5th ICAT Call for Participation

Call for Participation

5^th International Conference on Appropriate Technology (5^th ICAT)

November 20-24, 2012 

THEME Appropriate Technology for the 21st Century: Linking Education, Research and Practice to Inform Policy

Pretoria, 
South Africa

_{***Visit our website  *** www.appropriatetech.net ***}

  

      *** CONFERENCE SCHEDULE ***

Tuesday November 20^th          -- Workshops, Welcome Reception

Wednesday November 21^st     -- Conference Presentations

Thursday November 22^nd        -- Conference Presentations, Gala Dinner

Friday November 23^rd           -- Technology Fair, Projects and Posters

Saturday November 24^th           -- Workshops and Optional Field Trip

Early Registration -by October 15, 2012 ·     USD 300      United States and Developed Countries ·     R2000          South Africa and Developing Countries ·     R1000          All Undergraduate Students

Registration deadline -Nov. 8, 2012 * ·     USD 350      United States and Developed Countries ·     R2400          South Africa and Developing Countries ·     R1200          All Undergraduate Students

All conference activities will be held at the Saint George Hotel and Convention Centre, Pretoria South Africa

www.stgeorgehotel.co.za

Contact Person: Dr. John Trimble, jtrimble@howard.edu

Revised Call for Papers

5^th International Conference on

Appropriate Technology

November 20-24, 2012 - Pretoria, South Africa

Deadline for abstracts:   Extended to June 10

SOUTH AFRICAN SPONSORS	USA ORGANIZING SPONSORS
Department of Science and Technology Republic of South Africa	International Network on Appropriate Technology (INAT)
University of Pretoria	Howard University, Washington DC
University of Johannesburg	National Technical Association (NTA)
Tshwane University of Technology	Northern California Council of Black Professional Engineers (NCCBPE)
Kara Heritage Institute

THEME

Appropriate Technology for the 21^st Century: Linking Education, Research and Practice to Inform Policy

The 5^th International Conference on Appropriate Technology (5^th ICAT) will

1)    Promote the identification, assessment, archiving and tracking of appropriate technology education, research and practice

2)    Focus on how to impact technology policy to safeguard the planet and empower the people, particularly historically oppressed and disadvantaged populations

3)    Provide a forum for networking on appropriate technology solutions to sustainable development in Africa and across the Global South

Background

Climate change will impact the poorest countries and people the hardest.  According to leading researchers, in Africa climate change has already caused irreversible environmental damage.  Curtailing harmful climate change and eradicating poverty necessitate sustainable, ecologically sound solutions. Presently, 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate water access, and 2.6 billion people lack basic sanitation.  Eliminating poverty and improving the quality of life of the world’s poorest people requires increased agriculture, industry and transport productivity made possible via improved water access and energy utilization. Most importantly, public health and human productivity require a technology practice that addresses peoples’ basic needs. Deploying appropriate technology means implementing policies to safeguard Earth and empower the broadest population.

Website

Visit the website for more information: www.appropriatetech.net

Language

The official language of the conference will be English.

Format of Abstracts, Papers, Posters and Projects

Abstracts & full papers, posters and project presentations/extended abstracts are being accepted and reviewed.  Abstracts & full papers will be double-blind peer reviewed.  Abstracts associated with full papers must be between 200 and 500 words.  Please denote abstract category upon submission - full paper, extended abstract, project or poster.

Submit abstracts to: ICAT5@uj.ac.za  and jtrimble@howard.edu

Deadline for paper, poster and project abstracts:   Extended to June 10 May 15, 2012

Notification of decision on abstracts for papers/posters & projects: June 15, 2012

Deadline for full papers: July 15, 2012

Notification of decision on papers, posters & projects: Sept. 10, 2012

Paper categories	Some Suggested Topics
Green Economy and Innovation	Manufacturing, Small scale industry, Mining and mineral processing, Socially relevant computing, Economics of technology, Textile technology, Recycling
Energy	Hydro power projects, Alternative energy systems, Renewable energy
Water and Sanitation	Water supply, Storage and sanitation, Water scarcity, Water quality, Water stress and recycling, Toilets
Health	Indigenous medical technologies, Food preparation/processing, Technologies addressing Malaria/TB/HIV/AIDS related issues, Pharmaceuticals
Construction and Infrastructure	Appropriate architecture, Appropriate construction, Appropriate transportation
Environment and Agriculture	Environmental impact, Irrigation projects, Forestry & wildlife, Agricultural technology, Climate change, Air quality
Knowledge and Technology Transfer	Education and training, Knowledge engineering, Knowledge management, Community development
Policy and Standards	Technology policies, Technology standards, Ethics, Culture, Quality

Programme Structure:

·      Tuesday November 20^th             Pre-Conference Workshops, Welcome Reception

·      Wednesday November 21^st             Conference Presentations

·      Thursday November 22^nd             Conference Presentations and Gala Dinner

·      Friday November 23^rd             Appropriate Technology Fair, Projects and Posters

·       Saturday November 24^th             Optional Field Trip

Registration Cost

Early Registration - Register by Sept. 30, 2012: ·     USD 300 United States and Developed Countries ·     R2000      South Africa and Developing Countries ·     R1000      All Undergraduate Students

Registration deadline - November 1, 2012 * ·     USD 350 United States and Developed Countries ·     R2400      South Africa and Developing Countries ·     R1200      All Undergraduate Students

One day conference fee - excluding dinner   ----- R1000

*  20% surcharge for onsite registration

Need for Appropriate Technology Protocol

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.

“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