Critical Computing research has expanded substantially over the last 15 years. In 2021, the Critical Computing, Sustainability and Social Justice subcommittee was established for the ACM CHI conference, and continues to thrive. Award-winning research publications on the social, political, and justice-oriented processes of computational technology are on the rise, alongside increasing media attention to the societal impact of (ab)using information systems. In kind, a growing number of undergraduate and graduate curriculum and certificate programs centered on the ethics and politics of computing have emerged around the world.
To foster and guide this evolving interest in critically grounded methods, theories, pedagogies, and technical developments, we are working with ACM SIGCHI to establish a new annual conference, the Critical Computing Conference. Our aim is for Critical Computing to become a cornerstone for critical sociotechnical research.
Founding editors (in alphabetical order):
Alex Taylor, University of Edinburgh (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Bono Olgado, University of the Philippines (Manila, Philippines)
Daniela Rosner, Professor, University of Washington (Seattle, USA)
Luis Fernando Medina Cardona, Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Bogotá, Colombia)
Nassim Parvin, Associate Professor, University of Washington (Seattle, USA)
Broad Motivations
Unifying Disparate Conversations
The areas of critical making and design, critical theory, and critical technical practice have long been the subject of loosely connected academic discussions. The Critical Computing Conference aims to:
- Consolidate these conversations through wider and inclusive dialogues.
- Create synergies between these areas of study, activism, and practice, thereby building capacity in critical scholarship and public interest.
- Help to focus media attention on important issues around the critical study of information systems and technology.
Support for Early Career Researchers
The Critical Computing Conference will offer a platform for early career researchers dedicated to building and extending critical perspectives in the HCI research field. This initiative will:
- Enhance their research programs through exposure to peer-reviewed, archival publications.
- Provide a nurturing environment for the development of alternative and novel perspectives and methodologies.
- Bolster the careers of these emerging scholars within the academic community.
Diverse and Majority World Representation
Recognizing the importance of different perspectives and practices in critical research, the conference will place priorities on:
- A rich variety of theoretical approaches, positionings, pedagogies, and methodologies from across the globe, cultivating dialogue among diverse viewpoints and perspectives from the very beginning.
- A blend of academic and independent perspectives from across civil society, industrial labs, community organizations and more, enriching the conference’s discourse.
- Representation from varied career stages, ensuring a holistic and inclusive approach and taking into account different needs and preferences.
- Grounding in an ethos of critical scholarship, including strong reflexivity, intersectionality, and access.
- A commitment to integrating SIGCHI futuring and site selection policies, including virtual, hybrid, and/or regional options for maximum reach and access.
Upcoming Activities and Events
To begin our discussions of the themes of the Critical Computing conference, we will host a panel at the Aarhus 2025 conference. This is provisionally arranged for the evening of the 18 September, 2025. Details to follow.
As part of efforts to to develop an open and inclusive format for the conference, we also plan to hold three co-design gatherings*. These will be at:
- Aarhus 2025. Aarhus, Denmark. August 18 to 22, 2025 - Critical Computing Co-design Gathering: August 19, Time TBD.
- 4S. Seattle, Washington, USA. September 3 to 6, 2025 - Critical Computing Co-design Gathering: September 6, 4-6pm.
- IFDIK. Manila, Philippines. December 3 to 5, 2025 - Critical Computing Co-design Gathering: December 3, 1-4pm.
* We use the term gathering to draw attention to the collaborative, contingent, and co-evolving nature of the work, inspired by Ursula Le Guins’ ideas that she lays out in The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction. We see these gatherings as places where we draw together ideas and people; and from where many lines of thinking and doing may evolve within, alongside, and even in opposition.