News
We are happy to announce the official start of the 3rd phase of our Collaborative Research Center Media of Cooperation. We warmly welcome all members – a special welcome goes out to our new projects and new project members! We are very pleased to have the following project join our team:
A07 – Industry of Personal Data, led by Max Becker (together with Marcus Burkhardt)
B09 – Bicycle Media: Analyses of a Cooperatively Moving Medium, led by Julia Bee
P04 – Precision Farming: Co-operative Practices of Virtual Fencing, led by Kathrin Friedrich (together with Tristan Thielmann)
P05 – Social Interaction in Semi-Automated Road Traffic, led by Shadan Sadeghian and Kristof van Laerhoven
P06 – War Sensing, led by Migle Bareikyte
Ö – Public Relations: Researching and Designing Cooperatively, led by Julia Bee (together with Jutta Wiesemann and Martin Zillinger)
We look forward to our final four years of collaborative research, intensive fieldwork, methods development, interdisciplinary cooperation, and final publications. In the coming years, we will once again advance our agenda to explore the relation between sensing & sense-making and the cooperative accomplishment of sensory media and develop our take on sensory praxeology. At the same we can draw on eight years of experience of working on cooperation and working cooperatively. As the DFG puts it in their acceptance letter: “The third funding period promises a rich harvest phase and at the same time marks a new beginning and perspectives for further research beyond the Collaborative Research Center.” (translation).
Our CRC member Daniela van Geenen (A03) edited together with Karin van Es & Jonathan Gray the special issue “Critical Technical Practice(s) in Digital Research” that has now been published in Convergence (Vol. 30, Issue 1).
In this special issue, they turn to ideas of and approaches to critical technical practices (CTPs) as entry points to doing critique and doing things critically in digitally mediated cultures and societies. They explore the pluralisation of ‘critical technical practice’, starting from its early formulations in the context of AI research and development (Agre, 1997a, 1997b) to the many ways in which it has resonated and been taken up by different publications, projects, groups, and communities of practice, and what it has come to mean. Agre defined CTP as a situational, practical, and constructive way of working: ‘a technical practice for which critical reflection upon the practice is part of the practice itself’ (1997a: XII). Communities of practice in which the notion has been adopted, adapted, and put to use range from human–computer interaction (HCI) to media art and pedagogy, from science and technology studies (STS) and computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) to digital humanities, media studies and data studies. This special issue serves as an invitation to (re)consider what it means to use this notion drawing on a wider body of work, including beyond Agre. In this introduction, they review and discuss CTPs according to (1) Agre, (2) indexed research, and (3) contributors to this special issue. They conclude with some questions and considerations for those interested in working with this notion.
The issue is at the same time timely and timeless, featuring contributions by Tatjana Seitz & Sam Hind; Michael Dieter; Jean-Marie John-Mathews, Robin De Mourat, Donato Ricci & Maxime Crépel; Anders Koed Madsen; Winnie Soon & Pablo Velasco; Mathieu Jacomy & Anders Munk; Jessica Ogden, Edward Summers & Shawn Walker; Urszula Pawlicka-Deger; Simon Hirsbrunner, Michael Tebbe & Claudia Müller-Birn; Bernhard Rieder, Eric Borra & Stijn Peters; Carolin Gerlitz, Fernando van der Vlist & Jason Chao; Daniel Chavez Heras; and Sabine Niederer & Natalia Sanchez Querubin.
Last but not least, save the date: the editors will (soft) launch the issue at the CRC research forum on 10 July, 2 to 4 pm CEST with some short presentations. You can join the event either online or in Siegen! Contact Daniela van Geenen.
Links to the articles and our living literature collection (Zotero group) can be found here.
The 3rd phase (2024-2027) of the SFB 1187 Media of Cooperation focuses on sensor media’s scaling performance. The CRC’s research program covers the entire spectrum of this scaling performance, from the level of the body and micro-interaction to distributed situations of sensor data, transnational surveillance, and global data infrastructures.
“Scales of Cooperation” discusses the CRC’s cross-scale understanding of cooperation, starting from micro-situational cooperation practices to the cooperation of transnational infrastructures with their data and data practices. The SFB aims to develop a media theory of this cooperatively composed scaling performance, leading to a final conference and publication of the CRC in 2027.
To this end, the SFB will launch a first lecture series on “Scales of Sovereignty” in the summer semester of 2024, which will examine different scalings of the claim to sovereignty of various actors from the local to the global level—starting from individual media situations to the political-regulatory level of the European Union and beyond.
Scales of Sovereignty – Summer Term 2024
Digitale Politik und postdigitale Souveränität: Zwischen Technokratie, Öffentlichkeit und medialer Kontrolle?
15.05.24 | 4.15-5.45 PM | Hybrid
Lecture by Prof. Dr. Stephan Packard (Universität zu Köln)
The Double Alignment Problem – On the Transfer of Sovereignty between Humans and AI
28.05.24 | 4.15-5.45 PM | Hybrid
Lecture by Prof. Dr. Roberto Simanowski
The Double Alignment Problem Continued (part of Werkstatt Media Practice Theory)
29.05.24 | 10.00-11.30 AM | Hybrid
Workshop mit Prof. Dr. Roberto Simanowski
The Semi-Souvereign Fifth Estate
12.06.24 | 4.15-5.45 PM | Hybrid
Lecture by Prof. Dr. William Dutton (Michigan State University)
Regulating Sovereignty in Cyberspace
29.05.24 26.06.24 (new date) | 4.15-5.45 PM | Hybrid
Lecture by Prof. Dr. Yik Chan Chin (Beijing Normal University)
All events take place in hybrid form (on site and via Webex).
University of Siegen
Campus Herrengarten
Herrengarten 3
D-57072 Siegen
Room AH-A 217/218
Please register here if you want to attend online.
June 27, 2024 14:00-19:00 / June 28, 2024 9:00-13:00
In advance: individual telephone conversation to discuss reference to your own project and materials.
The aim of this master class is to experience the experimental approach of camera ethnography and to try out arranging research (with reference to Wittgenstein) together by referring to the diversity of research fields which will be represented in the workshop. Participants are encouraged to bring some of their own research material to this workshop.
Filming as an epistemic practice
In our everyday use of media, we simply believe that we can capture something with a camera and share it with each other. However, if we assume that the goal of research is to get beyond the state of what is known and seen so far, then we are dealing with epistemic things that are not yet visible at first and therefore cannot just be recorded with a camera. With this consideration, Bina E. Mohn, the founder of camera ethnography, refers to the sociological laboratory studies of the 1980s and 1990s. Starting from a premise of the not (yet) visible marks the departure from strategies of camera use that assume visibility exists a priori. Camera ethnography offers a manageable representation-critical approach based on a situated methodology and can be understood as a continuous reflexive process of working on visibility and seeing. Camera ethnography lends itself particularly well to the study of nonverbal practices and socio-material constellations. Furthermore, camera ethnography is particularly suitable for an adoption of the format “übersichtliche Darstellung” (Wittgenstein): In this context, filmic arrangements serve as an attempt to answer the question of how social practices can be lived, named, and understood here and now, and there and then. For viewers of camera-ethnographic publications, this offers an opportunity to discover unexpected things about the diversity and possibility of social phenomena and practices.
The basic book by Bina E. Mohn „Kamera-Ethnographie. Ethnographische Forschung im Modus des Zeigens. Programmatik und Praxis“ has been published in 2023, is open access and underpins this master class. Important references of the camera-ethnographic approach include Bruno Latour (science-in-the-making), Karin Knorr-Cetina (epistemic cultures), Hans-Jörg Rheinberger (experimental systems), Clifford Geertz (“thick description”), Ludwig Wittgenstein (language games and “übersichtliche Darstellung”), and Karen Barad (agential realism and intra-action).
Requirements for participation
- Experience in ethnographic fieldwork, regardless of the medium
- Readiness to change perspectives and media and to experiment.
Registration for the master class
Contact and registration: wiesemann@erz-wiss.uni-siegen.de
Registration deadline: May 15, 2024. Participation will be bindingly confirmed by the organizers by May 20, 2024. Please briefly answer these questions when registering:
- Which research project am I currently working on and which practices in this field am I particularly interested in?
- What questions do I have about media ethnographic theory and practice?
- Which materials would I like to bring to the master class on camera ethnography?
Bina will be available to make more detailed arrangements with each of you via telephone.
Venue
Campus Lower Castle
US-S 001 / 002
Obergraben 25
Siegen
Job advertisement:
SHK/WHB position in SFB subproject A04
For the subproject A04 “Normal Interruptions of Service. Structure and Change of Public Infrastructures” in the Collaborative Research Center 1187 “Media of Cooperation” we are looking for a student assistant (SHK) (m/f/d) or a research assistant with a bachelor’s degree (WHB) (m/f/d) as of April 1st under the following conditions:
- 9 hours per week
- Temporary for 16 month
- Employment on the basis of the Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz
Your tasks:
- Performing scientific support activities
- Support with preparatory work for research
Your profile:
- Matriculation in the BA or MA Social Sciences program
- Interest in working in an academic environment
- Confident handling/independent work with MS Office
- Structured work, enjoy teamwork, initiative and a sense of responsibility
We look forward to receiving your application by 29.02.2024.
You can find more information about the project here: https://www.mediacoop.uni-siegen.de/en/projects/a04
Job advertisement in the job portal of the University of Siegen: https://jobs.uni-siegen.de/content/HK/?locale=de_DE
Your contact person:
Damaris Lehmann
damaris.lehmann[æt]uni-siegen.de
Job advertisement:
SHK/WHB position in SFB subproject B06
In the sub-project B06 “Un-/desired Observation in Interaction: Smart Environments, Language, Body, and Senses in Private Households” of the DFG Collaborative Research Center 1187 “Media of Cooperation” we are looking for a student assistant (SHK) (m/f/d) or research assistant with a Bachelor’s degree (WHB) (m/f/d) as of April 1st, 2024 under the following conditions:
- up to 9 hours per week (exact number of hours by agreement)
- initially limited to 1 year, with the possibility of extension
- Employment on the basis of the Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz
Your tasks:
- Preparation and transcription of field notes as well as participation in the evaluation of data material
- Support with preparatory work for research (e.g. literature research and management)
- Support in the organization of events (e.g. in the planning and practical implementation of conferences and workshops)
- Assistance in the preparation of scientific publications (e.g. proofreading, formatting work)
Your profile:
- Enrollment preferably in a social or media science degree program at a German university
- Interest in working in an academic environment “Familiarity with empirical work is advantageous
- Willingness to work flexible hours
- Structured work and enjoy teamwork “Initiative and sense of responsibility
We look forward to receiving your application by 31.03.2024.
You can find more information about the project here https://www.mediacoop.uni-siegen.de/en/projekte/b06/
Please send your application documents (cover letter, curriculum vitae in tabular form, certificates) in a single pdf file to Mr. Strüver.
Your contact person:
Niklas Strüver
niklas.struever[æt]uni-siegen.de
Der SFB und die Universität Siegen nimmt Abschied von Prof. Dr. Volkmar Pipek.
Am 6. Januar 2024 verstarb nach langer, schwerer Krankheit im Alter von 56 Jahren Prof. Dr. Volkmar Pipek. Prof. Pipek war von 2006 bis 2013 zunächst als Juniorprofessor im Fach Wirtschaftsinformatik der Fakultät III an der Universität Siegen tätig bevor er zum 1. Februar 2013 zum Universitätsprofessor für „Computer-Supported Cooperative Work and Social Media” berufen wurde. Mit ihm verliert der SFB und die Universität einen international renommierten Forscher und guten Freund.
Einen ausführlichen Nachruf und eine Gedenkseite für Prof. Pipek finden Sie hier
Unser tief empfundenes Mitgefühl gilt seiner Familie und Freund*innen.
We are looking for a scientific coordinator at our CRC as soon as possible under the following conditions: 100% = 39,83 hours, Pay grade 13 TV-L, limited until 31.12.2027.
Your tasks include, among others, designing and organising the curricular programme, jointly developing the scientific programme and organisational structure of a Critical Data School, moderating and realizing central CRC events, organising and planning of the event programme for the internal graduate school, coordinating the work of the CRC’s Executive Board and working on your own scientific contribution to area of digital media research, for example in the field of data studies, sensor media, AI, data-intensive media or similar.
If you have completed an academic degree with a doctorate (preferably in the field of cultural and/or social media research) and proven academic expertise in the CRC’s field of research, are interested in the organisation and implementation of large-scale scientific projects and are keen to contribute to an interdisciplinary team, we warmly invite you to submit your applications. The application deadline is 19 February.
Further information and application details can be found here.
We offer a PhD research position in media studies (TVL 13, 65%, limited until 31 December 2027) as part of our new sub-project “Bicycle Media:”, led by Julia Bee.
You will be working on the project, conducting cooperative field research on bicycle collectives, organising scientific events and participating in cooperative PR works with researchers and civil actors.
If you have completed an academic degree (e.g. media studies, social sciences or anthropology/ethnology), are interested in mobility in the context of climate justice and are keen to contribute to an interdisciplinary team, we warmly invite you to submit your applications. The application deadline is 7 February.
Further information and application details can be found here.
We offer a PhD research position in human-computer interaction (TVL 13, 100%, 4 years with potential extension) within our new sub-project, “Social Interaction in Semi-Automated Road Traffic”, led by Shadan Sadeghian and Kristof van Laerhoven.
You will be working on topics related to the design and evaluation of concepts for social interaction with automated vehicles. If you have experience in interaction design, human-computer interaction, Automotive User Interfaces, or other relevant fields and are keen to contribute to an interdisciplinary team, we warmly invite you to submit your applications. Deadline for applications is February 10.
For further information and details on how to apply, see here.
In der neusten Publikation “Kontrapunkte setzen – Digitale Politische Bildung mit ContraPoints” in unserer Working Paper Series (No. 35, Dez) setzt sich Julia Bee mit den Potenzialen kreativer Format Politischer Bildung in digitalen Kontexten auseinander. Im Zentrum stehen videoessayistische Gegenformaten von Stiftungen, Institutionen und Vlogger:innen, die darauf abzielen, rechte Metapolitiken zu entlarven und zu erkennen. Sie produzieren Bildungsformate, die nicht nur inhaltlich und informativ, sondern auch ästhetisch und affektiv anknüpfen.
Stiftungen, Institutionen und Vlogger:innen haben in den letzten Jahren angesichts des Rechtsrucks auf Plattformen neue Formate der Politischen Bildung geschaffen. Diese wollen präventiv und intervenierend in rechte Diskurse, Trolling, Fake News und Co. eingreifen. Am Beispiel des Youtube-Kanals ContraPoints untersucht Bee die Formatspezifik der politischen Bildung, die im Anschluss an Donna Haraway als situiertes Wissen verstanden wird.
Julia Bee ist Professorin für Medienästhetik an der Universität Siegen. In ihrer Forschung kombiniert sie ästhetische Phänomene mit Medienphilosophie und Praxistheorie. Dekoloniale und Gender Medien Theorie sind dabei zentral. Derzeitige Forschungsgegenstände bilden dokumentarische Filme, TV-Serien, Vlogs, Installationen, Literatur sowie mobile Medienpraktiken wie Fahrradfahren. Sie ist Teilprojektleiterin des ab Januar 2024 neu geförderten Projekts B09 Fahrradmedien: Kooperative Medien der Mobilität.
Die Publikation „Kontrapunkte setzen – Digitale Politische Bildung mit ContraPoints” wird im Rahmen der Working Paper Series des SFB 1187 „Medien der Kooperation“ veröffentlicht. Die Working Paper Serie versammelt aktuelle Beiträge aus dem Umfeld der inter- und transdisziplinären Medienforschung und bietet die Möglichkeit einer schnellen Veröffentlichung und ersten Verbreitung von am SFB laufenden oder ihm nahestehenden Forschungsarbeiten. Ziel der Reihe ist es, die SFB-Forschung einer breiteren Forschungsgemeinschaft zugänglich zu machen. Alle Working Papers sind über die Website zugänglich oder können in gedruckter Form bei info[æt]sfb1187.uni-siegen.de bestellt werden.
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