PhD Student Jiaqi Wen is Named 2026-2027 Adelle and Erwin Tomash Fellow

In recognition of her continued research on the history of computing at Simon Fraser University, and her work as a Research Assistant and Project Coordinator in the Digital Democracies Institute (DDI), PhD student Jiaqi Wen has been named the 2026-2027 Adelle and Erwin Tomash Fellow at the Charles Babbage Institute.

Prior to her PhD, Wen examined the historical epistemology of randomness in computer simulation and obtained her MA in Media Studies at Humboldt University of Berlin. She was drawn to SFU because of her familiarity with the work of some of the School’s leading researchers and her research interests closely align with the School of Communication’s critical theory legacy.

Wen’s research argues that computing is much more than just learning logic and writing code, and that we should also consider the tangible realities of computing facilities and material infrastructures. Specifically, she looks at the history of how air has been engineered to maintain computers, and how this has led to various cultural phenomena such as environmental containment, population segregation and human body monitoring.

“I want to explore the possibilities of not having to endure the consequences of such a computing culture, even though computing and computers have always already been designed in these ways,” says Wen.

She is completing her dissertation project entitled “Thermal Engineering and the Comfort Zone of Computation” under the mentorship of renowned historian of computing and mathematics SFU professor Stephanie Dick.

“This Fellowship is among the most competitive and prestigious awards for graduate students working in the history of computing and I do believe Jiaqi is the first ever recipient from a Canadian university,” says Dick. “Jiaqi’s work is so exceptional and it is really exciting to see her being recognized in this way."

Wen has also worked on her research through the DDI at SFU, which provides “financial, intellectual, and emotional support”. She would also like to thank SFU professors Cait McKinney and Wendy Chun, who are  on her doctoral committee, for their intellectual impact and support to her research. Lastly, she is grateful to the archivists and librarians at the Charles Babbage Institute and the University of Minnesota for locating and digitizing archives for her research.

In the immediate future, Wen aims to publish an article on air engineering and cleanroom culture, as well as finish writing the chapters for her dissertation. This Fellowship will help provide her with the financial support needed to acquire the necessary research materials. As part of this Fellowship, Wen will also present a lecture at the Charles Baggage Institute next year, which she sees as a motivation to continue polishing her work and public speaking skills.