The Process Toward a Protocol on Appropriate Technology
This must be seen as a process to bring ‘appropriate technology’ to the forefront of discussion and practice regarding science and technology - education, policy, research, development and deployment.
The public education on ‘what is appropriate technology’ is central to our mission as the International Network on Appropriate Technology (INAT). The cornerstone on our position regarding appropriate technology (AT) is that AT is ‘technology to empower people’. The broader the world population is empowered the more the potential of the world’s human resources can be utilized. The broader the world population is empowered, the better equipped the mass of human society is to exercise democracy.
The nature of ‘appropriate technology’ is technology that is culturally sensitive yet ecologically sound and economically sustainable. Science and technology is not philosophically and ideologically neutral. To fully embrace the promotion of appropriate technology, one must be driven by compassion for humankind and mother earth. To fully embrace the promotion of AT, one must be philosophically rooted in the belief that humanism, collectivism and egalitarianism are abiding human characteristics that when reinforced heighten the collective conscience across human society. To fully embrace the promotion of AT, one must be ideologically committed to organize for the promotion of appropriate technologies to replace all unproductive and war centered technologies in the realm of education, policy and practice.
This process must move from the general pronouncement of the goal of appropriate technology proponents to a reality where AT dominates in all realms of science and technology. This requires a strategy and detailed plan.
The redirection of the educational aspect of this goal must center in our world network of higher education. While the bulk of technology development and deployment resources are in the hands of the private sector corporations, and the bulk of research monies allocated to research, development and deployment that is not dominantly dependent on mass consumer demand comes from the governments; it is the institutions of higher education that are the source, directly and indirectly for the leading research and development of technology practice and deployment as well as technology policy investigation and promotion.
Focusing on technologies that are human-centered promote: better health, better education, improved access to clean water, necessary shelter and safe food, as well as transportation and energy solutions that are don’t threaten ecological imbalance. Driven by fear and the imbalance of access to resources, today’s planet focuses a disproportionate amount of our resources on war technology, policing, and security.
The development of science and advancement of engineering presents us with the opportunity of solving the health and education problems of the world and meeting the basic water, food, and shelter needs of the world population. The disparity regarding the control of the planet’s natural and developed resources stand in the way of achieving these people-centered goals of forwarding science, engineering and resource distribution to end poverty and human suffering
In addition to focusing on redirecting higher education to focus on appropriate technology, we must mandate civic, worker and professional organizations across society to call for and work toward a redirection of science and technology.
A populace educated regarding the benefits of appropriate technology as well as the disadvantages of current technology direction, will be armed to engage civic society, worker and professional organizations and government at all levels on ‘how our resources should be allocated’.
As part of the broader project a series of documents researching science and technology development and its impacts will be developed. This deeper research effort will be accompanied with the development of a series of ‘appropriate technology declarations’ that can be examined and embraced by educational institutions, worker and professional organizations, and civil society organizations.
Once the consciousness of a larger audience is heightened on the human-centered technology needs of our world, a manifesto on appropriate technology can provide more detail on how to redirect our planet’s resources toward appropriate technology. This manifesto can be the tool to get organizations to reallocate resources to this people-centered cause. This reallocation of resources will allow more detailed demonstration of the validity of ‘appropriate technology’ as a solution to an impoverished and disempowered society. This will establish the grounds for a yet more comprehensive and challenging ‘Appropriate Technology Protocol’ to be addressed by international agencies and world governments calling for the global redirection of our resources to empower our planet’s masses through appropriate technology development and deployment.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Need for Appropriate Technology Protocol
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
“Technology to Empower People”
Appropriate Technology Symposium and Technology Fair
9am – 6pm
APRIL 10, 2009
Blackburn Center
Howard University, Washington, DC 20059
Summary
The International Network on Appropriate Technology at Howard University (INAT-HU) is organizing the Spring 2009 Appropriate Technology (AT) Symposium and Technology Fair. Our sponsors include Howard University’s College of Engineering, Architecture and Computer Sciences (CEACS), Systems and Computer Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering and Philosophy departments and Engineers Without Borders – Howard University Chapter (EWB-HU). The AT Symposium and Fair will be held on April 10, 2009 in Washington, DC at Howard University in the Blackburn Center from 9:00am to 6:00pm
Objectives
• Provide forum for Howard University students, faculty, researchers, and regional community to present appropriate technology projects.
• Facilitate networking among innovators, policy-makers and funding agencies.
• Promote Interaction and the development of partnerships among businesses, NGO’s and academics involved with appropriate technology project development and implementation.
• Place an “APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY PROTOCOL” on the national and international agenda that may require nations, enterprises, agencies and individuals to rethink how resources are allocated and incorporate Appropriate Technology in research, development and implementation.
Target Audience
• Appropriate technology national and international innovators, policy makers, and practitioners.
• Faculty and students interested in appropriate technology and/or involved in projects in developing countries.
• General public interested in learning more about appropriate technology and related projects.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Reports from recent visits to Howard University projects abroad including Brazil, Kenya and Senegal
• Panel “What we need – Technology to empower the People”
o Invited embassies: Rwanda, South Africa and other partnering countries
o African Union Ambassador to the United States of America
• Pre-luncheon keynote “Role of USA in Appropriate Technology”
• Regional Groups Project Posters and Presentations
• Company and NGO Appropriate Technology Demonstrations and Displays
PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES:
PLEASE NOTE: REQUEST FOR PARTICPATION AND SYMPOSIUM REGISTRATION FORMS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MARCH 23rd, 2009. SUBMIT ALL REGISTRATION FORMS AND ENQUIRIES TO Dr. John Trimble at jtrimble@howard.edu
Categories of Participation:
Category 1: Appropriate Technology Demonstrations
In this category, faculty researchers, Practitioners, Private firms, NGO’s and other technology developers will demonstrate their appropriate technology device or process. A Table space along with a 110-V power outlet will be provided. Presenters will need to provide any additional resource requirements.
Category 2: Appropriate Technology Development Project Site Visit Posters and concept papers
In this category, interested individuals and teams will present AT project implementation reports or concept papers through a poster display. Participants in this category will be required to provide their own stand-alone poster display board describing the successful development and/or implementation of an AT project or technology.
Category 3: Funding Agencies and Sponsors: Invited representatives from funding agencies will provide information on funding opportunities in ‘appropriate technology’ available to students, faculty, universities, research institutes and non-profit organizations.
Schedule (Tentative)
Blackburn Center West Ballroom -------- 9AM UNTIL 2PM---------
POSTERS AND APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATIONS ON DISPLAY
Blackburn Center East Ballroom
Introduction and Background …………….…………………......…….. 10:00am
Report Back on Select HU projects involving recent visits abroad
Presentations from EWB-HU projects in Bahia, Brazil, Choimim Kenya.. 10:15am
and NASA-HU project in Kawasara, Senegal
Panel on “What we need – Technology to empower the People”
Invited embassies: Rwanda, Zimbabwe and other partnering countries… 11:15am
African Union Commission in Washington DC
Pre- Luncheon Presentations on funding opportunities …………………… 12:45
Luncheon Remarks and Q&A
“Role of USA in Appropriate Technology”
Invited guest: H.E. Barbara Lee, Head of Black Congressional Caucus…... 1:00pm
Luncheon Presentations on funding opportunities ………………………… 1:30pm
RECONVENE in Room 148-150
Panel on Appropriate Technology (AT) Engineering projects ………….... 2.00pm
Panel on AT in Science, Knowledge Management, Ethics, Intellectual
Property Rights and Business projects and concept papers .……………… 3.00pm
Presentation and discussion on “Appropriate Technology Protocol”
(Organized Commitment to Support Appropriate Technology) ……… 4.00pm
Wrap-up and Closure…………………………………………………… 5:00pm
Registration for Spring AT Symposium
REGISTRATION FORM
INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY
APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY SYMPOSIUM AND FAIR
“TECHNOLOGY TO EMPOWER PEOPLE”
April 10, 2009
BLACKBURN CENTER , HOWARD UNIVERSITY
Name Badge and Mailing Information (use a separate form for each person)
Name: ________________________________________________
Badge Name: _________________________ (this name will appear on your name badge)
Title:__________________________________________________________________
Department/Unit: ________________________________________________________
Institution/Organization:___________________________________________________
Mailing Address: ________________________________________________________
City______________________ State/Province:________________________________ Country________________________ Postal Code___________________
Work Phone: ____________________ FAX: ______________________________
e-mail address________________________________________________________
Conference Registration Category (PLEASE CHECK ONE)
Category 1: Appropriate Technology Demonstration Project _____
DEMONSTRATION PROJECT TITLE:______________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Category 2: Appropriate Technology Project Poster _____
PROJECT POSTER TITLE:______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Category 3: Funding Agency and/or Sponsor _____
AGENCY/SPONSOR NAME______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Appropriate technology demonstrators will be provided a 6 x 3 ft table and a 110-V outlet.
o Presenters will have a laptop and LCD projector at their disposal and may bring presentations on a USB memory stick.
o Poster presenters must bring their own stand-alone poster display.
Please note below any special requirements you may have:
_____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
PLEASE E-mail completed forms by March 23rd, 2009 TO jtrimble@howard.edu
Project, Paper or Poster Summary (or Abstract) (150-300 words)
Friday, September 12, 2008
registration
For online registration go to the website (www.appropriatetech.net) or you can copy and complete the form below and email to jtrimble@howard.edu
3rd International Conference on Appropriate Technology
Kigali , Rwanda
November 12 – 15, 2008
“Promoting Research and Practice in Appropriate Technology:
Energy Solutions in the Era of Climate Change”
| Official Use Only Date Received: _____________ |
Conference Registration Form
Name Badge and Mailing Information (use a separate form for each person)
Name: ________________________________________________ (for ATC database)
Badge Name: _____________________________ (this name will appear on your name badge)
Title: __________________________________________________________________
Department/Unit: ________________________________________________________
Institution/Organization: ___________________________________________________
Mailing Address: ________________________________________________________
City______________________State/Province: _____________________Country_______Postal Code____ Work Phone: __________________ FAX: _______________________e-mail address_________________
Conference Registration Fee
Professional
Early Bird Regular Amount
(Before 09/30) (After 9/30) Enclosed
Local Frw56,000 Frw60,000 _________
African Countries $125 $150 _________
International $225 $250 _________
Student/Unemployed
Local Frw27,000 Frw30,000 _________
African Countries $65.00 $75.00 _________
International $110.00 $125 _________
Workshop Fees (Check Workshop To Register, Fee is $20 per Workshop) _________
□ Solar Powered Housing; □Solar cookers ; □ Website Development; □ Micro-Hydro Power Generators; □ Biomedical engineering; □ Local Energy Research Center
TOTAL ENCLOSED……………………………………………….. _________
Accomodation Information: The conference hotel is the Hotel Serena; Alternative Hotels are listed on the Conference Website and Attendees are requested to make their reservations directly with the hotel. We request that you provide this information so the local planning committee can organize adequate transportation for delegates to the Hotel Serena.
| Method of Payment (Check the appropriate one) African registration: Make bank transfer to UmutarUniv./ATConference, account #103-11500-03-39, BCDI/Ecobank, International Registration: Make check payable to NCCBPE/AT. Send to: NCCBPE, Appropriate Technology Conference, P.O. Box 1686, Oakland, CA 94619, USA; Bank Transfers: Swift Address:BOFAUS3N; Beneficiary Bank Name: Bank America; Beneficiary Bank Address: 100 N. Tyson St., Charlotte, NC 282 Total Enclosed ________________ Signature ___________________________________Date_____________ |
