- community - communitydata.science

4S 2025: Call for Submissions
by Madison Deyo 21 Jan '25

21 Jan '25

Hello, On behalf of Sohyeon Hwang, I’d. like to share a panel event in Seattle from September 3-6. “My colleagues and I are organizing an open panel on AI harms and communities at the 50th Annual Meeting of the Society for Social Studies of Science (4S)<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.4sonline.org/about_the_conference_se…>, September 3-6, 2025 in Seattle. Focused on the idea of "social model collapse," we advocate for consideration of harms to communities (including online communities) as they respond to, are used for, and incorporate generative AI algorithms. The call asks for a 250 word abstract, due January 31. We would love to see your submissions - the full call is pasted below and also available at the blog post in this link<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/blog.communitydata.science/thinking-abou…>. More information about 4S and submitting can be found here: https://www.4sonline.org/call_for_submissions_seattle.php<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.4sonline.org/call_for_submissions_se…>. Please feel free to reach out with any questions. Thank you, Sohyeon Hwang Postdoctoral Fellow Center for Information Technology Policy Princeton University Open Panel: Risks of ‘Social Model Collapse’ in the Face of Scientific and Technological Advances Model collapse in machine learning refers to the deterioration such a model faces if it is re-fed with its own output, removing variation and generating poor output; in this panel, we extend this notion to ask in what ways the use of algorithmic output in place of human participation in social systems places those social systems at risk. Recent research findings in the generation of synthetic text using large language models have fed and been fed by a rush to extract value from, and engage with, online communities. Such communities include the discussion forum Reddit, the software development communities producing open source, the participants in the question and answer forum StackExchange, and the contributors to the online knowledge base Wikipedia. The success of these communities depends on a range of social phenomena threatened by adoption of synthetic text generation as a modality replacing human authors. Newcomers who ask naive questions are a source of members and leaders, but may shift their inquiries to LLMs and never join the community as contributors. Software communities are to some extent reliant on a sense of generalized reciprocity to turn users into contributors; such appreciation may falter if their apparent benefactor is a tireless bot. Knowledge communities are dependent on human curation, inquiry, and effort to create new knowledge, which may be systemically diluted by the presence of purported participants who are only algorithms echoing back reconstructions of the others. Meanwhile, extractive technology firms profit from anyone still engaging in a genuine manner or following their own inquiries. In this panel, we invite consideration of current forms of social model collapse driven by a rush of scientific-industrial activity, as well as reflection on past examples of social model collapse to better contextualize and understand our present moment. Submissions are 250-word abstracts due January 31st; our panel is #223, “Risks of ‘Social Model Collapse’ in the Face of Scientific and Technological Advances” [Submission site link<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.xcdsystem.com/4sonline/member__;!!Dq…>].” Madison Deyo Program Coordinator Northwestern University The Center for Human-Computer Interaction + Design<https://www.hci.northwestern.edu/> Community Data Science Collective<https://wiki.communitydata.science/Main_Page> --

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CDSC Science of Community Dialogue: Complexities of Community Governance
by Madison Deyo 23 Sep '24

23 Sep '24

Hello, I hope you had a wonderful summer ! Join the Community Data Science Collective<https://communitydata.science/> (CDSC) for our 9th Science of Community Dialogue<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUaDD5y_9xI2168FzAwDaEnLf3RAmtSNc…>! This Community Dialogue will take place on September 27th at 12:00 pm CT and will explore how communities self-govern amidst competing pressures in complex, multi-layered environments. Professor Seth Frey<https://enfascination.com/weblog/professional> (University of California Davis) will join Sohyeon Hwang<https://www.sohyeonhwang.com/> (Northwestern University) to present recent research on topics including: * How autonomous communities within ecosystems navigate varied privacy norms * Formal and informal governance mechanisms * Understanding and navigating community governance priorities * Resolving incompatibilities across community boundaries A full session descriptions<https://wiki.communitydata.science/Dialogues/Complexities_of_Community_Gove…> is on our website. Register online<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUaDD5y_9xI2168FzAwDaEnLf3RAmtSNc…> What is a Dialogue? The Science of Community Dialogue Series<https://wiki.communitydata.science/Dialogues> is a series of conversations between researchers, experts, community organizers, and other people who are interested in how communities work, collaborate, and succeed. You can watch this short introduction video<https://northwestern.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=1bb154…> with Aaron Shaw. What is the CDSC? The Community Data Science Collective<https://communitydata.science/> (CDSC) is an interdisciplinary research group made of up of faculty and students at the University of Washington Department of Communication, the Northwestern University Department of Communication Studies, the Carleton College Computer Science Department, and the Purdue University School of Communication. Learn more If you'd like to learn more or get future updates about the Science of Community Dialogues, please join the low volume announcement list<https://communitydata.science/mailman3/postorius/lists/cdsc-dialogues.commu…>. Madison Deyo Program Coordinator Northwestern University The Center for Human-Computer Interaction + Design<https://www.hci.northwestern.edu/> Community Data Science Collective<https://wiki.communitydata.science/Main_Page> --

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Kaylea Champion's dissertation defense: Monday July 22 9:30am (Pacific)
by Benj. Mako Hill 17 Jul '24

17 Jul '24

Greetings! Kaylea Champion's PhD dissertation defense is scheduled for next Monday July 22 at 9:30am Seattle time. The public portion will not take more than 90 minutes. The title is: "Social and Technical Sources of Risk in Sustaining Digital Infrastructure" and the defense is open to the public. Anyone is welcome to come. That date/time is officially tentative until there is final confirmation from all members of Kaylea's reading committee that the dissertation is ready to defend but that might not happen for a couple more days and we wanted to let you know with some time in advance. The plan is to hold the defense in this Zoom room: URL: https://washington.zoom.us/my/makohill Number: 951 959 3783 Kaylea will give a talk for 30-45 minutes or so to present her dissertation research and then there will be time for questions from her committee and from the audience. Regards, Mako -- Benjamin Mako Hill https://mako.cc/academic/

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Year-in-Review Blog Post
by Madison Deyo 06 Jun '24

06 Jun '24

Hey everyone, Here is the etherpad<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/etherpad.communitydata.science/p/2023-24…> to add all your wonderful accomplishments from the 2023-24 year. Please finish this up by Friday, June 7th. Thanks, Madison

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Year-In-Review Blog Post
by Madison Deyo 05 Jun '24

05 Jun '24

Hey everyone, Here is the etherpad<https://etherpad.communitydata.science/p/2023-24accomplishments> to add all your wonderful accomplishments from the 2023-24 year. Please finish this up by Friday, June 7th. Thanks, Madison

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Summer Meeting Schedules
by Madison Deyo 03 Jun '24

03 Jun '24

Hey y’all, Since everyone is wrapping up the school year and summer is starting, we’re going to be switching to our new meeting time (11:30 ET) starting June 19th. The global meeting this week will be at the regular meeting time. We’ll also be skipping over the meeting on Wednesday, June 12th. As a side note, please send me any publications or accomplishments you’d like acknowledged in the year-in-review blog post by Friday (June 7th). You can email them to me (madison.deyo(a)northwestern.edu<mailto:madison.deyo@northwestern.edu>) or send them over IRC. Thanks, Madison

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May 1st Workshop Material
by Jaelle Fuchs 28 Apr '23

28 Apr '23

Hi everyone, Most of you have (virtually) met me at this point, still: I am Jaelle a PhD students from the University of Zurich and currently visiting the CDSC lab at Northwestern. In the workshop on Monday May 1st we will be discussing some of my work. One thing I want to achieve during my time here is to get started on a paper about the role device access plays in people’s online participation, the interview data is collected and most interviews are transcribed but I haven’t gotten farther than that yet – so thoughts about my line of argument are very welcome! I am also happy to talk more about this in the workshop. Attached is an updated position paper I submitted to an ICA pre-conference earlier this year which 1. Outlines my past work nicely and 2. Outlines one of the main arguments/motivations behind the planned paper very well. It is also pretty short. I hope it provides a good conversation basis and I look forward to talking to you all on Monday. Best, Jaelle PS: Finally, added myself to the people section on the wiki 😉 _____________________________________________ Jaelle Fuchs, MA | Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Assistentin / Research and Teaching Assistant University of Zurich IKMZ - Department of Communication and Media Research Andreasstrasse 15, CH-8050 Zurich, Switzerland T: +41 44 634 46 88 | jaellefuchs.com

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Community Data Science Collective Open House: Friday October 14th, 3:30-5pm @ UW
by Benj. Mako Hill 03 Oct '22

03 Oct '22

Greetings friends and colleagues! What: Community Data Science Collective Open Lab When: Friday, October 14th, 3:30-5pm Where: Seattle, UW, CMU 306: Directions are here: https://wiki.communitydata.science/Community_Data_Science_Lab_(UW) It's been such a long time since we've had an in person event! If you're in the Seattle area, please join us Friday, October 14th, for an informal "open lab" at the University of Washington Community Data Science Collective (CDSC). Our CDSC colleagues from Purdue University and Northwestern University will be in town as well, so there's even more reason to come! The open lab is an opportunity to learn about our research and activities, connect with us about project ideas, catch up over snacks and beverages, and pick up a sticker or two. We will have no presentations but there will be several posters up describing projects we are working on. We study online communities and platforms: participation, governance, inequality, collaboration, learning, moderation, and organizing in places like Reddit, Wikipedia, Discord, Linux, gig work platforms, and more! You can learn a bit more about the CDSC here: https://wiki.communitydata.science/Main_Page Whether you can make it not, you can also sign up on our extremely low traffic community mailing list: https://communitydata.science/mailman3/postorius/lists/community.communityd… We look forward to seeing you on Friday! Regards, Mako, on behalf of the whole collective -- Benjamin Mako Hill https://mako.cc/academic/

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Nate TeBlunthuis' dissertation defense: THURSDAY September 23 9am (Pacific)
by Benj. Mako Hill 17 Sep '21

17 Sep '21

Greetings! Nate TeBlunthuis' PhD dissertation defense is scheduled for this Thursday September 23 at 9-11am Seattle time. The public portion will likely take about 90 minutes. The title is: "Ecology of Online Communities" and the defense is open to the public. Anyone is welcome to come. That date/time is officially tentative until there is final confirmation from all members of Nate's reading committee that the dissertation is ready to defend but that might not happen for a few more days and we wanted to let you know with some time in advance. The plan is to hold the defense on in my personal Zoom room, which I am slightly embarassed to admit exists: URL: https://washington.zoom.us/my/makohill Number: 951 959 3783 Nate will give a talk for 30-40 minutes or so to present his dissertation research and then there will be time for questions from his committee and from the audience. Regards, Mako -- Benjamin Mako Hill https://mako.cc/academic/

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[opensym2021@easychair.org: [OpenSym 2021] (Free) Registration is open!]
by Benj. Mako Hill 12 Sep '21

12 Sep '21

Greetings! OpenSym 2021 is happening this week from Wednesday through Friday. It's online and free and is structured as two 50 minutes session a day. They're 7-9am Pacific and more gental times for those who live Eastward. AND... our own Nate TeBlunthuis is presenting on Friday! :) Regards, Mako -- Benjamin Mako Hill https://mako.cc/academic/

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