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http://sfpc.io/codeecologies/
December 15, 2018. 1~6pm
School for Poetic Computation, 155 Bank St, NYC
Free Registration, Limited seating
ASL interpretation, Real Time Captioning, disability and access needs will
be supported
A portion of the event will be live-streamed
Code Ecologies is an open forum to explore the environmental impact of
computation. This public event is organized by a group of faculty and
alumni from the School for Poetic Computation who are passionate about
environmental justice. Through presentations and discussions, we will
explore the negative influence of computational technologies and network
infrastructure on the natural environment, and the precarious conditions
they create for the habitat we share among various species.
“Digital” is falsely seen as virtual or non physical, when in fact “cloud
computing” doesn’t happen in the clouds – there are massive data centers,
cooling facilities, fiber optic cables, mineral extraction, electronic
waste, and other physical infrastructures. On the other side of the arms
race for smarter and faster AI, there’s a lack of understanding and
accountability – individual or organizational – for how our use of machine
learning, blockchain or ‘whatever new’ impacts the Earth. Tech companies
offer forgiveness and even encouragement for misusing and abusing
electronic devices, for example on Black Friday. Online services and apps
create an illusion of seamless interaction between computational devices
and data which evaporate into thin air after their life cycles. None of
this make-believe is true. We need to challenge the disparity between the
conveniences of smart devices, and our complicity with destructive
technology, as users and creators.
At the School for Poetic Computation, we approach code from artistic,
poetic, critical and philosophical perspectives. Considering how poetry
explores the transformative qualities of the language and computation
enables transfer of information at scale, we hope to bring together
activists, poets, scientists, artists and community members to discuss
“What should we do about it?”
Co-organized by Taeyoon Choi, Nabil Hassein and Sonia Boller.