Tech for Good 10: Fair BnB, the Emerge civic-tech conference, MIT's Inclusive Innovation Challenge, a data ethics canvas and more
20th September 2017
Welcome to the Tech For Good Ten, where we share the best 10 links in the Tech For Good world from the past seven days.
We’re aiming to share a wide range of links, meeting the people behind the latest digital innovations, showcasing the greatest tech for good products, looking at the future of social change technology, and exploring the themes and social issues that technology is tackling locally and globally.
Most importantly, we’ll be meeting the people and institutions who are actually using this technology, showing the positive difference it makes in their lives, their communities and the world around them.
We’re also encouraging debate around “What exactly is Tech For Good?” Join the debate in the comments below. We’re here to discuss all things Tech For Good. Got a link to share with the Tech For Good Team? Tweet us at @techfotgoodtv or leave a comment on our Facebook page.
Tech For Good Ten | 20.09.2017
1// FairBnb: an ethical Airbnb
Fair Bnb is an ethical, collectively owned alternative to Airbnb. It aims to put the sharing back into the so-called sharing economy by offering a community-centred alternative that privileges people over profit and facilitates sustainable, intimate travel experiences.
2// Skoll Centre Emerge Conference and competition
The Skoll Centre’s Emerge conference, covering all things social entrepreneurship, is set for for the weekend of 11th November. Part of the conference is a pitch competition, in which social ventures will win prizes designed to help them scale.
3// MIT Inclusive Innovation Challenge finalists announced
The finalists of the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy’s Inclusive Innovation Challenge have been announced. The finalists will collectively be awarded $1 million, with the winners announced on October 12th. The finalists represent a superb range of companies using tech for good to improve work opportunities for young people.
4// A solar panel you can put through the wash
A new type of ultra-thin solar cell could make it through laundry day without any negative effects. Developed by Japanese company RIKEN and the University of Tokyo, the solar cell is coated on both sides with a waterproof covering, allowing it to keep generating electricity from sunlight even after being soaked in water.
5// Open Data Institue releases ethical data canvas
The Open Data Institute has launched a Data Ethics Canvas, designed to teach people how to make ethical choices around how data is collected and used. This explainer tells you what you need to know.
6// Google News Lab to put 1,000 journalists in local news rooms
Google News Lab has announced a new project that aims to place 1,000 journalists in local newsrooms over the next five years, employing a model similar to Code for America.
7// The game helping young people talk about death
Apart of Me is a new video game designed to help young people talk about death. The project is currently fundraising on Kickstarter. There is a month left to contribute, which we urge you to do!
8// Congressional Innovation Fellowship open for applications
The Congressional Innovation Fellowship, over the pond, is open for applications until September 28th. The prestigious programme offers the chance for participants to employ technological expertise to innovate Congress. It features a range of work experience beyond workshops and training.
9// Highlighting the National Neighbourhood Indicators Partnership
The National Neighbourhood Indicators Partnership (NNIP) is a collaboration between the Urban Institute and local partners in 32 US cities to further the development and use of neighborhood-level information systems for community building and local decision-making. It’s not as famous as some other initiatives, but as this Civic Hall intro suggests, it’s a superb example of civic tech in quiet action.
10// Sunlight Foundation conducts open-data meta analysis
The Sunlight Foundation has conducted a meta-analysis of 21,000 open datasets to determine what type of data is of most interest to the public.