News & Stories

New Media Task Force

Posted Oct 10 2012

In the weeks and months ahead, SIPA’s news pages will feature a selection of the School's many student organizations. To participate, please contact Ethan Wagner MIA ’13, who is coordinating the collection of information.

Interview with New Media Task Force (NMTF)

When was your group founded?

The group was founded in late 2008 when some SIPA students noticed that despite high demand, there was a lack of opportunities for students interested in researching, testing, and applying cutting-edge Information and Communication Technology (ICT) approaches to classic development challenges. NMTF began as a Task Force under the UN Studies Working Group and later became a separate student group.

Who are the officers for your group this year?

A bunch of excited SIPA second-years, with extremely diverse experiences in the application of technology, all looking forward to exploring the ICT and New Media space together!

  • Co-Presidents: Lakshmi Balachandran MPA-DP ’13 and Megann Mielke MPA-DP ’13
  • Director of ICTs and Mobile for Development: Savanna Honerkamp-Smith MPA-DP ’13
  • Director of Crisis Mapping: Will Perreault MPA ’13
  • Director of Communications: Chris Planicka MPA-DP ’13
  • Director of Finance: Farah Thalji MIA ’13

What kind of work does the NMTF usually do?

The New Media Task Force’s mission is to increase student knowledge of how technology and new media influences international development and to expand opportunities for students within the information and communication technology (ICTs) for development space.

Through projects, panels, and events, we aim to create a community around new media for development and promote practical research and internship opportunities for SIPA students. Additionally, the New Media Task Force supports SIPA curriculum development around technology for development. Our students and alumni work globally with organizations such as The Earth Institute, UNICEF, OCHA, Ushahidi, and UNDP. One of our primary activities is Crisis Mapping, an international effort to respond to disasters around the globe, and our volunteers provide essential information within the first few essential days following a disaster.

What events and projects do you have planned for this semester?

We have an exciting lineup of events, intending to leverage on our core strengths in ICT-based skills training while continuing to explore new aspects of New Media and its impacts. Some of our activities for this semester will include:

  • Innovating Mobile Tech for Development Competition
  • Fall 2012 kick-off meeting
  • Digital Brownbags:
    • Kara Nichols, Connect To Learn | Technology and Education
    • Beth Noveck | Collaborative Government
    • David Wertime, TeaLeafNation | Social Media
    • Citizen Map Hong Kong | Mapping
    • Steven Dudley, InSight | New Media and crime
  • Training/Deployment
    • Crisis Mapping
    • Episurveyor | Mobile data collection
    • Low cost video production with Josh Woodward from USAID
  • Workshop: PCI Media Impact | Entertainment Education

What message or advice would you give to incoming students thinking of joining the group?

Don’t be scared of technology! You don’t need to have had any experience in ICT or new media to be a member of the student group - our aim is to help you (and us!) explore what role technology and new media has in social change, and to facilitate your participation therein.

What’s one interesting fact that most people might not know about the topic your group focuses on?

This semester, we’re launching an Innovating Mobile Tech for Development Competition!

We are seeking applications from current university students with innovative ideas that can be applied to mobile phones and help the millions of mobile phones users worldwide.

You do not need a tech background to apply! A panel of judges will assess ideas based on uniqueness, significance, applicability, replicability and scalability. Proposals can be either domestic or international in focus.

For students, this is an opportunity to explore the mobile space and present to a panel of industry judges, meet others interested in the field and win cash prizes: first prize is $800, second prize is $500 and third prize is $350.

Website: http://mobiletech4dev.wordpress.com/

E-mail: [email protected]