IHPST Colloquium Second Session | Fall 2025

You are cordially invited to attend the Fall 2025 Colloquium series of the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology organized by Professor Rebecca Woods

Aaron Gluck-Thaler will present Pattern Recognition in Scientific Practice

In-person event

Abstract

What are patterns and how can they be recognized? In the 20th century, scientists across disciplines began asking themselves this question with increased intensity. Anthropologists attempted to reveal patterns in culture. Cyberneticists sought out rules for extracting the most recognizable features from patterns. Mathematicians designed techniques to automatically classify patterns. Under the pressure of this scrutiny, patterns suddenly coalesced as objects of scientific inquiry. This talk situates this development historically, with special reference to the co-extensive emergence of machine learning and data-driven surveillance techniques.

Short Bio

Aaron Gluck-Thaler is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, where he holds the Professorship in Data Sciences and is a Faculty Affiliate at The Citizen Lab. Aaron’s research focuses on the history of surveillance, artificial intelligence, and science and technology in the Cold War. His current book project examines the role that scientists played in the emergence of data-intensive surveillance in the 20th century. Aaron received his PhD in the History of Science from Harvard University.

Wednesday, November 5 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Victoria College (91 Charles Street West) Room VC101