cjoslyn@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu (Cliff Joslyn) (03/15/90)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> CALL FOR PAPERS <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< E C O L O G I C A L U N D E R S T A N D I N G The 1990 Meeting of the American Society for Cybernetics in cooperation with The University of Oslo Oslo, Norway August 20-24, 1990 The annual meeting of the American Society for Cybernetics (ASC) will for the second time be held in Europe, this time in Oslo. The choice of venue reflects an emerging consciousness within the Scandinavian cybernetics community as well as international recognition of a collection of related ideas presently being formulated and implemented in the Nordic countries. Lacking a local unifying forum, Scandinavian cyberneticians have invariably been the largest foreign contingent at the annual meetings of the ASC in recent years. This suggests a certain affinity between cybernetics and "the Scandinavian approach" to systems development, work research, family therapy, informatics, anthropology, peace research, eco- philosophy, cognitive science, education, communication and organizational theory, an affinity which is just beginning to be recognized and understood. It is the hope of the organizing committee that the 1990 meeting of the ASC will give participants the opportunity to explore the patterns that connect, providing new sources of insight and inspiration and the foundation for a much-needed Scandinavian society for cybernetic based activities. The conference theme, ECOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING, embodies much of the unique character of the Scandinavian perspective: >> A skeptical attitude towards purveyors of "the simple solution" and "the quick fix"; a basic distrust of anyone offering "a free lunch". >> An effort to include all relevant loops/circuits in any description, e.g. inclusion of the researcher or change agent in descriptions of families, organizations and other systems. >> A commitment to understanding the qualities of process as well as a concern with the outcome of a process. >> A primary focus which extends beyond the individual organization or system; the profound influence of trade unionism, feminism, eco-philosophy and class-oriented perspectives - i.e., a fundamental concern for ecology in many senses. >> Approaches to systems development, therapeutic encounters and democracy in the work place emphasizing participation, cooperation, democratic dialog based on mutual respect and various other alternatives to hierarchical, expert/interventionist models. >> A concern with the ethical and epistemological foundations of praxis. >> A desire to seriously explore the possibilities provided by second-order cybernetics and constructivist approaches to knowing and understanding. PROPOSALS addressing these and related issues, in any field, theoretical or applied, are welcome. These may be for individual papers, panels, workshops, dialogues, or other forms of participation/presentation. ASC STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS: The ASC Scholarship Fund will provide a limited number of student scholarships in order to encourage students and others who have not previously attended ASC events to participate. Please contact the organizers at the address below for more information. LOCATION: The meeting will be held at the Sundvolden Hotel, 30 km. from Fornebu (Oslo's main airport). The hotel is situated on Lake Tyrifjorden with Oslo's huge, forested recreational eldorado, "Nordmarka", at its back door. Hundreds of miles of well-marked trails for hiking and bicycling, fishing and excursions to Oslo (45 min. by bus) await participants. DEADLINE: We invite your participation. Proposals must be received by May 1, 1990 and should include: 1. a title and abstract (300-500 words) 2. for special issue seminars, a short reading list (50-100 pages of reading) 3. a description of format(s) (e.g., seminar, performance, paper presentation, plenary, demonstration, etc.) 4. audio-visual requirements Proposals must be submitted in either camera ready hard copy OR on a 5 1/4" or 3 1/2" MS-DOS 3.2 compatible floppy disk: ASCII, Wordperfect 4.2/5.0. ADDRESS: Proposals and requests for further information should be mailed to: Per Helmersen University of Oslo Institute of Psychology Box 1094, Blindern 0317 OSLO 3, NORWAY Telephone: +47 2 609230 Internet: S_HELMERSEN%USE.UIO.UNINETT@TOR.NTA.NO Bitnet: S_HELMERSEN%USE.UIO.UNINETT@NORUNIX Usenet: use.uio.uninett!S_HELMERSEN@ubc-vision.uucp FAX: +47 2 454419 Conference information can also be obtained by contacting Dr. Frederick Steier, Center for Cybernetic Studies in Complex Systems, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23529, U.S.A. (telephone: [804] 683-4848). >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> PLEASE POST <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< -- O-------------------------------------------------------------------------> | Cliff Joslyn, Cybernetician at Large, cjoslyn@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu | Systems Science, SUNY Binghamton, Box 1070, Binghamton NY 13901, USA V All the world is biscuit shaped. . .