IDIA2020: 11th International Development Informatics Association conference Casa Silva Mendes, United Nations University Institute on Computing and Society Macau SAR, China, March 25-27, 2020 |
Conference website | https://www.idia2020.com/ |
Submission link | https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=idia2020 |
Submission deadline | September 6, 2019 |
The 11th International Development Informatics Association conference (IDIA2020) is organized by the United Nations University Institute on Computing and Society and will be held in Macau from 25 - 27 March 2020. IDIA2020 is organized under the theme "The more things change ..."
As the adage goes, "The more things change, the more they stay the same." Could the same be said of Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D)? To what extent has ICT4D over the years changed and/or not changed the global landscape of poverty and sustainable development? Have outcomes been positive, negative or mixed? Do strategies and interventions build in lessons from the past? What is the net contribution of ICT4D to the global development agenda?
Some would argue that technology has not altered the fundamental poverties and inequalities around the world - that despite the millions of dollars invested, social and economic inequalities remain too high. Furthermore, each new technology ascribed with “new promise” for the poor and marginalized of the world ends up unleashing new types and levels of disempowerment and unfreedoms: from increased invasion of privacy to the concentration of power and privilege in the hands of the few.
On the other hand, advocates point out that technology is having a substantial positive impact on the lives of many: FinTech has improved access to financial systems; social networking platforms are connecting people better; the data revolution is improving and enhancing monitoring and evaluation of the sustainable development goals; gig economy platforms are leveling the field and improving access to the labor market.
A third perspective contends that the answers are not so clear cut, arguing that ICT4D presents a reductionist view of the world, resulting in a tendency to oversimplify the pathways to impact of technology on the wicked and messy problems of human development. What are the underlying rationales for these differing viewpoints? How has ICT4D as a field and discipline changed over the years? And what changes are necessary for the field to meet the current and future demands presented by this evolving technology and society confluence?
Submission Guidelines
Full Papers: We invite submissions of full papers of between 12 to 15 pages, formatted according to the Springer’s CCIS one-column page format template available on the conference website. Only original, unpublished, research papers in English can be considered. The technical program committee will evaluate papers on the basis of their originality, methodological rigour, significance, and clarity. We encourage submission of papers that draw out clear implications, and actionable guidance both to practitioners and policy makers within the ICT4D domain.
Workshops: We also invite submission of proposals for workshops at IDIA 2020. Workshops offer a space for participants with shared common interests to meet for focused and interactive discussions of issues related to the conference theme and to the ICT4D domain. Each workshop proposal will undergo a peer review process. Workshop proposals must include: Title of the workshop; Description of the issues covered, emphasizing the significance and timeliness of the proposed workshop; Workshop organizers (names, affiliations and contact information); A short biography of the organizers (up to 200 words); Planned format of the workshop, including the scheduling (i.e. half day or full day, and tentative schedule); Clear indication of expected outcomes.
List of Topics
We invite researchers to submit papers presenting original research on the following sub-themes:
- ICT4D - taking stock: Evidence on the impacts (positive and negative) of ICT4D, with particular emphasis on the similarities or differences from previous research findings
- Harnessing frontier technologies for sustainable development: Critical research on frontier technologies (such as Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Blockchain) in the context of ICT4D, with particular consideration to how older technologies were perceived when they were also new
- ICT4D discourse, methodologies, and theoretical reflections: Theoretical reflections or new theoretical formulations on issues of ICT for Development in historical context
- The evolving global souths: Discussions of technology and development issues as they relate to marginalized populations around the world, including “developed” and “developing” countries.
Conference Organization
Program Chairs
Araba Sey (United Nations University-CS) and Caroline Khene (Rhodes University)
Proceedings Chairs
Don Junio (United Nations University-CS), Filistea Naude (UNISA) and Cecile Koopman (UNISA)
Local Organizing Chair
Ignacio Marcovecchio (United Nations University-CS)
Conference Chairs
Hannah Thinyane (United Nations University-CS) and Mamello Thinyane (United Nations University-CS)
Publication
Full papers will undergo a double blind, peer review by at least 3 three reviewers with the possibility that accepted papers will be published in a Springer Communications in Computer and Information Science (CCIS) volume. CCIS is abstracted/indexed in DBLP, Google Scholar, EI-Compendex, Mathematical Reviews, SCImago, Scopus. CCIS volumes are also submitted for inclusion in ISI Proceedings. Previous years’ conference proceedings have been published in a Springer CCIS volume.
Authors of accepted papers will be invited to submit 2-page policy briefs based on their paper. These will be reviewed by the conference organizers for possible inclusion in a United Nations University published policy brief volume.
Venue
The IDIA2020 conference will be hosted at the newly renovated Casa Silva Mendes - the home of the United Nations University Institute on Computing and Society in Macau.
Contact
You can follow us on Twitter @idia2020 or you can email the conference organizers at info@idia2020.com
Further details are available on the conference website at https://www.idia2020.com/