American Society for Cybernetics

1) Abstracts by Presenter

2) Abstracts by Topic

3) Short Course

4) Public Forum

5) Schedule of Events

6) Registration Form

7) Location and Accomodation

Cybernetics of Praxis and the Praxis of Cybernetics

A Conference of the American Society for Cybernetics,

May 27 to May 29, 2001

(with extended activities May 23 to 25)

UBC Conference Center, Vancouver, Canada

This is the original pre-conference Webpage. A post-conference Legacy Webpage (and associated pages with, e.g., the papers developed from the conference) is also available at this site.

Cybernetics is a way of understanding, not a collection of facts. Thus it is a discipline in which we explore how it is that we do what we do through our participation in whatever we do. Cybernetics incorporates ideas from many other disciplines, and the concepts of cybernetics are also subsumed within other disciplines, such as biology, management, information sciences, ecology, education, healthcare, therapy, art, architecture, music, and many others. Indeed, the practical application of cybernetics lies in a wide variety of domains.

This conference will explore the "praxis" of cybernetics, that is, its application in any domain. Equally important, it will also explore the cybernetics of praxis, that is, what the awareness of how we do what we do modulates our activity in any domain. This is a conference for the practical and for the visionary. As such we envision it as an event of interest for the practical visionary and the reflective practitioner. We could say that we are concerned with the heart and soul of what we do.

Overview

Three distinct events are associated with this conference. (see preliminary schedule):

1. ASC Conference

May 27-29

UBC Conference Center, Vancouver BC

The first day will comprise thematic round table discussions of contributed synopeses of papers which have been circulated among the registrants. The second day will be a plenary presentation of the ideas. Experiential workshops, or "playshops" will leaven the proceedings in the middle of each day. The third day will extend the plenary according to papers received, or enable spontaneously organized activities, such as working groups, conversations, or a counter-conference to take place.

Submit abstracts for papers and playshops electronically or mail to conference coordinator Pille Bunnell, 2366 West 18^th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6L 1A8, Canada

DUE DATE extended to Feb. 15

2. Short Course ´Treasures of Second Order Cyberneticsª

May 23- 25

UBC Conference Center, Vancouver BC

A three-day introductory workshop presenting some of the treasures of Second Order Cybernetics for approximately 30 people

Course coordinator Dr. Scott Carley

3. Remaining Human Public Forum:

evening, May 25, and May 26

Frederick Wood Theater, UBC, Vancouver, Canada

In the face of our growing dependency on technology and complex organizational systems of human invention, there is a concern that the foundation of our humanness may become obscured in our rush towards "progress" and a the temptation to become "cyborgs". This forum features several noted scholars:

Dr. Humberto Maturana

Dr. Brian Swimme

Dr. Riane Eisler

Dr. Candace Pert

Dr. David Loye

Call for Abstracts

You are invited to submit an abstract that concerns the theme of Praxis. The set of abstracts will be organized by themes, and you will be asked to submit a synopsis paper which focuses on the insights and concerns related to yourwork. These will be distributed to registrants one month prior to the conference. Discussions will be organized around the themes, which will give you the opportunity to further develop your ideas. Thematic groups will choose which papers or which notions to present verbally in plenary. Final papers will be due 6 weeks after the conference.

Please submit abstracts to Pille Bunnell

Abstracts are due Feb 15

Publications

Persons who wish to submit papers will have a choice of which product to direct their paper to; and each will have a different review process. (We are still in negotiation with publishers)

1. Book

An edited volume based on the theme "Remaining Human" will include presentations by invited speakers and other relevant papers.

2. Refereed Journal

A special Issue of a maintream systems journal is being organized for those authors who wish to publish their papers in a refereed journal.

3. Proceedings on CD and Website

All submitted papers, edited with respect to readability, will be published as Proceedings on the ASC Website and as a CD to be distributed to all registrants.

4. Monographs

Papers of particular interest to the ASC Membership, which do not have copyright restrictions, may also be printed and distributed as part of the Monograph series.

Call for Playshops

Persons who wish to develop a playshop, that is, an experiential two-hour event that demonstrates some notion relevant to the conference theme, are invited to submit an abstract and to enter into conversation with the conference organizers. It is expected that playshops will be conducted for 10-30 people, and that we will have at least three concurrent playshops on both May 27 and 28. Currently we have offers for playshops involving voice, art, and poetry.

Please submit abstracts to Pille Bunnell

Playshop abstracts are due Feb 15

Facilities and Housing

The University of British Columbia Conference Center has pleasant accommodation, rooms with views across the ocean and mountains. Prices are reasonable, ranging from private bedrooms with shared bathroom, kitchen and living room for CDN$35 (approx.US$25) per night to small suites for CDN$90(approx. US$65) per night. There are student cafeterias and a few restaurants nearby as well as grocery shops. The various meeting rooms which we will use are close to the accommodations; the city of Vancouver is a 20 min bus or taxi ride from campus.

For further information

As we develop the details for the conference, we will be posting updates on this Website. If you would like further information, contact the Conference Coordinator:

Pille Bunnell

pille@interchange.ubc.ca

(604) 732 - 9864

2366 West 18^th Ave.

Vancouver, B.C.

Canada V6L 1A8