October 2016 - Members - lists.sigcis.org

Science wars quote that scientists can teach English but not vice versa
by Thomas Haigh 22 Oct '16

22 Oct '16

Hello SIGCIS, I was looking for a quote I recall reading in the days of the "science wars," probably late-1990s, from a scientist saying something like: "If all the English professors got sick and we were called in then we would so an OK job teaching Shakespeare etc. based on what we know and the inherent triviality of the humanities. Whereas if the physics professors got sick then the humanities people would be completely unable to step in, because science is hard." I tried constructing Google searches and doing Amazon's search inside the book on Sokal & Bricmont's Fashionable Nonsense and similar targets, but didn't locate it. NB: I'm just looking for the source here, not for people eager to reignite the science wars by arguing for or against the proposition. Best wishes, Tom

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Syllabus: Women in the History of Computing
by Marie Hicks 21 Oct '16

21 Oct '16

Hi all, I had the opportunity to design and offer a new class this year on women in the history of computing. I wanted to share the syllabus with you: http://www.mariehicks.net/syllabi.html The course looks at how gender, race, and sexuality restructure the narratives of computing history and it also asks students to engage with historiographical issues surrounding how computing history has been written at different points (biography, company histories, hardware, software, labor, etc.). My students have been very into it so far, and some of their work is online: http://digitalhistorylab.com/?p=205 (Scroll down to the comments section to see a small selection of the student essays submitted for this paper assignment.) Best, Marie ______________________ Marie Hicks, Ph.D. Asst. Professor, History of Technology Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, IL USA mhicks1(a)iit.edu | mariehicks.net <http://www.mariehicks.net> | @histoftech <http://twitter.com/histoftech> *Programmed Inequality: How Britain Discarded Women Technologists and Lost Its Edge in Computing* www.programmedinequality.com

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2017-2018 Lemelson Center Fellowships and Travel Grants (Apps Due: 1 Dec 2016)
by Hintz, Eric 21 Oct '16

21 Oct '16

Dear SIGCIS- I wanted to thank Peggy Kidwell and follow up on her recent message regarding fellowship opportunities at the Smithsonian Institution. Specifically, I wanted to provide additional information regarding fellowships and travel grants offered by the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation at the National Museum of American History. The museum has tremendous computing and IT collections under Peggy's care, and we've had several Lemelson Center alumni fellows<http://invention.si.edu/lemelson-center-fellows-1996-present> from the SIGCIS community in residence in recent years. Apps for all three Lemelson Center fellowship/grant programs are due December 1, 2016. Please contact me (hintze(a)i.edu<mailto:hintze@i.edu>) with any questions and we look forward to seeing your proposals! Very best, Eric S. Hintz, PhD Lemelson Center Fellowship Coordinator hintze(a)si.edu<mailto:hintze@si.edu>; +1 202-633-3734 ---- Research Opportunities at the Smithsonian's Lemelson Center Apps Due: 1 December 2016 Through its fellowships and travel grants, the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation supports research projects that present creative approaches to the study of invention and innovation in American society. Projects may include (but are not limited to) historical research and documentation projects resulting in dissertations, publications, exhibitions, educational initiatives, documentary films, or other multimedia products. Our programs provide access to the expertise of the Institution's research staff<http://americanhistory.si.edu/about/staff> and the vast invention and technology collections of the National Museum of American History (NMAH). The NMAH Archives Center<http://americanhistory.si.edu/archives/collections> documents both individuals and firms across a range of time periods and subject areas. Representative collections include the Western Union Telegraph Company Records, ca. 1840-1994 and the Earl S. Tupper Papers, documenting Tupper, and his invention, Tupperware. In addition, the NMAH Library offers long runs of historical technology serials like Scientific American and American Machinist, and the American Trade Literature collection<http://library.si.edu/trade-literature>, which includes 300,000 catalogs, technical manuals, and advertising brochures for some 30,000 firms, primarily from 1880-1945. For a comprehensive catalog of objects, manuscripts, images and research materials available at the NMAH (and other Smithsonian units), see http://www.collections.si.edu/. The Lemelson Center invites applications covering a broad spectrum of research topics in the history of technology, invention, and innovation. However, the Center especially encourages project proposals whose topics align with one (or more) of the Lemelson Center's strategic research and programmatic areas, including: (1) the role of place in invention and innovation; (2) the cultivation and training of inventors and innovators; (3) innovation in sports; (4) the role of risk and failure in invention and innovation; (5) the role of venture capitalists and other intermediaries (e.g. patent attorneys, incubators, designers, etc) in the process of innovation; or (6) projects that illuminate inventors from diverse backgrounds or any inventions and technologies associated with groups (e.g. women, minorities, disabled, LGBT, etc.) that are traditionally under-represented in the historical record. The Arthur Molella Distinguished Fellowship supports the work of an experienced author or senior scholar (at the associate/full professor level or equivalent) from the history of technology, science and technology studies, business history, museum studies, STEAM education, or an allied field. The specific arrangement is flexible: the Molella Fellow may use the funds as a sabbatical supplement; for several short-duration visits; for a single residency focused on research and writing; or for a series of lectures leading to a major publication. The stipend is $35,000. Funds may be used flexibly to support travel for several short-term visits, living expenses for longer residences up to six months, and related research expenses; dates are flexible. Applications are due December 1, 2016. For application procedures and additional information, see http://invention.si.edu/arthur-molella-distinguished-fellowship. Applicants are encouraged to consult with the fellowship coordinator before submitting a proposal - contact historian Eric S. Hintz, Ph.D. at +1 202-633-3734 or hintze(a)si.edu<mailto:hintze@si.edu>. The Lemelson Center Fellowship Program annually awards 2 to 3 fellowships to pre-doctoral graduate students, post-doctoral scholars, and other professionals who have completed advanced training. Fellows are expected to reside in the Washington, D.C. area, to participate in the Center's activities, and to make a presentation of their work to colleagues at the museum. Fellowship tenure is based upon the applicant's stated needs (and available funding) up to a maximum of ten weeks. Stipends will be $630/week for pre-doctoral fellows and $925/week for post-doctoral and professional fellows. Applications are due December 1, 2016. For application procedures and additional information, see http://invention.si.edu/lemelson-center-fellowship-program. Researchers are encouraged to consult with the fellowship coordinator before submitting a proposal - contact historian Eric S. Hintz, Ph.D. at +1 202-633-3734 or hintze(a)si.edu<mailto:hintze@si.edu>. The Lemelson Center Travel to Collections Award Program annually awards 3 to 4 short-term travel grants to encourage the use of its invention-related collections. Awards are $150 per day for a maximum of 10 business days and may be used to cover transportation, living, and reproduction expenses; they are intended only for applicants who reside or attend school beyond commuting distance of the NMAH. Applications are due December 1, 2016. See http://invention.si.edu/lemelson-center-travel-collections-awards for application procedures and additional information. Researchers are encouraged to consult with the travel award coordinator before submitting a proposal - contact archivist Alison Oswald at +1 202-633-3726 or oswalda(a)si.edu<mailto:oswalda@si.edu>. From: Members [mailto:members-bounces@lists.sigcis.org] On Behalf Of Kidwell, Peggy Sent: Friday, October 14, 2016 7:53 AM To: 'members(a)SIGCIS.org' Subject: [SIGCIS-Members] Smithsonian Fellowship Opportunities This is to draw the attention of SIGCIS members and their students and colleagues to several fellowship opportunities at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Those interested in doing research using Smithsonian collections are particularly welcome to apply. A general website describing the programs is http://www.smithsonianofi.com/fellowship-opportunities/. Specific opportunities include: 1. Predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships - The deadline for applications is December 1 - For a description and instructions, see http://www.smithsonianofi.com/fellowship-opportunities/smithsonian-institut…. Students at Big Ten universities applying through this program will also be considered for a related program. 3. A variety of fellowships for the study of invention and innovation sponsored by the Lemelson Center at the National Museum of American History. These are described at http://invention.si.edu/study/research-opportunities. Deadlines vary. 4. Fellowships for use of the collections of the Smithsonian's Dibner and Cullman Libraries. These are described at http://www.smithsonianofi.com/fellowship-opportunities/ under SI Libraries. The SI Libraries has a separate application process for its fellowships, and different deadlines. The sums available are modest, but applications are welcome! Peggy Kidwell Curator of Mathematics Address for US Mail: MRC 671, National Museum of American History Smithsonian Institution P.O. Box 37012 Washington, DC 20013-7012 Address for UPS or FedEx: MRC 671, National Museum of American History Smithsonian Institution 12th St. and Constitution Ave. Washington, DC 20560 Email: kidwellp(a)si.edu<mailto:kidwellp@si.edu> Telephone: 202-633-3828

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Fwd: Kelly Gotlieb memorial
by Brian Randell 20 Oct '16

20 Oct '16

Hi: Here is the In Memoriam notice for Kelly Gottlieb, of the University of Toronto, who passed away earlier this week. I am honoured to be able to describe Kelly as having been a personal friend - he was rightfully called “The Father of Computing in Canada”, and will be sadly missed. Cheers Brian Randell > Begin forwarded message: > > From: Dave Wortman <dw(a)cs.toronto.edu> > Subject: Kelly Gotlieb memorial > Date: 20 October 2016 13:55:54 BST > To: <Brian.Randell(a)newcastle.ac.uk> > > > http://web.cs.toronto.edu/news/current/In_Memoriam__The__father_of_computin… -- School of Computing Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK EMAIL = Brian.Randell(a)ncl.ac.uk PHONE = +44 191 208 7923 FAX = +44 191 208 8232 URL = http://www.ncl.ac.uk/computing/staff/profile/brian.randell

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JOBS: Assistant Professors of New + Emerging Media, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
by Irish, Sharon Lee 19 Oct '16

19 Oct '16

Posted on behalf of Anita Chan by Sharon Irish ***** please circulate. apologies for cross postings ****** Assistant Professors of New + Emerging Media College of Media, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign The College of Media invites applications for two entry-level, tenure-track assistant professor positions in New and Emerging Media. Successful candidates should demonstrate an innovative research and teaching agenda that complements the interdisciplinary profile of the College and the current research strengths across the university in New and Emerging Media. Appointments will be made on a tenure-track, 9-month academic year in one of the College’s three departments - Advertising, Journalism, or Media & Cinema Studies -- beginning August 16, 2017. Academic scholars and creative artists are both encouraged to apply. For candidates who are academic scholars, a Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in mass communication, media studies or a related field (e.g., visual studies, design studies, digital studies, technology studies, social informatics, information and computer sciences, business, economics, psychology) is required. For candidates who are creative artists, a master’s degree or equivalent is required, and a terminal degree is preferred. All candidates should possess the potential for high-quality research or creative endeavor, publication, and teaching. Of particular interest are candidates who draw on interdisciplinary bodies of theory, are open to mixed-methods approaches and collaborations, and demonstrate a capacity for conducting original and creative research in one or more of the following areas: Big data and society Computational advertising and machine learning Convergence culture and participatory media Data semantics Digital ethics, privacy, and policy Digital humanities and digital archives Digital/multimedia journalism Disability studies in information communication technology Game studies and digital narrative Locative media, mapping, and platform studies Media history and historiography of cinema and new media Media literacy and multimodal scholarship Mobile and interaction design Natural Language Processing Online /contextual advertising and behavioral targeting Social media and new media use and effects Virtual/augmented reality Visual studies and data visualization Successful candidates will be expected to develop funding for a strong research program, to work collaboratively with faculty and scholars within the College of Media, and to form collaborations with faculty engaged in new media research across the campus – including in Engineering, Fine and Applied Arts, Information Sciences, Business, and leading interdisciplinary research centers such as the National Center for Supercomputing Applications and the Beckman Institute. Successful applicants will teach current new media courses and develop conceptual courses and graduate seminars in a variety of areas related to new media. An ability to advance the College’s commitment to diversity through research, teaching, and outreach with relevant programs is desired. The College of Media’s faculty consists of internationally renowned social scientists, media professionals, and humanities scholars and serves 1,300 undergraduate and graduate students (http://media.illinois.edu/<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__media.illinois.edu_&d=D…>). The College is also home to the interdisciplinary Institute of Communications Research and Illinois Public Media (WILL-AM-FM-TV-Online), the public broadcasting service of the University of Illinois. The position will begin on August 16, 2017. Salary will be commensurate with experience. Candidates should create a candidate profile at http://jobs.illinois.edu<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__jobs.illinois.edu_&d=DQ…> and upload a cover letter explaining how the candidate’s academic training and background, including research, creative endeavors, teaching qualifications and/or professional experience, make the applicant suitable for the position; curriculum vitae, and a list of full contact information for three references. All requested information must be submitted for an application to be considered complete. The University of Illinois conducts criminal background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer. Full consideration will be given to applications received by November 18, 2016. Applicants may be interviewed before the closing date; however, no hiring decision will be made until after that date. The review will continue until the positions have been filled. For further information regarding application procedures, please contact Jane Dowler at dowler(a)illinois.edu<mailto:dowler@illinois.edu> or 217-333-2351<tel:217-333-2351>. Illinois is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or criminal conviction history. Illinois welcomes individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and ideas who embrace and value diversity and inclusivity. (www.inclusiveillinois.illinois.edu<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.inclusiveillinois.i…>). For more info, see: https://jobs.illinois.edu/faculty-positions/job-details?jobID=71871&job=col…<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__jobs.illinois.edu_facu…>

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25 years campaigning for Bletchley Park code-breakers
by Brian Randell 18 Oct '16

18 Oct '16

Hi: From a TNMOC press release: > This week marks the 25th anniversary of the Save Bletchley Park Campaign and The National Museum of Computing pays tribute to all those campaigners and specially to Margaret Sale, thought to be the only person still on the Park who has given 25 years of service to ensure that the memory of the Second World War codebreakers is never forgotten. > > Margaret Sale, now a trustee of The National Museum of Computing, was an eager helper at that reunion of codebreakers on 19 October 1991. > > “I remember that weekend very well,” said Margaret Sale. “About 200 veterans who had worked on Bletchley Park during the war turned up for a “farewell reunion” organised by the Bletchley Archaeological and Historical Society in conjunction with the Civil Aviation Authority, which still had offices on the Park. The Park was to be sold off for residential development by its owners, the Government and BT, but the reunion ended in a call for the site to be saved for the nation.” > > Margaret had become involved because her late husband, Tony Sale, had been seconded from the Science Museum to the Bletchley Archaeological and Historical Society to help organise the reunion. > > Margaret recalled, “That weekend in 1991 was a hugely memorable occasion, initially planned to capture and record memories, but ending with a call by those who attended to try to save the Bletchley Park estate for posterity. > . . . . > The first modest exhibition was staged in the old teleprinter hall. A message on the stage declared “Britain’s Best Kept Secret” in black cardboard characters. And in one small area two pieces of metal had been set up by Tony Sale to show the very beginning, the famous ‘Bedstead’ of the Colossus Rebuild. <snip> Full story at http://www.tnmoc.org/news/news-releases/25-years-serving-memory-bletchley-p… Cheers Brian Randell PS I was at this splendid meeting, which was noteworthy for the large number of elderly ladies among the attendees who had been involved in the Enigma or the Lorenz code-breaking operations and who were now revisiting the Park for the first time since 1945. One of my clearest recollections of the day is of exploring one of the old and very decrepit huts, and overhearing one such lady say to her companion, as she pointed to a small office, “I think that was Alan’s office”! -- School of Computing Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK EMAIL = Brian.Randell(a)ncl.ac.uk PHONE = +44 191 208 7923 FAX = +44 191 208 8232 URL = http://www.ncl.ac.uk/computing/staff/profile/brian.randell

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New Soviet Internet book
by Ben Peters 17 Oct '16

17 Oct '16

SIGCIS Friends, I don't pretend to know how to plug my own book among so many folks I admire in the field, so I'll do it once and get out of the way. Here goes: MIT Press released *How Not to Network a Nation: The Uneasy History of the Soviet Internet *this summer. Since then it's been reviewed widely and warmly in five languages and in popular outlets from *Nature* to *Gizmodo*, with excerpts in *First Monday* (review links here) <https://petersbenjamin.wordpress.com/publications/>. Aeon.co is featuring a popular version of the story today. (A great editing experience, by the way, if you don't already know them: Sam Dresser is a wizard.) Check out my first feature with Aeon here: Aeon: "How the Soviets invented the internet and why it didn't work <https://aeon.co/essays/how-the-soviets-invented-the-internet-and-why-it-did…> " The book itself can be found here: Soviet Internet <http://www.amazon.com/How-Not-Network-Nation-Information/dp/0262034182/> (*First Monday *excerpts <http://journals.uic.edu/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/6689/5482>). Feel free to share (I'm at @bjpeters) and holler back if I can say more. It's my first contribution to the emerging field of comparative network history, and it owes much to Slava Gerovitch, Eden Medina, and many, many others on this list, so the pleasure is genuinely mine. Thanks, and please enjoy! Ben -- Benjamin Peters Amazon author page <http://amzn.to/1OJd897> New books on the Soviet Internet <http://www.amazon.com/How-Not-Network-Nation-Information/dp/0262034182/> (*First Monday *excerpts <http://journals.uic.edu/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/6689/5482>) and Digital Keywords <http://amzn.to/1ToHD4v> (*Culture Digitally *excerpts <http://culturedigitally.org/2016/07/keywords-digital-analog/>) Assistant Professor, Communication, the University of Tulsa Affiliated Faculty, the Information Society Project, Yale Law School Working Notes <http://petersbenjamin.wordpress.com> Tweet @bjpeters

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Smithsonian Fellowship Opportunities
by Kidwell, Peggy 17 Oct '16

17 Oct '16

This is to draw the attention of SIGCIS members and their students and colleagues to several fellowship opportunities at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Those interested in doing research using Smithsonian collections are particularly welcome to apply. A general website describing the programs is http://www.smithsonianofi.com/fellowship-opportunities/. Specific opportunities include: 1. Predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships - The deadline for applications is December 1 - For a description and instructions, see http://www.smithsonianofi.com/fellowship-opportunities/smithsonian-institut…. Students at Big Ten universities applying through this program will also be considered for a related program. 3. A variety of fellowships for the study of invention and innovation sponsored by the Lemelson Center at the National Museum of American History. These are described at http://invention.si.edu/study/research-opportunities. Deadlines vary. 4. Fellowships for use of the collections of the Smithsonian's Dibner and Cullman Libraries. These are described at http://www.smithsonianofi.com/fellowship-opportunities/ under SI Libraries. The SI Libraries has a separate application process for its fellowships, and different deadlines. The sums available are modest, but applications are welcome! Peggy Kidwell Curator of Mathematics Address for US Mail: MRC 671, National Museum of American History Smithsonian Institution P.O. Box 37012 Washington, DC 20013-7012 Address for UPS or FedEx: MRC 671, National Museum of American History Smithsonian Institution 12th St. and Constitution Ave. Washington, DC 20560 Email: kidwellp(a)si.edu<mailto:kidwellp@si.edu> Telephone: 202-633-3828

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Leo Beranek dies at 102, PS
by Dave Walden 13 Oct '16

13 Oct '16

I have just been told that there is also a 2 hour oral history on the following MIT web site: http://infinitehistory.mit.edu/video/leo-l-beranek

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Leo Beranek, RIP
by Dave Walden 13 Oct '16

13 Oct '16

See: http://www.wcvb.com/news/leo-beranek-founder-of-wcvb-dies-at-102/42082378 Leo was not himself a computer person. He was instrumental, however, in creating the environment at Bolt Beranek and Newman in which much computing innovation happened. In particular, he had the foresight to bring Licklider to BBN [from MIT, Whirlwind, etc.] because he understood that his own field of acoustics did not have the growth potential of computers and computing (this moved Lick fully into computers from psycho acoustics and was a step along the way the the vision he began to implement at ARPA IPTO). Leo was interviewed twice for the IEEE History Center oral history collection: http://ethw.org/Oral-History:Leo_Beranek_(1996) (oral history taken by Janet Abbate) http://ethw.org/Oral-History:Leo_Beranek_(2005) (oral history taken by Mike Geselowitz) He also authored the lead article in the two BBN special issues of the IEEE Annals of the History of Computing (Vol. 27, No. 2, April–June 2005) As Leo's primary technical contributions were in the field of acoustics, an issue of _Acoustics Today_ was dedicated to articles related to his work on the occasion of his 100th birthday. Leo was a great scientist, entrepreneur and contributor to the public good: http://www.walden-family.com/bbn/leo-the-visionary.pdf -- 12 Linden Road, East Sandwich, 02537 landline=508-888-7655; cell=774-205-3203 website=walden-family.com

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