ASC Brazil 2026 - Conversational Confluences - CALL FOR TRACKS

[Mateus vanStralen]

Call for Tracks ASC 2026: Conversational Confluences American Society for Cybernetics Conference 2026 Ouro Preto, Brazil – August 3–7, 2026 “To bring together the dispersed and to engage the distracted.” (Vilém Flusser) The American Society for Cybernetics (ASC) invites proposals for conference tracks for its 2026 meeting, Conversational Confluences, to be held in Ouro Preto, Brazil, from August 3–7, 2026. Founded in 1964, the ASC has long been a home for those exploring cybernetics as conversation — a way of understanding systems, relations, and acts of participation in the world. Each ASC conference offers a space for shared inquiry and experimentation, where participants co-create formats for learning, reflection, and doing together. For ASC 2026, we turn our attention to the notion of confluence: how distinct perspectives can come together without losing their difference, generating new ways of thinking and acting. We invite proposals for tracks that cultivate such encounters — spaces where ideas, practices, and disciplines meet, merge, and transform. Conversational Confluences Confluence, as articulated by Brazilian thinker and activist Nego Bispo, provides a framework for reflecting on how diverse worldviews, practices, and epistemologies can coexist without losing their distinct identities. Rather than assimilation or homogenization, confluence is about mutual amplification, where differences are not obstacles but sources of strength. Like rivers merging to become stronger, this coming together creates new, more resilient possibilities of coexistence. Rooted in decolonial and counter-hegemonic struggles, the concept invites us to imagine collaborations that foster plurality and the emergence of new systems of living and knowing.  Building on this understanding, the ASC 2026 meeting seeks to explore how cybernetics can participate in such confluences — through encounters and experiments that bring it into dialogue with art, science design, technology, ecology, and situated knowledge. Call for Tracks As part of the planning for the 2026 ASC Conference in Brazil, we are making an open call for track proposals that align with the central theme of the event. Each proposed track should articulate its relevance to the main theme, while allowing proponents the flexibility to define their own format. Possible formats include, but are not limited to, paper presentations, workshops, experimental formats, and interactive activities. If a track proposes a paper presentation format, the proponents will be responsible for suggesting an appropriate method and venue for publication (e.g., conference proceedings, journals, online platforms). This is intended to encourage autonomy and creativity in how tracks are structured and disseminated. The five-day event will be structured so that the first four afternoons are dedicated to track activities, which may occur in parallel sessions. Track proponents may propose their track to run for one or two days; the final scheduling will depend on the total number of accepted tracks and the overall structure of the event, in accordance with the venue’s logistical constraints. To foster cross-pollination between tracks and a cohesive conference experience, each morning will include a shared session for all participants—such as extended breakfasts with thematic presentations and collective discussions. These sessions will provide a space for exploring the day's themes and help ensure that the different conversations happening in parallel tracks are connected. Track representatives will be invited to synthesize and share key insights from their sessions with the full assembly during these shared moments, serving as bridges between the parallel activities and the broader group conversation. Guidelines for Track Proposals Each proposal should include: Title Keywords Names, affiliations, and contact information of the track proponents Statement of intent (500 words) How does your track relate to the theme Conversational Confluences? Which tensions, paradoxes, or encounters does it invite participants to explore? Format and structure:  Describe how your track will unfold (e.g., presentations, dialogues, workshops, installations, performances, etc.). Indicate the desired scale (approximate number of participants, duration, and room requirements). If your track involves papers, suggest possible venues for publication (e.g., proceedings, journals, or online platforms). Note: Track proponents will be responsible for organizing the blind review process for papers, if required. Adaptability: If there are similar or overlapping proposals, are you open to collaborating or merging with other track proponents? Important Dates To ensure coordination across the conference, all tracks must follow the shared timeline for receiving papers (if applicable) and providing feedback: Call for Tracks opens: 24 October 2025 Track proposal deadline: 24 November 2025 Feedback to track proponents: 5 December 2025 Call for Papers / Workshops (within accepted tracks): 15 December – 16 February 2026 Blind review (distributed to track proponents): 17 February - 20 March 2026 Feedback to contributors: 23 March 2026 Conference: August 3–7, 2026 Conference Structure Dates: August 3–7, 2026 Location: Ouro Preto, Brazil Languages: English and Portuguese (simultaneous translation may be available, but is not guaranteed for every session) The five-day event will be structured as follows: Afternoons (Days 1–4): parallel track sessions designed and facilitated by proposers. Mornings: shared sessions for all participants — extended breakfasts, thematic dialogues, and collective reflections — where ideas and experiences from the tracks can mingle and resonate. Day 5: collective synthesis and future-oriented conversations. Track proponents will be invited to share insights and reflections from their sessions in these morning gatherings, fostering coherence and conversation across the confluence. How to reach Ouro Preto Ouro Preto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site nestled in the mountains of Minas Gerais, is one of Brazil’s most captivating colonial towns. Once a prosperous gold-mining center in the 18th century — and the largest city in the Americas at the time — it now stands as a symbol of colonial baroque architecture, cobblestone streets, and vibrant cultural life. To reach Ouro Preto, fly into Confins International Airport (CNF) — an international hub connected to major cities such as Lisbon, Panama City, and Orlando. You can also reach Ouro Preto through São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro, both offering frequent domestic flights to Belo Horizonte. From Confins Airport, enjoy a scenic trip to Ouro Preto either by private transfer, which takes about 1.5 to 2 hours and costs around US$60–90, or by bus from Belo Horizonte’s main terminal, with frequent departures for about US$10–12. Contact: brazil26-...@asc-cybernetics.org Unsubscribe