Note: a previous version of this call had incorrect dates for the symposium. 
This is the corrected version.

CALL FOR PAPERS:
Technologies and Improvisation:
Tools and theories for uncertain futures
Nordic Summer University Symposium
February 7-9, 2018
University of Gothenburg, Sweden
Hosted by the Cybioses: Shaping Human-Technology Futures Group of the Nordic 
Summer University, together with the Department of Computer Science and 
Engineering and the Department of Philosophy, Linguistics and Theory of 
Science, at University of Gothenburg.
We invite scholars, artists, technologists and other professionals working or 
writing on future technologies to take part in our first Nordic Summer 
University symposium.
The aim of the symposium is to bring together theorists, designers and 
technologists. Together we want to discuss practices of making and the social 
and cultural impact of future technologies. How can philosophical questions 
support the development of technologies? How in turn can technological 
practices and development inform philosophical and sociological theories? And 
how can both making and theorizing help us imagining future technologies and 
their impact on societies? Guided by these questions we want to develop a 
philosophy for makers and a better practice for philosophy.
Our first symposium investigates the role of improvisation in technological 
development and philosophy. As technologists and theorists, we improvise when 
we don’t know how to continue. We improvise when we move in unknown territory 
or when time does not allow for a systemic investigation. And yet, 
improvisation follows patterns. Is there is good and bad improvisation, and 
good and bad improvisers? What role does improvisation play in the development 
of technologies? How can technologies improve improvisation? And what can 
different practices and theories of improvisation tell us about future 
technologies?
We explicitly want to foster exchange between humanities-based researchers, 
makers and artists. The interdisciplinary discussion of technological futures 
has yet to find its forms within and outside of academia. Our aim is, 
therefore, to test different forms of presentation. We encourage participants 
to briefly present one particular technology or one particular theory about a 
technology. The individual presentations will be complemented with open 
discussion rounds and documentation rounds. The focus on brief showcases, 
together with the small format of the workshop allows for extended and deep 
discussions, and prevents endless boring paper sessions.
Topics we hope to discuss during the symposium include:

·        philosophy of improvisation

·        the relationship between technology and improvisation

·        designing for improvisation

·        improvisation, technology and survival

·        technology and improvisation in conflict and crisis management

·        improvisation in design

·        design fictions

·        improvisation in previous futures (historical case studies)

·        cognition and improvisation

·        improvisation and AI

·        improvisation in engineering

·        prediction and improvisation in future studies

·        improvisation in the art world

How to participate
We are looking for brief technological and philosophical showcases limited to 
20 minutes. You could either present a particular technology, particular theory 
or case study you are working on.
To submit a proposal please send via email to the coordinators
Palle Dahlstedt palle [dot] dahlstedt [at] gu [dot] 
se<mailto:[email protected]>
Rafael Dernbach rkd32 [at] cam [dot] ac [dot] uk<mailto:[email protected]>
Johan Söderberg johan.soderberg [at] sts [dot] gu [dot] 
se<mailto:johan.soderberg@sts%20[dot]%20gu%20[dot]%20se>
1.    A written short proposal (max. 300 words) with a title
2.    A short bio (max. 200 words)
It is possible to attend the symposium without presenting. In this case, please 
just email a short bio.
The deadline to submit proposals is January 5th, 2018. Notifications of 
accepted presentations will be sent before the preliminary program is announced 
on January 8th, 2018 on www.nordic.university.
Registration and Fee
Students, freelancers, unemployed: 30€
Those associated with institutions:  45€
This cost includes meals (lunches, coffee breaks, and conference dinner) as 
well as conference materials.
Arrival: 7.2.2018
Departure: 9.2.2018
Scholarship
A limited number of participants with low income (i.e. students and unemployed) 
can ask to have the fee waived. Subsidies are conditioned on available funds. A 
limited number of free accommodations in private homes are also available. 
Please mention in your application, if you want to be considered for a 
scholarship and/or private accommodation, together with a motivation.
The Nordic Summer University (NSU) is a Nordic network for research and 
interdisciplinary studies.
NSU is a nomadic, academic institution, which organises workshop-seminars 
across disciplinary and national borders. Since it was established in 1950, 
Nordic Summer University has organised forums for cultural and intellectual 
debate in the Nordic and Baltic region, involving students, academics, 
politicians, and intellectuals from this region and beyond.
Decisions about the content and the organisational form of the NSU lay with its 
participants. The backbone of the activities in the NSU consists of its 
thematic study circles. In the study circles researchers, students and 
professionals from different backgrounds collaborate in scholarly 
investigations distributed regularly in summer and winter symposia during a 
three-year period.
For more information, see: www.nordic.university<http://www.nordic.university/>

        [LogoNSU07]





Note: a previous version of this call had incorrect dates for the symposium. 
This is the corrected version.

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