December 2017 - Air-L - lists.aoir.org

History and origins of diffusion processes
by Thomas Ball 03 Dec '17

03 Dec '17

If one looks up the word 'diffusion' in the *Dictionary of the History of Science*, you get the standard explanation that 'diffusion' originated in the 19th c with Graham and Maxwell and has a Latin etymology in the word, *diffundere*, which means "to spread out." There has to be more to the story than this, right? Earlier references might include the "diffusion of refracted light" in Robert Greene (1727) and "diffusion of light" in Newton's *Optical Lectures* (1728). My question for these listservs is, does anyone have any additional insight into the history and origins of the abstract idea of 'diffusion?' Thank you, Thomas Ball

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My New Book
by Jacob Dankasa 02 Dec '17

02 Dec '17

For those interested in the intersection of Information, religion and technology with a focus on Africa, my book, “Technology for Ministry: Best Practices for Evangelization on Social Media and the Internet in Africa” (Published by the Paulines Publications Africa - 2017), may be of interest to you. Available at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B077T1VWM6 http://www.amazon.com/dp/9785468402 The book presents the benefits of the social media and the Internet and the best ways to use these technologies to achieve the goal of new media evangelization in Africa. It creates in-depth awareness of what religious organizations (focusing on the Christian religion) can do with the evolving tools of the new media technology, and how they can use these tools for cutting edge pastoral ministry. Because of the way social media has caused problems for organizations and entities, religious organizations in many parts of the world have developed social media policies that will enhance user experience and forestall or prevent the occurrence of problems that may harm their organizational reputation or draw lawsuits due to personnel activities on the social media and the Internet. Unfortunately, most religious organizations in Africa are not proactive on this regard. The book provides a guide for religious organizations in Africa on how to develop a social media policy that will enhance the experience of their organizational personnel and keep them safe online. Today, anyone with an Internet can write and publish online. This raises the question of information quality. Religious information is one of many victims of online misinformation. The book provides a how-to guide for personnel of religious organizations and people of faith on the best ways to assess and identify quality and credible information from online resources for their ministry and personal growth. Although the book is written with the African audience in mind, it includes a broader perspective that may be of benefit to people of faith globally who use the social media and the Internet, regardless of geographical location or culture. The book will be of help to anyone who is interested in the decent use of the tools of the new technology to interact, to learn and to teach. Jacob Dankasa, Ph.D. Sent from my iPad

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Position of Assistant Professor in Indigenous Art and Media
by Gabriella "Biella" Coleman 02 Dec '17

02 Dec '17

Please circulate far and wide. All best, Gabriella http://www.mcgill.ca/ahcs/channels/news/job-posting-assistant-professor-ind… * * * * The Department of Art History and Communication Studies at McGill University invites applications for the *position of Assistant Professor in Indigenous Art and Media *(tenure-track). Candidates must demonstrate outstanding research potential and publication records, substantial and relevant teaching experience or potential, and a commitment to interdisciplinary inquiry and the support of diverse intellectual communities. We welcome candidates working in, or across, the fields of Indigenous art, visual and material culture, and media (including but not limited to photography, sound, performance, textile, video, film, installation, elemental media and new media). A research and teaching concentration that demonstrates understanding of Indigenous knowledges, methodologies, epistemologies, histories and pedagogies is expected. Preference will be given to candidates whose work engages with Indigenous experiences in North America, drawing on decolonizing and/or other Indigenous perspectives as informed by their involvement with Indigenous communities, organizations, and institutions. In addition to developing courses in their areas of expertise, the successful candidate will teach a variety of courses at the undergraduate and graduate level, supervise graduate students, and contribute to the intellectual life of the university. Applicants must have a PhD in hand at the time of appointment or be within a year of completion (in which case, a deferred starting date can be arranged). The appointment is scheduled to begin August 1, 2018. Inquiries about this position can be sent to the department chair, Dr. Mary Hunter, at: mary.hunter2(a)mcgill.ca <mailto:mary.hunter2@mcgill.ca>. Applications should include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, three letters of recommendation, evidence of teaching experience and effectiveness (for example: sample course syllabi and summaries of teaching evaluations), and two writing samples (20-30 pages). *The committee will begin reviewing applications on January 22, 2018; applications received after that date may not receive full consideration.* All materials, including referees’ letters of recommendation, must be submitted electronically on AcademicJobsOnline : https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/10535. Interviews are expected to take place in February and March 2018. Preference will be given to applicants who self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit). Knowledge of Indigenous languages and French is an asset. English is the language of instruction at McGill. McGill University is committed to diversity and equity in employment. It welcomes applications from: women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, persons of minority sexual orientation or gender identity, racialized/visual minorities, and others who may contribute to diversification. McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of equity-seeking groups to self-identify. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, Professor Angela Campbell, Associate Provost (Equity and Academic Policies). All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. For further information: http://www.mcgill.ca/ahcs/ -- Gabriella Coleman Wolfe Chair in Scientific and Technological Literacy Department of Art History & Communication Studies McGill University 853 Sherbrooke Street West Montreal, PQ H3A 0G5 http://gabriellacoleman.org/ 514-398-8572

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request for literature/materials on machine translation
by Isabelle Zaugg 02 Dec '17

02 Dec '17

Dear community, I'm looking for info on cutting edge innovations on machine translation. I'm requesting info as part of the leadership team behind the "Global Language Justice" Mellon-Sawyer Seminar at Columbia University's Institute for Comparative Literature and Society. We're interested in understanding the potential benefits and limits to how machine translation can make the digital sphere more accessible to digitally-disadvantaged communities. Any help is much appreciated. Many thanks in advance, Isabelle Isabelle A. Zaugg, PhD Postdoctoral Research Scholar Mellon-Sawyer Seminar in Global Language Justice Institute for Comparative Language and Society Columbia University

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Question about PhD programs that combine Digital Humanities/Internet Studies with Literature Studies
by Julia Kott 02 Dec '17

02 Dec '17

Seeking a PhD program that would combine literary studies with DH. Are there such programs? Where would be a good place to look for that? Thank you, Julia

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Prevalence of Trolling Behavior
by Hayes, Rebecca M 01 Dec '17

01 Dec '17

Hello Everyone, I am searching for population-based research on the prevalence of trolling behaviors. I have some books (Phillips, 2015 and Coleman, 2014) on this topic, but can not find research that discusses commonality of the behavior. While I know it is difficult to study trolling, even defining it is up for debate, but I would like to read more research. Any suggestions? This has not really been studied within criminology, and therefore I am coming up empty-handed. Any advice is very much appreciated! Best, Becky

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new materials for teaching/thinking about AI, Algorithms and Accountability
by Christian Sandvig 01 Dec '17

01 Dec '17

Dear AoIR colleagues, Following up on my September emails, a number of recordings and resources related to the conference are online. Two of them had wide participation from the Internet, so thank you to the Internet and the air-l mailing list for that. Some of the things available now: The Compressed Auditing Algorithms Film Festival - a ~45 minute program of short films and excerpts investigating depictions of algorithms in popular media and education (all videos online) The Computer Says No: The Bad News About Online Discrimination in Algorithmic Systems - a recording of a 90-minute interactive roundtable intended for a general audience How to Watch Them Watching You: Researching Social Media, Online Platforms, and Algorithmic Systems From the Outside - a recording of a 90-minute interactive roundtable intended for Internet researchers Just Google Me* - an alternative business card that you can hand out instead of your own, if you want to Algorithms Dérive - an app-based self-guided, collaboratively-produced tour intended to promote reflection about algorithms The Top 10 Kinds of Fairness - A 20-minute talk promoting a new research directions for the FAT (Fairness, Accountability, Transparency) technical community. It argues for an expansive definition of fairness that goes beyond “statistical” fairness or “comparative” fairness, and for automated monitoring for fairness as a research problem. All are at... http://auditingalgorithms.science/ ...with more things on the way. I hope this is helpful, Christian ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Christian Sandvig <csandvig(a)umich.edu> Date: Thu, Sep 28, 2017 at 10:41 AM Subject: Reminder: Starts TODAY: Live-streams of THE COMPUTER SAYS NO + HOW TO WATCH THEM WATCHING YOU (4pm EDT) To: air-l(a)listserv.aoir.org Dear AoIR colleagues, A reminder that the first event (of two) starts today at 4 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (UTC/GMT -4 hours). Hope to "see" you "there" via the question tool or on twitter! Feel free to forward. Best, Christian ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Christian Sandvig <csandvig(a)umich.edu> Date: Thu, Sep 21, 2017 at 6:38 PM Subject: Mark Your Calendar: Live-streams of THE COMPUTER SAYS NO + HOW TO WATCH THEM WATCHING YOU (9/28-9/29) To: air-l(a)listserv.aoir.org Hello AoIR colleagues, We'll be hosting a workshop with some familiar AoIR people next week. I'm writing to this list because we will be live-streaming two of our public events on YouTube and I am wondering if you would like to "attend." We will be taking questions from the Internet via Twitter and the BKC question tool. Even if you are not in the right timezone, I hope this will be of interest. I dare Europe to stay awake for the first one, and Australians to stay awake for the second one. Live-Streamed Events: THE COMPUTER SAYS NO: The Bad News About Online Discrimination in Algorithmic Systems Thursday, September 28, 2017 4:00-5:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (UTC/GMT -4 hours) http://auditingalgorithms.science/?p=53 HOW TO WATCH THEM WATCHING YOU: Researching Social Media, Online Platforms, and Algorithmic Systems From the Outside Friday, September 29, 2017 10-11:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (UTC/GMT -4 hours) http://auditingalgorithms.science/?p=64 The overall occasion is a workshop entitled "Auditing Algorithms: Adding Accountability to Automated Authority," explained here: http://auditingalgorithms.science/ Its goal is a white paper about this area of research, which I expect to emailing this list about again in the future. We are also working on some weirder participatory online activities -- if you like these topics you'll want to jump on in on them. More on that after these events. For more context, here is a related quote: "The equations of big-data algorithms have permeated almost every aspect of our lives. A massive industry has grown up to comb and combine huge data sets — documenting, for example, Internet habits — to generate profiles of individuals. These often target advertising, but also inform decisions on credit, insurance and more. They help to control the news or adverts we see, and whether we get hired or fired. They can determine whether surveillance and law-enforcement agencies flag us as likely activists or dissidents — or potential security or criminal threats….Largely absent from the widespread use of such algorithms are the rules and safeguards that govern almost every other aspect of life in a democracy. There is an asymmetry in algorithmic power and accountability…Fortunately, a strong movement for greater algorithmic accountability is now under way. Researchers hope to find ways to audit for bias….Society needs to discuss in earnest how to rid software and machines of human bugs." –Unsigned Editorial, Nature (2016) Hope you'll be "there", Christian (on behalf of the co-organizers) -- http://www-personal.umich.edu/~csandvig/

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Advice: pitching STS work to AI scientists
by MG 01 Dec '17

01 Dec '17

Hi AOIR list, I'm writing to ask for advice on pitching doctoral work grounded in an STS approach to AI scientists at an ethics and society conference. (They expressly ask for early stage PhD and Masters students to apply). Does anyone have advice on how to shape work that is mostly critical of how AI science approaches questions of ethics to the AI science community itself? I imagine that anyone doing any kind of critical STS work and engaging with scientists working in that discipline might have insights and references. It would be nice to have my abstract accepted, but I'm also interested in engaging with this community. Thanks, Maya -- Doctoral candidate, Leuphana University Die Fakultät Kulturwissenschaften / ICAM T: @mayameme W: bodyofwork.in Fingerprint: D108 EA05 471F 709B E644 18E6 2A9F A109 16D7 EE98

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