American Society for Cybernetics - 2002 Conference Main Page

Ecology (from Greek, oikos, "house") is the set of relationships among living systems and their environments. Ecology can be viewed as a systemic process that is

successful
self-maintaining
adaptive
evolutionary and revolutionary (via speciation)
autopoietic, self-creating
indifferent to disaster
not attached to outcome
circular

Design can be viewed as an iterative process of making represe ntations of increasing fidelity toward directed, evolving, elusive outcomes. Design is a systemic process that is

(potentially) adaptive
evolutionary and (potentially) revolutionary
(possibly) heading toward disaster
attached to outcome
circular

Conversation is a medium in which representations of design ar ise and evolve. Design occurs in conversation, and is configured and bound by it. Conversation is a systemic process that is

self-maintaining
adaptive
evolutionary and revolutionary (via speciation of concepts)
autopoietic, self-creating
unaware of disaster
circular

QUESTIONS:

.. .to be Addressed in the Conference

Context

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What can understanding of conversation bring to an understanding of ecology?

What can ecological understanding bring to design?

Specifically:

In all designing there is dissonance between the ideal, which is vague and perfect, and the manifestation in the world of an outcome, which is detailed and imperfect.

How do we go from ideal to outcome, and return to the ideal to evaluate the result?
Can we form practical alternatives to ideals, whose brittle nature makes them difficult participants?
What structures can bridge the gap between ideals and outcomes?

Designing toward outcomes conjures concepts of purpose, feedback, and scaffolding (i.e., artifacts) in support of collaboration - in other words, designing conjures cybernetics. Designing requires collaboration, even if across perspectives in a single designer, and collaboration requires artifacts as intermediaries across time, space, and revision.

What cybernetic models bring understanding of ecology?
Given a cybernetic frame, what are the relationships between conversation and design?
How can we hear new feedback without being held hostage to old?

The ecology is both an example of design and a victim of our not designing.

What is the role of representation in ecological understanding?
What value has ecology as a model for artifacts and social structures?
How can ecological designing return benefit to the ecology?

IN SUM...

...our conference proposes to debate the assertion:

"Design is successful in proportion to its conformance with the systemics of ecology".

AGENDA:

Preliminary Schedule of Events

Thursday
June 13

Friday Itinerary

Saturday Itinerary

Sunday Itinerary

Context

Questions

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Registration:

11:30 - 1:30 and 4:00 - 6:00

Opening
Conversations:

There will be three "Opening conversations" which introduce Cybernetics, Ecology and Design within the context of the conference. These "tutorials with conversation" are intended for novices and experts alike.

Two of these opening conversations will occur on Thursday, and the third will occur on Friday.

These activities are an optional part of the conference and are covered by the registration fee.

Thursday Itinerary

Opening Conversation I: Cybernetics
Paul Pangaro: 9:00 - 10:30 presentation
10:30 - 11:30 questions and conversation
Lunch: 11:30 - 1:30
Opening Conversation II: Design
Hugh Dubberly: 1:30 - 3:00 presentation
3:00 - 4:00 questions and conversation
Reception, Baskin courtyard: 4:00 - 5:00
Dinner: 5:00 - 7:00
Introduction and Public Lecture
Introduction to the conference
Galuszka and Pangaro: 7:00 - 8:00
Systemic Laws: Ecology and Understanding
Humberto Maturana: 8:00 - 9:30 Lecture
9:30 - 10:30 questions and conversation
( This lecture will be open to the public at no cost )

Friday
June 14

Thursday Itinerary

Saturday Itinerary

Sunday Itinerary

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Registration:

8:30 - 9:30

Tutorials with conversations:

The third 'opening conversation' / tutorial will be held on Friday.

Friday Itinerary

Opening Conversation III: Ecology
Pille Bunnell: 9:00 - 10:30 presentation
10:30 - 11:30 questions and conversation
Lunch: 11:30 - 1:30
Plenary I: "Opening a Semantic Space": 1:30 - 4:00 plenary panel
Walk on the cliffs and beach, Davenport: 5:00 - 6:00
Dinner: 6:00 - 8:00
Plenary II: "Against Designing": 8:00 - 10:00 plenary panel

Saturday
June 15

Thursday Itinerary

Friday Itinerary

Sunday Itinerary

Context

Questions

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Transportation

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ASC Business
Meeting:

9:00 - 10:00

Saturday Itinerary

Plenary III: Ecology: "The Design of Design": 10:00- 12:00 plenary panel
Lunch: 12:00 - 2:00
Plenary IV: "Ecological Understanding": 2:00 - 4:00 plenary panel
Redwood stroll at Cowell forest: 5:00 - 6:00
(Evening Free)

Sunday
June 16

Thursday Itinerary

Friday Itinerary

Saturday Itinerary

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Sunday Itinerary

Plenary V: "Ecological Understanding II" (Wrap-Up Meeting): 9:00- 11:00
Self-organized groups to wetlands at Elkhorn Slough or tidepools at Point Lobos: 11:00 - ?

TRANSPORTATION:

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Area Overview
Maps
(U. C. Santa Cruz)

Local Guide
(Yahoo)

Getting to Santa Cruz: Santa Cruz is accessible from either San Francisco (SFO) and San Jose Airports. San Jose Airport is about 45 minutes by car or bus, and San Francico is about an hour and a half away, depending on traffic. Monterey Airport is also nearby.
Transportation to and from San Jose and SFO airports:
Santa Cruz Airporter (831) 423 1214
Getting around Santa Cruz: The conference is on the University of Santa Cruz campus.
There are two entrances to the campus, Main and West, and signs to the conference will be posted from both entrances. The conference site is nearer to the West Entrance of campus. The actual buildings are Baskin Fine Arts and the Music Center which is a short walk down the hill from Baskin. There is a parking lot between Baskin and the Music Center.
The easiest way to get around Santa Cruz is in a car. We recommend carpooling.
If you are bringing a car onto campus, you must purchase a parking pass to park near the conference site. Please call TAPS (Transportation and Parking Services) (831) 459-2190 about reserving a parking pass.
Public transportation: Public buses (green and red bus routes) stop a five to ten minute walk away from conference site, on Heller Drive.
On campus shuttles also stop near conference site.
Santa Cruz Metro Transit:
(831 ) 425 8600/ (831) 425 8993
Metro Online
(Information and Route Data)
Taxi services:: Yellowcab (831) 423 1234 24 hr service
Village Taxi (831) 662 8294 (831) 688 8294 24 hr service
Santa Cruz de Lux Cab (831) 462 6063
Rental cars in Santa Cruz: Avis 630 Ocean St (831) 423 1244
Budget 919 Ocean St (831) 425-1808
Sears 919 Ocean St (831) 429-1030

ACCOMMODATIONS:

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Please make your own arrangements for accommodation directly with the hotels.

As Santa Cruz is a resort town as well as a college town, there is a great variety in lodgings and restaurants near the conference site. Since it is a resort town, we advise you to make your bookings well in advance.

The conference site, on USCS campus, is on a hill overlooking the Westside of Santa Cruz. Two motels on the Westside are both on Mission Street, the main street which continues as Highway 1 up the coast north of Santa Cruz. Both of these motels are approximately 8-10 minutes drive to the conference site, up Western Drive from Mission Street.