Announcement

Update: COVID-19 EVENTS PAUSE, May 2020

Data & Society is extending its pause of all physical events through the end of May 2020.

In response to the escalating COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic—and per New York State, federal, and CDC recommendations—Data & Society is extending its pause of all physical events through the end of May 2020.

Our remote team is reimagining our unique connection and learning programs for seamless virtual participation. Subscribers to our newsletter and dedicated events list will receive the first updates on how to participate. We recognize that there is deep wisdom in our network and want to offer space for knowledge, mutual aid, and human connection in this time of crisis.

Specific Data & Society spring programs that will change, with decisions and updates:

  • The May 1 #unsettle workshop is postponed. Event organizers are proposing reimagined ways to connect and support each other.
  • We have converted our regular programs such as Databites and Weekly Wednesdays into interactive formats such as online presentations, webinars, teach-ins, and happy hours.
    • Again, you can subscribe to this events update list for updates on guests, scheduling, and accessibility support.
    • We recognize there is information overload, and will continue to offer evidence-based content on the broad societal effects of data and automation.
    • We want to balance this with responsiveness, so if you have expertise on the COVID-19 pandemic specifically as it relates to core Data & Society research areas, please reach out to us at [email protected]. For example, this week we piloted a “network power hour” with Data & Society Affiliate Tricia Wang, global technology ethnographer, on her direct observations of hyper-local mutual aid networks in Wuhan, China and now Brooklyn, USA.

Inside the organization, we continue to safeguard our staff’s health and well-being by requiring remote working, supporting flex time arrangements, suspending all work-related travel, and updating and communicating internal protocols and precautions to our teams daily. We will update our full community on next steps for future spring and summer programming on May 20, 2020 as we continue to follow evolving CDC guidelines and recommendations for the United States.

We deeply appreciate your flexibility and creativity in this difficult time. Please reach out and let us know if you spot an opportunity that could help us connect or amplify critical resources.

With best wishes,
Janet Haven, Executive Director