The VU Network Institute, the Netherlands Research School for Information and Knowledge Systems SIKS, the VU Computer Science Department and the International Office at the VU University Amsterdam kindly invite you to attend the Second International Symposium “Perspectives on ICT4D” on

• Friday, May 22, 2015, 10.00 – 13.00.
• @VU – W&N Science Building Intertainlab S-111, De Boelelaan 1081, Amsterdam.

ICT4D is the fast growing field of practice and study how Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can contribute to social and economic development in developing and emerging countries.
After the first very successful “Perspectives on ICT4D” Symposium in Amsterdam with over 100 international participants in May 2014, we organize a second one – like last year, also as a special event as part of the ICT4D master course in Amsterdam. The central theme for this year is: Data 4 Development. Big & Open Data is hot in western advanced countries, but how is it in the developing and emerging world?
International speakers will highlight recent issues, trends and debates regarding ICT4D, from a wide range of experiences, angles, and scientific disciplines. The Symposium aims to elucidate key questions surrounding ICT4D, including: What are successful approaches to ICT4D? What is the role of ICT in the broader context of development? Can ICT4D research contribute to real impact?
The event is part of the Educational Program of SIKS. Therefore, all SIKS-PhD-students are strongly encouraged to participate.

Program of the symposium:

• 9.00 Registration & coffee
• 10.00 Welcome and opening
• 10.05 Gayo Diallo – Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, FR “Mobile Data in Senegal, a Health Decision Enabler”
• 10.30 Marije Geldof – ICT4D professional The Hague, NL “‘Mobile health and the role of data in Malawi'”
• 10.50 Christophe Guéret – DANS-KNAW The Hague, NL “Downscaling the (Semantic) Web: Decentralized Linked Open Data for World Citizens”
• 11.10 Coffee & tea – break out session and poster Network Institute Academy Assistants:Gossa Lô (bachelor Lifestyle Informatics) and Myrthe van der Wekken (master Culture Organization Management) research project “Knowledge Sharing for the Rural Poor”
• 11.40 Chris van Aart – 2CoolMonkeys, Utrecht, NL “Mr. Meteo, Weather forecasts for African farmers”
• 12.00 Cheah Waishiang – Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia “Community-based ICTs in rural regions of Borneo, Sarawak, Malaysia”
• 12.20 Rolf Kleef – Open for Change, NL “Open Data for Development Agencies”
• 12.40 Wrap up and conclusions by symposium chairs
• 13.00 End of symposium

Hope to see you on May 22!

More info about the symposium:  http://w4ra.org
Please register by sending an email to a.bon@vu.nl