Dear FIS colleagues,
During last five years we have had quite many discussion sessions in a row
(for the new parties arrived recently, there are a couple of web sites
where messages are systematically archived--see below). As suggested by
some discussants, having some long pause was needed --particularly by
myself. During this interim, a refurbishing of the web pages has been
planned, and also some way to organize the discussion topics, including the
formation of a fis board. Well, we will see how things result but, in any
case, the list should maintain its peculiar exploratory freedom and
spontaneity.
Ideas for next sessions will be very welcome. Preferably, proposed topics
have to be accompanied by an invitee external to the list (we need
novelty!) acting as a chair of the session and producing the kickoff text,
with maybe a fis member accompanying as co-chair.
Fifteen years from now FIS started its public activities. Michael Conrad
and me, with the cooperation of Koichiro Matsuno and Tom Stonier, had
attempted a conference in Toledo (Spain) for the summer of 1992, and a
couple of preparatory newsletters on "foundations of information science"
were circulated in photocopies (with curious contributions of people like
Ramon Margalef, Gordon Scarrott, Rick Welch, Fernando Carvalho, etc.).
Finally, we got our first FIS conference in Madrid in 1993, thanks to the
involvement of Fivos Panetsos. And the rest of the story can be followed
more or less in scholarly literature and the webs. During these years it
was sad that Gordon, Tom, Michael and Ray passed away... great scientists,
and great persons.
Well, we are now close to 170 in the list, and a Science of Information
Institute promoted by some fis members is almost ready to start public
activities. Indeed a reflection on FIS itself would be convenient at the
time being, and probably it will take place amongst the next sessions (but
freewheeling comments on our enterprise can be posted perfectly during this
pause).
Overall, with more than 2700 messages exchanged and half dozen real and
e-conferences convened, we have done a pretty intense collective work
during all these years. However, it is amazing that the fundamental
question of What is Information? has kept its freshness and initial appeal
almost intact!
cordial regards
Pedro
http://webmail.unizar.es/pipermail/fis/
http://fis.icts.sbg.ac.at/mailings/
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