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There is now a CONTENT FREEZE for Mercury while we switch to a new platform. It began on Friday, March 10 at 6pm and will end on Wednesday, March 15 at noon. No new content can be created during this time, but all material in the system as of the beginning of the freeze will be migrated to the new platform, including users and groups. Functionally the new site is identical to the old one. webteam@gatech.edu
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TITLE: Information and Communication for National Reconciliation
SPEAKER: Dr. Michael L. Best
ABSTRACT:
We have been investigating the role of rich new information and communication environments in efforts to restore and reconcile a people or nation destroyed by years of civil strife and conflict. Through an integrated and holistic approach, we have collaboratively designed, implemented, deployed and evaluated interactive environments that support dialogue, deliberation and memory for the resolution of civil conflict. The systems have included rich online web presences, offline interactive multi-modal computer environments, and text and voice based mobile phone systems.
Our current work is in collaboration with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Liberia, though we are exploring new projects, for example with the traditional Cultural Institution of the Acholi people, Northern Uganda. I will report on this ongoing work and try to extend our findings to current and emerging conflicts.
Bio: Dr. Michael L. Best is assistant professor at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and the School of Interactive Computing at Georgia Institute of Technology where he is a research director with their GVU Center. He is also a Fellow of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. Professor Best is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of Information Technologies and International Development published by the MIT Press. He is a frequent consultant to the World Bank, ITU, and USAID. He holds a Ph.D. from MIT and has served as Director of Media Lab Asia in India and head of the eDevelopment group at the MIT Media Lab
