The American Society for Cybernetics (ASC) is an American non-profit scholastic organization for the advancement of cybernetics as a science, a discipline, a meta-discipline and the promotion of cybernetics as basis for an interdisciplinary discourse. The society does this by developing and applying cybernetics’ concepts which are presented and published via its conferences and peer-reviewed publications. As a meta-discipline, it creates bridges between disciplines, philosophies, sciences, and arts.ASC By-Laws. Retrieved 1 January 2021. The ASC is a full member of the International Federation for Systems Research (IFSR).
In order to do so it holds conferences and seminars, and maintains contacts with cyberneticians and organizations for cybernetics in other countries. Further activities of the ASC are: ASC Glossary on Cybernetics and Systems TheoryASC Glossary. Retrieved 8 June 2008. Disciplinary Matrices in Cybernetics and Systems ScienceDisciplinary Matrices in Cybernetics and Systems Science. Retrieved 8 June 2008. Wiener and McCulloch awards
In the 1980s ASC became a member of the International Federation for Systems Research, and in the 1990s supported the Principia Cybernetica Project.
The ASC has been maintaining an editorial column in the interdisciplinary Cybernetics and Human Knowing Journal since its first issue in 1992. Rodney Donaldson was the first ASC president to write for the column.
Founding The American Society for Cybernetics was founded in 1964 in Washington, DC to encourage new developments in cybernetics as an interdisciplinary field (with Warren McCulloch as first elected president of the ASC).HISTORY OF THE ASC. Retrieved 8 June 2008. The society was spearheaded by John J. Ford of the CIA to counter growing advancements from the USSR in computing and cybernetics research and development. According to Evgeny Morozov, it bought together a number of academics, policy makers, spies, and business people to meet this aim. Morozov also notes that international and national pressures during the late 1960s led to increased interest in cybernetics for policy makers and governmental officials as a way to minimise uncertainty domestically and on the world stage.
Annual Cybernetics Symposia First Annual Cybernetics Symposium The First Annual Cybernetics Symposium of the ASC was held on 26–7 October 1967 at the National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, Maryland. The theme was "Purposive Systems: The Edge of Knowledge." The following people made presentations: Saul Amarel: "Problems of representation in artificial intelligence" Nikolai Amosov: "Simulation of thinking processes" Herbert Anschütz: "Prospects for the development of the psychocybernetics of intelligent behavior" Yehoshua Bar-Hillel: "The future of man-machine languages" Alexander S. Fraser: "The evolution of purposive behavior" Ralph Gerard: "The neurophysiology of purposive behavior" Jerrier A. Haddad: "Hardware for purposive systems" David Hawkins: "The nature of purpose" Margaret Mead: "Cybernetics of Cybernetics" Emmanuel G. Mesthene: "How technology will shape the future" Talcott Parsons: "Facilitating technological innovation in society" Frederick Seitz: "The Challenge" Ivan Sutherland: "Facilitating the man-machine interface"
ASC Presidents
2021-2026 Paul Pangaro 2014-2020 Michael Lissack 2009-2014 Ranulph Glanville 2005-2008 Louis Kauffman 2002-2004 Allenna Leonard 1999-2001 Pille Bunnell 1994-1998 Frank Galuszka 1992-1993 Rodney Donaldson 1989-1991 Fred Steier 1986-1988 Larry Richards 1984-1985 Jon Cunnyngham 1983-1984 Bill Reckmeyer 1980-1982 Stuart Umpleby 1978-1979 Barry Clemson 1976-1977 Mark Ozer 1975-1976 Herbert Robinson 1972-1974 Roy Hermann 1970-1971 Carl Hammer 1969-1970 Lawrence J. Fogel 1967-1968 Warren McCulloch
Awards The ASC restructured its awards in 2024. Alongside the Norbert Wiener Medal and the Warren McCulloch Award, the society awards the Margaret Mead Prize (established 2024), the Heinz von Foerster Award, and ASC Fellowships.
Norbert Wiener Medal The Norbert Wiener Medal is awarded for high achievement in transdisciplinary research in cybernetics and systems. The front of the medal shows a bas-relief of Norbert Wiener, and the obverse is inscribed with the name of the recipient.
1968: Robert C. Wood 1968: Warren McCulloch 1969: Stephen Grossberg 1969: Stuart A. Kauffman 1970: Stafford Beer 1972: Natalia Bechtereva 1983: Heinz von Foerster 1984: Gordon Pask 1993: Herbert Brün 2001: Klaus Krippendorff 2005: Ernst von Glasersfeld 2007: Charles François 2007: Laurence Richards 2007: Pille Bunnell 2007: Stuart Umpleby 2008: Francisco Varela 2008: Humberto Maturana 2008: Lars Löfgren 2008: Ricardo Uribe 2008: Richard Jung 2011: Mary Catherine Bateson 2011: Robert Vallée 2014: Louis H. Kauffman 2015: Ranulph Glanville 2016: William J. Reckmeyer 2018: Paul Weston 2019: Fred Steier 2024: Michael Arbib 2024: Raul Espejo 2026: Jude Lombardi
Warren McCulloch Award The Warren McCulloch Award recognises significant impact in the community, whether externally by applying cybernetic methods and principles in real-world applications, or internally through service to the ASC itself. Prior to 2024 it was awarded to "young scientists", a role since filled by the Heinz von Foerster Award.
1984: Gregory Bateson 1986: Humberto Maturana 1993: Louis Kauffman 2008: Søren Brier 2008: Alexander Riegler 2011: Thomas Fischer 2012: Susan Parenti 2013: Bernard Scott 2013: Heinz von Foerster Society 2014: Allenna Leonard 2014: Jennifer Wilby 2014: Paul Pangaro 2014: Randall Whitaker 2016: Julia Frazer and John H. Frazer 2019: Mark Enslin 2024: Roy Ascott 2024: Jasia Reichardt
References
External links ASC website The ASC Glossary of Cybernetics by the American Society for Cybernetics Cybernetics and Human Knowing Journal website International Federation for Systems Research