Despite being part of broader studies on science, engineering, and technology, computing maintains a distinct identity and significance within the sciences and humanities. The Computing Working Group brings together scholars from history, media studies, science and technology studies, industry, and explores the history of computing, up to the present, through many lenses: technical, economic, material, political, cultural, theoretical, historiographical and more. It holds two kinds of meetings. In the first, members and invited scholars present their pre-circulated publications, research, or works-in-progress for discussion. Second, workshops or panels with selected panelists and wider community engagement are held on a theme in computing, aiming to establish consensus or determine the available positions. Themes involve topics in the history of computing, historiographical issues, or the broader interface of computing and society. The Computing Working Group is open to all interested scholars and industry professionals.

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Upcoming Meetings

Thursday, September 10, 2026, 12:00 - 1:30 pm EDT

Island Tinkerers: Innovation and Transformation in the Making of Taiwan's Computing Industry

At our inaugural meeting, Honghong Tinn will be presenting her recent book Island Tinkerers (MIT Press, 2025) with a focus on Chapter 10. It will be followed by a commentary from Chen-Pang Yeang, and then general discussion and Q&A.

Required reading: Chapter 10 and/or the introduction. Recommended reading: the entire book.

The book is open access and may be found here: https://direct.mit.edu/books/oa-monograph/5889/Island-TinkerersInnovation-and-Transformation-in

Prior to the presentation, there will be a brief introductory presentation of the working group.

Thursday, October 8, 2026, 12:00 - 1:30 pm EDT

TBA

Thursday, November 12, 2026, 12:00 - 1:30 pm EST

TBA

Thursday, December 10, 2026, 12:00 - 1:30 pm EST

TBA

Thursday, January 14, 2027, 12:00 - 1:30 pm EST

TBA

Thursday, February 11, 2027, 12:00 - 1:30 pm EST

TBA

Thursday, March 11, 2027, 12:00 - 1:30 pm EST

TBA

Thursday, April 8, 2027, 12:00 - 1:30 pm EDT

TBA

Thursday, May 13, 2027, 12:00 - 1:30 pm EDT

TBA

Group Conveners

Yoehan Oh

Yoehan Oh, Ph.D. (he/him) is a Visiting Assistant Professor, in the Science, Technology, Health, and Society (STHS) Program at the University of Puget Sound. Previously, he was a Postdoctoral Associate and Lecturer at Yale University, where he co-organized the Asian Americans and STEM initiative. Trained in STS (Science and Technology Studies), his research focuses on the history and social studies of computer science, information technology, and data infrastructures across the U.S., East Asia, and Asian America. His book project, based on his dissertation supported by the Jongha Scholarship Foundation and the D. Kim Foundation for the History of Science & Technology in East Asia, examines the recent history of platform sovereignty through a South Korean case study. Another research project of his is the history of computing, A.I., neoliberal multiculturalism, and human labor and creativity, supported by the ACM (Association of Computing Machineries) History Committee Fellowship.

 

Kye Palider

Kye Palider is a PhD student at the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, University of Toronto. He holds an MA in philosophy from the Department of Philosophy, University of Toronto. His current research explores the history and philosophy of connectionism and neural networks. More specifically, his research aims to be a historical ontology of the concept of connectionism, which he traces back to 19th-century British empiricism, and broadens to a scientific mode of explanation in biophysics. His project also aims to bring historical perspectives to bear on current philosophical debates surrounding connectionism in the form of integrated history and philosophy of science.

 

Chen-Pang Yeang

Chen-Pang Yeang is a Professor at the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, University of Toronto. He is the author of Probing the Sky with Radio Waves (Chicago, 2013) and Transforming Noise (Oxford, 2023). His ongoing research includes the histories of transnational platforms for digital hardware production, electric-wave experiments and theories in the late 19th century, linguistics and language modernization in 20th-century China, and quantum computing and communication.

 

84 Members

The first meeting of the Academy was held on the second floor, above an apothecary shop, on January 25, 1812

The first meeting of the Academy was held on the second floor, above an apothecary shop, on January 25, 1812.