Call for Papers

Michael Mahoney And The Histories of Computing(s)
SIGCIS History of Computing Workshop in Memory of Michael S. Mahoney

Sunday, October 18, 2009, Hilton Hotel, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

The Society for the History of Technology’s Special Interest Group for Computers, Information and Society (SIGCIS – www.sigcis.org) welcomes submissions for “Michael Mahoney And The Histories of Computing(s),” a daylong workshop on the history of computing in memory of historian Michael S. Mahoney. In keeping with Mahoney’s broad historical perspective, we encourage submissions not only about computers themselves but also about the technologies and knowledge systems into which computers have been embedded as well as the societies in which they are used. Contributions directly related to Mahoney’s work are welcome but not required.

The Association for Computing Machinery, founded in 1947, is the oldest and largest educational and scientific society dedicated to the computing profession, and today has members in more than 100 countries. To encourage historical research, the ACM History Committee announces a new program of short-term fellowships in ACM history. This year we plan to make up to two $2,500 awards to support historical research on the wide variety of ACM related activities, including ACM members, officers, and prize winners, as well as ACM as an organization. Successful candidates may be of any rank, from graduate students through senior researchers.

Series Editors, Laura DeNardis and Michael Zimmer

We are delighted to announce the formation of the MIT Press Information Society Series – an interdisciplinary series on technology, law, and society. The Information Society Series will address the social, legal, and policy implications of the Internet and new information technologies and will especially feature works from the growing global ranks of interdisciplinary scholars in information schools; communications departments; science, technology, and society programs; and programs in law, technology, and culture.

We are now accepting book proposals for the series. Preference will be given to monographs rather than edited volumes and books that are interdisciplinary, normative, and global in scope. Book proposals should include: 1) a prospectus (brief description, outstanding features and uniqueness of work, audience and market considerations, status of book, and recommended reviewers); 2) a detailed table of contents; 3) sample chapters; and 4) the author's curriculum vitae. Please submit completed proposals to laura.denardis@yale.edu and zimmerm@uwm.edu.

The Computer History Museum Prize is awarded by SIGCIS to the author of an outstanding book in the history of computing broadly conceived, published during the prior three years (e.g. books published in 2006-2008 are eligible for the inaugural 2009 award). Books in translation are eligible for three years following the date of their publication in English. The prize of $1000, established through the generosity of an anonymous donor who wishes to honor the Computer History Museum, is administered by SIGCIS, SHOT’s special interest group for computers, information and society. Publishers, authors, and other interested members of the computer-history community are invited to nominate books. Send one copy of the nominated title to each of the committee members listed below. To be considered, book submissions must be postmarked by 1 April 2009. For more information, please contact the prize committee chair or SIGCIS secretary.

The 2008 Joint Meeting of the BSHS, CSHPS, and HSS (aka 3 Societies) held at Keble College, Oxford in July was the site of several talks and sessions of interest to SIGCIS. These included a session I organized, titled ‚"Computing Without Borders: How Information Technology Crossed and Redefined Disciplinary Lines‚" and two others, "Computing in Industry and Academe‚Äù and ‚ÄúComputing and its Applications‚". The good scholarship and turnout across all the computing-related sessions point to a growing interest in computing among professional historians and philosophers of science. More details below.

Renowned historian, and friend and colleague of many SIGCIS members, Michael S. Mahoney, died last night. Further information, including UPDATES, is posted below.

One of the missions of SIGCIS is to create a repository of history of computing syllabi. The subject is taught all over the world, but there's not enough interaction between those who teach it. What better way to start than to share the syllabi we've developed?

If you would like to contribute yours to the collection here, just email it to november+at+sc.edu.

If you want preferential rates for registering for SHOT, you need to register before June 30.

Tom Haigh writes:

Hello everyone,

SHOT registration time is rolling around -- rather earlier than usual this year. Must be the Germanic efficiency of the organizers. Registration is online for the first time this year.

URL: http://www.shotlisbon2008.com/registration.htm

Advance registration, prior to June 30, is 130 Euros. Still painful when converted to dollars but is only half the rate 4S is demanding this year.

(Doron Swade's Computer History Museum Lecture on Charles Babbage and his Engines, May 10, 2008 at the Opening of the Babbage Exhibit at the Museum)

Alan J. Weissberger
IEEE Sr. Member and Program Chair IEEE ComSoc SCV

Disclaimer: All opinions, inferences and conclusions expressed in the article are that of noted Babbage authority Doron Swade, who presented the lecture. Dr. Swade later clarified various aspects of his talk as well as the construction of Babbage Difference Engine 2 at the London Museum of Science, where he was responsible for its construction and a documentary video.

The University of Minnesota's Charles Babbage Institute presents an international conference exploring the gender gap in computing on Friday, May 30, at the Charles Babbage Institute, Anderson Library, 222 21st Ave. S., Minneapolis. The conference is free and open to the public, but registration is required for lunch and/or dinner.

The conference, entitled History | Gender | Computing, features presenters from six countries who will observe that women were active participants in the early days of computer programming, but examine why computing today is one of the most gender-segregated domains of modern life. Complementing the presentations is a scheduled poster session, showcasing additional views and innovative projects, as well as a new exhibit, "Gendered Bits," exploring how gender has shaped the professional identities and material culture of computing.

http://www.umn.edu/~tmisa/gender/