- A Lille researcher has just been rewarded by the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS).
- Thanks to history and philosophy, she studies the reliability of computer systems by dissecting the programming languages that constitute them.
CNRS bronze medal. Researcher at the Institute of Human and Social Sciences (INSHS) in Lille and doctoral student in philosophy, Liesbeth de Mol has just received this national award for her research on history and philosophy in computer science. A whole program which she details at 20 Minutes .
Concretely, what does your research consist of?
I study the reliability of computer systems by dissecting the programming languages that constitute them.
You work on epistemology, history and philosophy of computer science, mathematics, and logic. What is the link between these different areas?
Today, computer technologies are black boxes, for the user but also for those who develop them. This opacity is rooted in the complex history of computer technologies but also in the strategies of the industry, which knowingly chooses to create "closed" objects. My basic motivation was to open this box to better understand the various practices and knowledge that are hidden behind graphical interfaces like those of Apple or Google.
That is to say ?
These technologies are the result of a complex interaction of disciplines, including logic and mathematics. From my perspective, IT is an undisciplined discipline that needs a pluralistic approach.
Concretely, how do you work?
My research always begins with a concrete problem and I always try to free myself from my own epistemological assumptions. For example, in the literature, it is often assumed that the origin of the word "program" appeared in the context of one of the first computers, called Eniac. In fact, the role of Eniac is overestimated, because the origins of the concept are actually found in an engineering speech dating from the end of the 19th century.
What motivates you ?
First, there is the motivation to open the black boxes mentioned above. Then, in the future, I would like to focus on the issue of "digital humanities", which I think can play an important role in our computerized society, if we find their interpretation. Finally, I would be very happy if my work could contribute to establishing critical thinking in IT.
What are your professional ambitions?
When I was still a postdoc * at the University of Ghent, my only professional ambition was to be able to do research all my life, with freedom of time and thought. Somehow, I already got that. Second, I would like to continue my efforts to develop a multidisciplinary research community to rethink the objects of computing. I am more and more optimistic that such collaboration - between philosophers, historians, computer scientists, programmers, engineers - is possible.
Are you satisfied with the resources allocated to you for research?
I am concerned about the installation of an unequal research system, nationally and internationally. With this idea of a quality of research defined in quantitative terms in relation to the number of publications and the economic value. I fear the effects of such an approach which encourages competition rather than collaboration. I admit I am not too optimistic.
* Holder of a doctoral thesis .
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