The following sessions have been accepted at ICTD2010, and are listed in alphabetical order of family name of first organiser. Links to session web-sites are given where applicable.
The power of intent and the touch of the unexpected: exploring a new paradigm for ICT research and planning for development
Organisers: Ineke Buskens (Research for the Future), Mark Thompson (Cambridge University)
ICT4D projects are fluid, complex and emergent. Yet as practitioners and researchers we do not have a good understanding of why this is so and how to better engage with people’s unfolding intentions. In this workshop we explore some of the concepts and capacities that will assist us in this.
South => North: A fishbowl on the transferability of ICTs in income-poor countries to income-rich countries (debating applicability, methods, policies)
Organisers: Christopher Coward and Karen Fisher (Technology & Social Change Group (TASCHA), University of Washington Information School)
Most low-cost, easily implementable ICTD innovations are designed for developing-country contexts. This interactive session focuses on the factors that facilitate or mitigate the transfer of these innovations to communities facing economic and social challenges in richer countries. Participants will identify innovations, discuss what makes them portable (or not), and explore steps that might encourage replication or uptake outside the developing world. Learn more about the session at bit.ly/TASCHA-innovation-fishbowl
mHealthy Messaging: a worskhop on using mobile phones to support health promotion and behaviour change
Organisers: Jonathan Donner (Microsoft Research India) and Patricia Mechael (The Earth Institute, Columbia University)
This session focuses on exploring “best practices” and “biggest hurdles” in using mobiles for health promotion and behavioral change with a special focus on resource-constrained settings. We strongly encourage ICTD2010 attendees with an interest in the topic to join the discussions, either as audience members (no preparation necessary, but participation is encouraged), or as rapid-topic-presenters. Rapid-topic-presenters are invited to give a five minute, single-slide introduction to their m-health behavioral support/change initiative or research interest, and to frame additional discussion topics for the group (contact Nadi Kaonga nkaonga@gmail.com ahead of time if you would like to present your work).
Qual meets Quant: Bridging the gap between technical and social researchers to foster international development through mobile phones
Organisers: Vanessa Frias-Martinez (Teléfonica Research); Kentaro Toyama and Jenna Burrell (both University of California, Berkeley), Nathan Eagle (SantaFe Institute)
This workshop intends to bring together technical and social researchers, as well as policy makers, to explore the potential of mixed-method approaches to analyzing new sources of data gathered through ubiquitous technologies. Joint analysis of quantitative data, qualitative research and statistical indicators might provide a deeper understanding of technology usage. More info at www.qualmeetsquant.org.
ICT for Microentrepreneurs
Organiser: Charity Gichuki (Kenyatta University)
In this session we will hear three short impulse pieces on ICTs and microentrepreneurs from different parts of the world. An open discussion will follow, with the intention of a) drawing out research gaps that are unclosed about the use of ICTs for micro-enterprises, b) sharing of experiences in other areas of the global south and perhaps c) forming a thematic South-South network.
Citizen mapping and media development
Organisers: Erica Hagen and Mikel Maron (Ground Truth and Map Kibera Project)
A roundtable discussion by practitioners in participatory, open-source citizen mapping and journalism led by the directors of Ground Truth Initiative (founders of Map Kibera) with invited guests. How are tools of digital mapping, new media, and online video actually used in the field, and what are accompanying challenges to access, transparency, empowerment? Links: www.mapkibera.org, www.kiberanewsnetwork.org, www.voiceofkibera.org, and www.voicesbeyondwalls.org .
ICTD2.0 and peer-production
Organisers: Mark Graham and Maja Andjelkovic (Oxford Internet Institute)
ICTs offer potentials for development to become more open and inclusive through crowdsourcing and better networking. Yet, new ways of collaborating and creating content within the context of development remain poorly understood. As such, this session aims to both begin a critical discussion about the ways in which peer-production alters the possibilities for development, and form a network of people interested in the topic.
Applying gender analysis to ICT4D projects
Organiser: Nancy Hafkin (WIGSAT/ Knowledge Working/ United Nations)
This workshop is for ICT4D project practitioners who are
interested in engendering their projects. It is participatory in that those who attend can describe their situation and their attempts (or lack thereof) to identify and deal with gender issues on their projects. Panelists and other attendees can make suggestions for arriving at gender equality in the projects described.
Information as a global public good: enabling access to knowledge through open licenses
Organiser: Ted Hanss (University of Michigan Medical School)
This session will equip ICTD2010 attendees with the skills to develop and share knowledge for re-use, re-mixing, and re-distribution using open licenses, amplifying information outputs of development projects. After sharing a case study from Africa, attendees will engage in an interactive exploration of open production with their own materials. Session Website: https://open.umich.edu/wiki/ICTD2010.
ICTs, Climate Change and Development
Organisers: Richard Heeks, Angelica Ospina (Centre for Development Informatics, University of Manchester, http://www.manchester.ac.uk/cdi/).
Climate change is a major and increasing challenge to international development. Considering the rapid diffusion of ICTs in developing countries, this one-day workshop focuses on understanding the role (positive and negative) of ICTs in climate change adaptation, mitigation, monitoring, and strategy via presentations, group discussion and an expert panel. Further information on this conference session is available at http://www.niccd.org/workshop2010.htm. The workshop is open to all, but you are welcome to indicate your interest in attending, or ask for further details by e-mailing niccd.project@gmail.com.
Engendering ICT policies
Organiser: Sonia Jorge (Pyramid Research)
Efforts to integrate gender and promote gender equality in ICT national policies have not yet resulted in tangible gender focused actions. Panelists will relate experiences in working with governments, agencies and organizations in crafting, implementing and evaluating ICT policies that promote gender equality and contribute to development. The discussion will focus on challenges and windows of opportunity.
Creating, An Alternative
Organisers: Ann Light (Sheffield Hallam University), Karen Merkel (New Media Networks), Clodagh Miskelly, Gabriel Gbadamosi (Goldsmith College, UL), Linje Manyozo (LSE)
‘Creating, An Alternative’ addresses an important and frequently overlooked topic in an exemplary way. Together we will use collaborative approaches to explore and consider the roles that creativity has within a framework of cultural production that either creates or uses platforms that support a wide expression of ideas and views.
Conceptions of Accountability in Policy and Practice
Organisers: Ann Light (Sheffield Hallam University), Robin Mansell (LSE)
This session focuses on how accountability requirements and responsibilities to stakeholders affect ICTD projects. It draws on models that can open processes to local engagement in their conception phase and retain responsiveness in their execution. Confirmed panel participants are Anita Gurumurthy, David Grimshaw, Tim Kelly, Linje Manyozo, and Mike Powell. A document laying out our motivations to discuss accountability is here.
Opening Access – What gets in the way? Towards a holistic approach to unlocking the power of scholarly knowledge and information in developing and emerging countries
Organiser: Tag McEntegart (International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications, UK)
The current technological revolution offers a historic opportunity for the democratisation of knowledge and information, and yet the majority of those in developing and emerging countries remain marginalised. In this session, expertise and examples of enabling equitable participation in the global knowledge system will be shared and documented.
Possibilities and disruptions: how do ICT4D researchers use ICTs in their work?
Organiser: Pamela McLean (Dadamac Knowledge Brokers)
A quick way to learn from each other – rather like an online discussion group, but a “no-tech” version (posting “emails” on the walls with blu-tack). Anyone can start and respond to discussion threads. You will be on your feet, moving around, finding out who is doing what. More information at http://www.dadamac.net/node/396
Mapping out a research agenda for mHealth
Organisers: Patricia Mechael (Center for Global Health and Economic Development, Earth Institute, Columbia University), Alison Bloch (Independent mHealth Strategist), Garrett Mehl (WHO)
This is an interactive workshop designed to engage academic, industry, donor and non-profit stakeholders in an action-oriented session that will generate a set of recommendations on how to address and prioritise research gaps and evaluation methodologies amongst mHealth projects to develop an evidence base strong enough to meet diverse needs.
Participatory Video
Organiser: Jay Mistry, Katherine Brickell, Vandana Desai (Royal Holloway, University of London), Sara Asadullah (Insightshare)
This session will give conference participants an opportunity to experience Participatory Video (PV), through a series of games and exercises. Participants will carry out a small PV project during the conference, ending with a film screening. Participants will need to devote 13th and 16th December to this workshop. Places are limited, and so please register by e-mailing j.mistry@rhul.ac.uk.
How can ICT research better inform and communicate theories of development and globalisation? Challenges and promising directions
Organisers: James Murphy (Clark University) and Pádraig Carmody (Trinity College Dublin)
Although studies of ICT have documented their impacts on Southern livelihoods, it is unclear how this research is influencing theories about development and globalization more broadly. Session participants will discuss how new directions in ICT research can improve our theoretical understandings of globalization and the variable geometry of socioeconomic development.
From digital inclusion to information literacy: an open space workshop
Organisers: Brasilina Passarelli, Daisy Grisolia, Fernanda Scur, Mariana Tavernari (University of São Paulo)
This is an open-space workshop designed to stimulate people to be creative, synergistic and self-motivated in identifying new trends on digital inclusion and information literacy policies in diverse contexts and geographies as well as under government and non-government agendas.
Free and Open Source approaches to assistive technologies in ICT4D
Organiser: Ugo Vallauri (Royal Holloway, University of London/Computer Aid International)
This session focuses on research and development of free and open source assistive technology solutions for people with disabilities. The main themes of interest are: funding models, policy trends, presentations of case studies and pilot projects, research perspectives from the Global South, emerging challenges and opportunities with mobile and touch-enabled devices. The Call for Participation (Deadline 21st November) is here.
Participatory design of mobile learning activities: a workshop for academics from developing regions
Organisers: Niall Winters and Yishay Mor (both London Knowledge Lab)
This workshop will provide an introduction to the use of mobile learning in education. The focus will be on the design of learning activities by participants. Issues addressed will include the role of mobiles in improving access to education, and in engaging in new ways of learning. Participants will need to devote all of 16th December to this workshop. For full details and free registration, please see http://www.ml4d.org/events/wksp4 .