[Commlist] CFA: Open Panel “Degrowing Data: Valuing and Practicing Intentional Data Loss” at the EASST/4S Conference, Amsterdam

We are inviting submissions to our open panel “Degrowing Data: Valuing 
and Practicing Intentional Data Loss” at the 4S/EASST Conference, which 
will take place in Amsterdam, 16-19 July 2024.

We are interested in both ‘traditional’ paper abstracts and diverse 
creative contributions, especially for the second half of the panel 
which focuses on degrowth as both an academic discourse and a social 
movement.

Submission Deadline: February 12, 2024.

Short Abstract:

This panel explores intentional data loss. Contributions engage with 
data loss practices, narratives, and values and how they can expose 
power structures but also provide space for resistance. A concluding 
interactive dialogue session links intentional data loss to degrowth for 
liveable futures.

Long Abstract:

This combined format open panel seeks to decentre our need to accumulate 
data and the fear of its loss. For good reasons, much effort has been 
put into protecting, saving or securing diverse data, for example at 
cultural heritage sites, for personal digital archives or as part of 
seed banks. But what about the inverse? What about data practices, 
narratives and values focusing on, or even desiring data loss through 
deletion, deconstruction, decluttering, discarding or disconnecting (cf 
Hobbis and Hobbis 2021; Thylstrup 2022)?

The first session welcomes traditional papers (research papers, essays, 
reviews) but also more creative, playful, submissions (scripts, 
dialogues, audio/visual work). Contributions may ask questions like: 
When, why, and how is data loss practised and valued? Who benefits when 
data loss is (forcefully) prevented and why? Can there be a right to 
delete besides a legalized ‘right to be forgotten’ (cf Gupta and 
Naithani 2023)? How and when can intentional data loss be an expression 
of power and/or resistance against it (cf Liboiron and Lepawsky 2022)?

The second session consists of an interactive dialogue connecting the 
papers to degrowth debates, that are yet to find a clear position in STS 
scholarship. Reflecting the twofold goal of the degrowth debate, this 
session is concerned with an advancement of social theory and a social 
movement. Leaning on insights from degrowth debates, we first think 
through the capitalist dynamics (accumulation, extraction, abundance) 
surrounding fears of data loss. Secondly, we seek to uncover 
possibilities for connecting intentional data loss practices with 
degrowth initiatives. Could intentional data loss practices and values 
contribute to more liveable futures?

We are especially interested in case studies/contributions from diverse 
global contexts, epistemologies and ontologies and intend to combine our 
insights from the panel into a special issue/book, joint dialogic 
article, and/or more creative output.

Convenors

Marije Miedema (University of Groningen), (m.miedema /at/ rug.nl) 
<mailto:(m.miedema /at/ rug.nl)>

Stephanie Hobbis (Wageningen University), (stephanie.hobbis /at/ wur.nl) 
<mailto:(stephanie.hobbis /at/ wur.nl)>

Discussant

Nanna Bonde Thylstrup (University of Copenhagen)

You can submit abstracts of up to 250 words here: 
https://nomadit.co.uk/conference/easst-4s2024/p/14164 
<https://nomadit.co.uk/conference/easst-4s2024/p/14164>

More details about the conference: https://www.easst4s2024.net/ 
<https://www.easst4s2024.net/>


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