Welcome to Apps <4> Africa!
If you’ve spent time around the technology scene in East Africa over the last few years, chances are you’ve recognized that there is something special happening. Programmers, graphic designers and bloggers are creating new applications, content and the voices of a new generation of East Africans.
On behalf of the U.S. Department of State, the *iHub_, Appfrica Labs, and SODNET, we welcome your participation in Apps 4 Africa, a competition that celebrates the idea that the energy, optimism and technical acumen of East Africa’s technology community can help change the way we solve big social problems, amplify the voice of marginalized communities, and lower the barriers to public participation in the region.
From July 1st to August 31st, we welcome citizens to submit ideas that technology can help solve, and challenge technologists to build tools that lead to a better world. The top applications will receive cash, cool gadgets, and the chance to hob-nob with our judges panel of technology and civil society luminaries. On Thursday, we are particularly pleased to have Under-Secretary of State Judith McHale join a group of civil society leaders and civic-minded technologist to launch the contest at the *iHub_ in Nairobi.
This is only the beginning. Over the duration of the contest, we will host events around the region that address a variety of technology platforms and activist themes. We’ll also be encouraging collaboration between mentors from around the world and coders in the region. Whether you are a citizen, civil society leader or technologist of any kind, we hope you will join us in the Apps 4 Africa challenge!
Thanks!
- Joshua Goldstein, Jon Gosier and Barbara Birungi (Appfrica Labs), Elana Berkowitz (State Department), Erik Hersman and Jessica Colasco (*iHub_), Philip Thigo and John Kipchumbah (SODNET).
Great initiative guys and congrats in pulling this together. Looking forward to seeing some of the applicants and their ideas!!!
Ben
Dear Colleague,
Join the National Institutes of Health (NIH) at Crowdsourcing: The Art and Science of Open Innovation to explore open innovation approaches.
We would like you to present at the Crowdsourcing Expo. The Expo will showcase:
• Crowdsourcing environment providers
• Radical breakthrough enabled by open innovation
• Effective public engagement techniques
When: Monday, July 18, 2011 from 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Where: Natcher NIH Campus Building 45
Bethesda, MD 20892
Register Now (Deadline: July
Expo Participation (Deadline: extended to Friday, June 24)
Crowdsourcing: The Art and Science of Open Innovation will focus on using prizes to spur open innovation and how such approaches can accelerate progress in biomedical research. Topics include identifying problems that can be solved through open innovation; communicating scientific problems across disciplines from a lay person to a technology geek; and testing, evaluating and synergizing the solutions. This free one-day meeting will consist of keynote talks, panels and an expo that will showcase successful challenges and crowdsourcing environments, as well as provide networking opportunities.
For additional information visit http://www.palladianpartners.com/NIH_crowdsourcing
This meeting is jointly sponsored by NIH’s National Center for Research Resources, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, Public-Private Partnership Program and Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research.
Spread the word. Make this a true crowdsourcing experience!
Unfortunately, no travel assistance is available at this time