in the book of abstracts online for the Summit.

Short versions of papers, different from the extended abstracts, will be published in the Summit: Proceedings of MDPI.

Publication venues:

• Conference materials: extended abstracts will be posted on the IS4SI web site before the Summit. (300-500 words) by May 05 [free]

• Short versions of papers (ca. 5 pages): Proceedings of MDPI (IS4SI volume 2021). [free]

• Articles: Philosophy and Science. Philosophical and Interdisciplinary Studies up to 300 pages (for the whole issue); each paper preferably between 12 and 24 pages) in print ISSN 2300-4711; online open access ISSN 2545-193 http://filozofiainauka.ifispan.waw.pl/?lang=en# (submission and initial review by the conference). [free]

• Articles: Philosophies or Entropy MDPI [possible fees]; other options for select articles.

TYPES OF PRESENTATIONS

- Regular presentation times will be 20 minutes for regular presentations and discussion for this philosophy conference.

- Discussions or special session 60 minutes (3 to 6 participants) for this philosophy conference. In exceptional cases sessions for the conference alone may be shortened or extended if preapproval by the organizers.

The Philosophy conference has three hours of time in the Summit program:

- Plenary Summit invited talk 50 minutes including 10 minutes discussion.

This pertains to two talks – Prof Goertzel at the beginning and Prof. Copeland at the ending.

- Panel, Summit multi speaker event 80 minutes the whole panel including discussion (up to 20 minutes main speakers; up to 10 minutes commenting speakers; 10 minutes intra panel discussion, at least 10 minutes audience discussion). This pertains to the only panel we have.

IMPORTANT DATES/DEADLINES

• Expression of the intent to organize a session or panel with a tentative title: April 15, 2021 [STRONGLY EXPECTED]

• Main deadline: Extended abstract 300 - 500 words May 5 (preferably earlier).

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS OF EXTENDED ABSTRACTS TO ALL CONTRIBUTING CONFERENCES IS EXTENDED TO JUNE 15, 2021!

Accepted extended abstracts will be posted on the IS4SI web site before the Summit. [REQUIRED]

• Final Submissions; short versions of papers (ca. 5 pages) substantially different then the extended abstracts submission: September 30, 2021 to be published in Proceedings MDPI after the Summit

• Articles: Philosophy and Science. Philosophical and Interdisciplinary Studies submission between 12 and 24 pages (submission and initial review by the conference). PUBLICATIONS FOR 2021 Sept 01 deadline; PUBLICATIONS FOR 2022 Nov. 15 deadline.

SEND SUBMISSIONS TO: epete2021N@yahoo.com

SESSIONS IN PREPARATION

Machine Consciousness

Joscha Bach; Kristinn Thórisson; Thomas Metzinger; Ron Chrisley; Anil Seth

The Philosophy and Logic of Alonzo Church.

Gary Mar; Nathan Salmon;

The list will continue as new submissions reach us.

Call for Papers to Information in Biologically Inspired

Cognitive Architectures (BICA) based Systems

By: BICA Society, https://BICA.ai

David J Kelley, AGI Laboratory, david@ArtificialGeneralIntelligenceInc.com

DESCRIPTION

This conference contributing to the 2021 Summit of the International Society for the Study of Information (IS4SI) is about how data and data architecture is used and implemented in theory and practice in agent-based systems using cognitive architectures that are inspired in large part by the human and animal mind. All aspects of information theory and information architecture in Biologically Inspired Cognitive Architectures (BICA) based system may be covered. This conference is about information theory from the BICA perspective.

Who is BICA

The Biologically Inspired Cognitive Architectures Society for Artificial Intelligence (AI), or BICA Society, is an international nonprofit organization based in the US. The purpose of the Society is to promote and facilitate the transdisciplinary study of biologically inspired cognitive architectures (BICA), aiming at the emergence of a unifying, generally accepted framework for the design, characterization, and implementation of human-level cognitive architectures.

EXTENDED ABSTRACTS

Abstracts should be English, sufficiently extensive to describe the content of the presented work clearly with 300-500 words or 1-2 pages. All presentations should have their abstracts or papers for presentations submitted before the deadlines listed below, including any suggestions for special presentations or panels as early as possible and must be in clear English. All accepted abstracts will be published in the book of abstracts online before the summit. Short versions of papers (ca. 5 pages) will be published with the summit proceedings in a Special Edition of MDPI Proceedings after peer review with some additional publication options that will be announced.

TYPES OF PRESENTATION

All presentations fit into several categories, including topical, plenary presentations, or panels on related topics. Presentation times will be 20 minutes for topical presentations and 30 minutes for plenary presentations. Discussions may be up to 45 minutes but must be worked with and approved by the organizing committee.

IMPORTANT DATES/DEADLINES:

• Expression of the intent for a presentation with the submission of a tentative title: March 30, 2021

• Expression of the intent for a presentation with the submission of a short abstract (from 5 sentences to 1 page): April 15, 2021

• Expression of the intent for a session or panel organization with a tentative title: April 15, 2021

• Extended Abstracts of 300-500 words or 1-2 pages should be submitted by: May 15, 2021. High quality submissions are eligible to go to Cognitive Systems Research Journal.

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS OF EXTENDED ABSTRACTS TO ALL CONTRIBUTING CONFERENCES IS EXTENDED TO JUNE 15, 2021!

• Short versions of papers up to ca. 5 pages can be submitted by September 30, 2021 for the publication in the Special Issue of MDPI Proceedings.

AREAS OF INTEREST:

• Application of Information Architecture in BICA based systems

• How do Biologically inspired systems deal with data?

• Information Theory in BICA based systems

• Theoretical computer science as it applies to Information theory and architecture in BICA-based systems.

• Theoretical data structures in BICA-based systems

• Data processing in BICA-based systems

• Theoretical computer science as it studies information processing in BICA-based systems.

• Theoretical linguistics related to information processing by natural and artificial languages in BICA-based systems

• Semiotics as it studies symbolic information processing in BICA-based systems.

• Psychology of systems in their studies information processing by BICA-based systems

• Pedagogy as it relates to information transmission and knowledge acquisition in BICA-based systems.

• Application of information theory to theoretical computer science (information, computation, and networking) in BICA-based systems

• Application of information theory to theoretical linguistics (information and language) in BICA-based systems

• Application of information theory to decision-making (information and decision-making) in BICA-based systems

• Applications of information theory in psychology (information and creativity) in BICA-based systems

• Application of information theory to semiotics (information and symbols) in BICA-based systems

• Application of information theory to epistemology (information and cognition) in BICA-based systems

• Application of information theory to ethics (information and moral) regarding BICA-based systems

• Information-oriented and information-based psychological theories in BICA-based systems

• Information-oriented and information-based biological inspired theories in BICA-based systems

• Information-oriented and information-based theories of decision-making in BICA-based systems

• Foundations of Information Theory and information architecture in BICA-based systems

Submit all abstracts or questions to david@ArtificialGeneralIntelligenceInc.com

CONFERENCE CHAIR

David J Kelley, AGI Laboratory, Seattle, USA

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE :

Peter Boltuc, University of Illinois, Springfield, USA

Mark Waser, GBA, Virginia, USA

B. Stuart Dambrot, AGI Laboratory, NYC, NY, USA

S. Mason Dambrot, AGI Laboratory, NYC, NY, USA

PROGRAM COMMITTEE

Amon T Twyman, AGI Laboratory

Kyrtin A., AGI Laboratory

INVITED SPEAKERS

Pei Wang, Temple University (Planery and Keynote):

Paul Rosenbloom, USC Institute for Creative Technologies; (Planery)

Antonio Chella, University of Palermo

Eray Ozkural, G¨ok Us Sibernetik Ar&Ge Ltd. S¸ti.

Phil Jackson, Talamind

Amon T Twyman, AGI Laboratory

PLANERY PANEL (PLANERY)

Peter Boltuc, University of Illinois, Springfield, USA (Moderator)

Roman Yampolskiy http://cecs.louisville.edu/ry/

David J Kelley, https://AGILaboratory.com/

* Others to be announced

DISCUSSION PANEL

The Death of Deep Learning Panel – Joint panel with the Philosophy of Computing Conference at IS4SI.

• Includes Mark Waser, David Kelley, Peter Boltuc, Ron Howard, Dan Elton

CIS 2021 IS CANCELLED

Call for Papers to CIS’2021

Critical Approaches to Informational Phenomena – Past(s), Present(s) and Future(s)

Online Workshop at the

International Society for the Study of Information (IS4SI) Online Summit, 12-19 September 2021*

ORGANISATION

Critical Information Studies research group (CIS)

CHAIR

Syed Mustafa Ali, CIS Convenor, Open University, UK

PROGRAM COMMITTEE

Ray Corrigan, CIS, Open University, UK

Mark Hall, CIS, Open University, UK

Andy Hollyhead, CIS, Open University, UK

Magnus Ramage, CIS, Open University, UK

Steve Walker, CIS, Open University, UK

Topic:

This workshop aims to explore contestation of the view that there is only a single way of understanding any of the past, present and/or future of informational phenomena (and sociotechnical assemblages more broadly). In opposition to singular (or unilinear) perspectives, we assert that informational phenomena always have multiple past(s), present(s), and future(s).

We seek to engage with various critical orientations contesting the claim that embracing a universal narrative is the correct way of thinking about informational phenomena, especially when that narrative is formulated by those in dominant positions of power.

Critical approaches to informational phenomena must always allow for production of a multiplicity of narratives, and especially those informed by perspectives generated by those located at the margins. To unsettle dominant power perspectives and in pursuit of restorative justice, it is necessary to embrace an ethics – and politics – wherein the views of those historically peripheralized are given preference.

The overarching theme of the workshop might be summarised as follows:

Lessons from the past(s), contestations in the present(s), envisioning the future(s)

Workshop discussions will focus on:

• • How dominant narratives about informational phenomena and/or technologies can be interrogated (disrupted, unsettled) by drawing attention to their multiple past(s), present(s), and future(s) from one or more critical orientations.

  • Examples of informational phenomena and/or technologies, where adopting a critical orientation can provide a means by which to disclose the contingent nature of the phenomenon and contestation over how it is understood.

  • Critical orientations on information phenomena and/or technologies informing strategies and tactics for engaging with past and present developments and struggles with a view to shaping future trajectories – opening up some and closing down others.

Contributions are encouraged from various critical orientations including (but not limited to):

• Critical theory

• Political economy

• Feminist technoscience

• Postcolonial/decolonial theory

• Critical race theory

• Critical legal studies

• Critical data/algorithm studies

• Critical sociotechnical studies

• Critical discourse analysis

• Critical archive/canon studies

• Surveillance studies

• Critical infrastructure studies

• Critical systems studies

As a guide to contributors, examples of practical applications of these critical approaches include the following (although others are, of course, possible):

• The emergence in the 1970s of the influential Scandinavian ‘Collective Resource Approach’ to participatory design, involving collaboration between trade unionists and radical computer scientists, and its subsequent evolution.

• The question of how to balance the power of digital archives to make alternative past and present histories both more visible – through digitisation – and less visible – through exclusion from digitisation.

• Battles over the legality of mass surveillance legislation (such as the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 in the UK, though this is replicated in other jurisdictions) fought by civil rights and privacy advocates.

• Project Cybersyn, the early 1970s experiment to redesign the Chilean economy along cybernetic lines during the democratic socialist government of Salvador Allende; relatedly, analyses of the structural roots of global inequality via sociotechnical and sociomaterial systems thinking.

SUBMISSIONS

Please email

• extended abstracts (300 – 500 words) for intended presentations in English until 15 May 2021 to s.m.ali@open.ac.uk “re: CAIP”. Submissions will be reviewed according to the scope of the workshop, and presenters notified of acceptance accordingly.

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS OF EXTENDED ABSTRACTS TO ALL CONTRIBUTING CONFERENCES IS EXTENDED TO JUNE 15, 2021!

• Short papers of around 5 pages based on accepted presentations will be published in the Proceedings of the Summit. Details will be announced in due course.

• Publication of full papers will be considered after the workshop.

For further information please contact the chair at the above email address.

* The workshop is part of the IS4SI Summit 2021: https://is4si.org

CIS 2021 IS CANCELLED