Computational Anthropology Section
Organizing Meeting
American Anthropological Association
Philadelphia Marriott, Salon E, Level Five
Thursday, December 3, 1998, 6:15 - 7:30 p.m.
"Computational Anthropology has unexplored potential as both an explanatory
and
an educational tool. It is epistemologically, theoretically and
intellectually
rich. We cannot afford to ignore 'computing the future of culture.'"
----- Nicholas Gessler, founding member and organizer, CAS.
"The NSF has allocated around $50,000,000 to support research in 'Knowledge
and
Distributed Intelligence' (KDI), a broad initiative composed of three
sub-initiatives, 'Language and Intelligent Systems' (LIS), 'Knowledge
Networking' (KN), and a computing initiative, New Computational Challenges
(NCC). This is where all the new money is going, so our research community
should actively compete for it."
----- Stuart Plattner, Program Director for Cultural Anthropology, NSF.
On behalf of the COMPUTATIONAL ANTHROPOLOGY GROUP (CAG), an interdisciplinary
mandate and growing collective of over 400 interested persons from over 40
different countries, we are currently organizing along two fronts:
1) A COMPUTATIONAL ANTHROPOLOGY SECTION (CAS) of the American Anthropological
Association for annual venues for AAA members.
2) A COMPUTATIONAL ANTHROPOLOGY COMMISSION (CAC) with the International Union
of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences for much less frequent but more
international venues.
Proposed Goals:
To advance the use of computation in anthropology. To explore the
complexities
of cultural and biological processes of perception, cognition, language,
behavior, organization, manufacture and reproduction. To study the
dynamics of
social and physical adaptations. To investigate the relationship between the
individual and the group. To experiment scenarios of cultural and biological
evolution. To search for cross-disciplinary commonalities in computational
studies. And more…
Proposed Dues:
Minimal, $10 per year in addition to standard AAA fees.
Proposed Services:
1. An annual venue with the AAA for current research and networking.
2. The availability of proper audio/visual, computer and related equipment at
the AAA.
3. A research and information exchange automated website with a free page for
each member of the CAS, a page for $10 per year for outside members of the
CAG,
and a free listing for all other practitioners.
4. Exhibit space to further CAS interests.
5. Support for networking at the annual meetings.
Please contact:
Nicholas Gessler, founding member and coordinator, CAG, CAS, CAC.
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http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/anthro/gessler/cas-aaa.html
Support for this initiative has been gratefully received from:
UCLA Center for the Study of Evolution & the Origin of Life,
Computational Evolution & Ecology Group.
Nicholas Gessler
www.sscnet.ucla.edu/anthro/gessler
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phone/fax 310.559.6661
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