Islamicate Scholars, Algorithms and the Making of the Contemporary World: A Decolonial Study of Mathematical, Scientific and Technological Practice in the Islamic Golden Age

Description

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP)

CASE Studentship (Fully Funded PhD)

The Department of Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology at the University of Liverpool in collaboration with World Museum Liverpool invites applications for this full-time PhD studentship funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) through a North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) Collaborative Studentship Award.

This unique studentship will be of interest to anyone who wants to pursue exciting new lines of research and public engagement work with World Museum around the history of ‘algorithmic methods’ and their outwards diffusion into science and technology in the Islamic Golden Age and beyond as part of the making of our contemporary world. It is open to candidates from a wide range of backgrounds: the social sciences, arts and humanities, mathematics and/or data science. Candidates will be selected primarily from those who have already completed MA/MSc degrees in a relevant social science or arts and humanities discipline; in statistics/mathematics; or in data science. However, where candidates have not yet received the requisite training but otherwise show good fit for the studentship, full funding is also available for a master’s programme in addition to the doctorate. In terms of selection criteria, we are interested in hearing from applicants who have: (a) some experience/interest in social, historical and philosophical studies of mathematics, science and technology, (b) some experience/interest in the decolonisation of knowledge; (c) some experience/interest in public engagement around research and/or museums; and (d) undertaken or are prepared to undertake specialist training in ethnomethodology and ‘algorithmic methods’ as part of this project. Competence in Classical Arabic would be welcomed but is not a requirement for the project. As part of a broad commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, we welcome applicants with diverse backgrounds and relevant experiences beyond academic study as well.

The studentship/project/supervision

This studentship will commence in October 2024 and provide funding for between 3.5 and 4.5 years depending on the background and training of the successful candidate. The aim of the studentship project is to investigate the contributions of scholars in the Islamic Golden Age (8^th-13^th CE) to the development of algorithmic methods. Algorithmic methods, that is procedures which break down complex problems into sequences of simpler operational steps to transform an input into an output, are central to the sets of approaches and technologies that come under the contemporary umbrella of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and this collaborative research project will work in dialogue with World Museum’s collections to cast new light on the algorithmic methods Islamicate scholars devised. Critically rethinking the history of algorithms from an explicitly decolonial starting point, the goal is to offer an expanded understanding of the practices which underpin contemporary AI in terms of the global knowledge commons they have emerged from.

Following the work of Harold Garfinkel (Garfinkel 2022; Saha et al 2024), this study will revolve around practical ‘re-enactments’ of the algorithmic methods Islamicate scholars devised in three areas: mathematics, with a specific focus on arithmetic and algebra; technology, with a specific focus on the refinement of astrolabes, including by notable female engineers; and star charts, with a specific focus on the ‘proceduralisation’ of data collection they rested on. The project’s re-enactments will explore these innovations by Islamicate scholars via archival materials and artefacts held by World Museum, and find ways to re-assemble (conceptually and literally) these technologies to engage in practical work with them, drawing on expertise from the University of Liverpool and World Museum supervisory team to do so. The re-enactments will support events and exhibits/exhibitions across the lifetime of the project in ways that will bring the public, communities, and cultural and religious organisations into the research process and dialogue around it. Extensive additional training will be available to support the successful candidate in all aspects of the proposed research from the re-enactments to the archival and public engagement work.

The successful candidate will be registered at the University of Liverpool and will undertake the research in the University of Liverpool and World Museum, where they will be based for long periods. NWSSDTP studentships also offer possibilities for overseas institutional visits and work placements and the successful candidate will be encouraged to actively take up those opportunities. The student will be supervised by Prof Michael Mair (Sociology, University of Liverpool), Dr Phillip Brooker (Sociology, University of Liverpool), Dr Leon Moosavi (Sociology, University of Liverpool), and Dr Geraldine Reid (Lead Curator, World Museum) as well as her curatorial colleagues at World Museum, Meghan Backhouse and Wendy Simkiss.

Application process and general information

To apply please submit:

• An up-to-date CV including details of two named referees (one of whom should be your most recent academic tutor/supervisor).
• A letter of application (not exceeding 2 pages) outlining your interest in, and suitability for, the studentship and how you would anticipate approaching the research.
• Copies/confirmation of your University qualifications.

Applications – with ‘NWSSDTP CASE Award: Algorithmic Methods’ in the subject line of the email – should be submitted to: slsjpgr@liverpool.ac.uk

The deadline for receipt of applications is 17.00 hrs GMT+1, Friday 19^th July 2024. Shortlisted candidates will be provided with additional information prior to interview in the first week of August. If you have not received any contact from the University by Friday 26^th July, you can assume that you have not been successful on this occasion.

For further information on the project (including answers to any questions you may have about your suitability for the role) contact Prof Michael Mair, michael.mair@liverpool.ac.uk, or Dr Phil Brooker, P.D.Brooker@liverpool.ac.uk

Information about the University of Liverpool and the Department of Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology can be found at: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/sociology-social-policy-and-criminology/

Information about postgraduate research in the Department can be found here: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/sociology-social-policy-and-criminology/study/postgraduate-research/

Information regarding academic and residential eligibility can be found at: https://www.ukri.org/what-we-do/developing-people-and-skills/esrc/funding-for-postgraduate-training-and-development/eligibility-for-studentship-funding/