International Network on Appropriate Technology

    “Appropriate Technology” (AT) is the technology to empower people. The more the world population is empowered, the more the world’s human resources can be utilized, and the better equipped the mass of human society is to exercise democracy.

    The INAT Board of Directors continues to monitor developments with COVID-19.  Our first priority during this time is the health and safety of members and colleagues.  Below are measures we have adopted.  Updates and new information will be posted on this website.

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    All About INAT

    Appropriate technology (AT) is technology that is designed with special consideration to the environmental, ethical, cultural, social and economical aspects of the community it is intended for. With these goals in mind, AT typically requires fewer resources, is easier to maintain, has a lower overall cost and less of an impact on the environment compared to industrialized practices. Most importantly, Appropriate Technology is technology to empower people.

    The INAT is the work of a group of academics and practitioners promoting technology to empower people that started with a national symposium on appropriate technology held at Howard University in 1998. We have conducted eight international conferences, three Howard University symposia, various projects and presentations. These events have generated a climate of curriculum and technology innovation conducive to further expansion of our network. This laid the groundwork for a broader international conference and appropriate technology fair held November 22 - 25th 2018 at Songai Center in Porto-Novo, Benin. It also included an ethics and technology workshop, a hackathon and special student posters and projects session. The theme of the conference was Endogenous knowledge, Appropriate Technology and Innovation: Linking the Past and the Future.

    Messages from the President

    Vision

    “Appropriate Technology” (AT) is the technology to empower people. The more the world population is empowered, the more the world’s human resources can be utilized, and the better equipped the mass of human society is to exercise democracy.

    Mission

    Public education on “what is appropriate technology” is central to the mission of the International Network on Appropriate Technology (INAT). Our ongoing work is to bring Appropriate Technology to the forefront of discussion and practice regarding science and technology—in education, policy, research, development, and deployment.

    Objectives

    1. Develop an international network of appropriate technology researchers and practitioners (focusing on people of color) committed to assisting poorer communities and the global south.
    2. Support appropriate technology projects to empower the disadvantaged, focusing on people of color.
    3. Organize regional and Intenational conferences, workshops and symposiums to facilitate objectives 1 and 2.
    4. Develop a web portal to support objective 1, 2 and 3

    We Invite You to Host the 11th or 12th ICAT!

    We are happy to announce the start of our planning for the 11th International Conference on Appropriate Technology (11th ICAT) to be held in November 2024, and the 12th International Conference on Appropriate Technology (12th ICAT) to be held in November 2026. For reference, please see below for a recap on our 9th ICAT, and review the proceedings from the 9th confernce and 10th conference in the ICAT series.

    Please refer to the invitation letter linked below for information on what is expected of the host. If you are interested in hosting the conference, we shall need from you a 3-5 pages concept note that:

    1. Expresses the interest of your institution to host 11th ICAT (or 12th) and your willingness to lead the local planning effort;
    2. Affirms and describes the capability of your institution to fulfill each of the required items in the letter;
    3. Highlights how hosting the conference is related to, or advances, your work as well as how it is related to the vision of your institution or national policy; and
    4. States what you would aim to add to ICAT and to the field of appropriate technology through organizing the 11th ICAT (or 12th).
     
    This concept note is due on Monday March 20, 2023. The Board of Directors and Executive Committee of INAT will select a list of potential hosts to invite to submit a proposal. We shall send you this decision on April 17th with further information.

    We look forward to hearing from you and hope to be collaborating with you to organize the 11th ICAT (or 12th). Please send your concept notes to conferences@appropriatetech.net.

    Thanks in advance for distributing this Call to colleagues in your network who you think would be interested in ICAT.

    Recap from the 9th ICAT

    Technology to Empower People

    ICAT & The Tech-a-thon

    AT and Innovative Agriculture

    AT and Small-scale Farming

    INAT and COVID-19 — Safety and Health First

    The INAT Board of Directors continues to monitor developments with COVID-19. Our first priority during this time is the health and safety of members and colleagues. Below are measures we have adopted. Updates and new information will be posted on this website.

    If there are significant changes we will email our members and registrants of 10th International Conference on Appropriate Technology (10th ICAT).

    • Conference: The 2022 conference in November is currently planned as an in-person conference with virtual participation options. The Conference Planning Team will continue to watch developments of COVID-19 and make other adjustments as needed.
    • Planning: Future planning meetings and conduct of the Conference will be held in accordance with the current World Health Organization and South African national guidelines
    • Guidance: INAT encourages all of its members and colleagues to follow the guidance of the World Health Organization and their respective countries.

    Important related websites

    Articles of Interest related to COVID-19

    If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at trimbleja@tut.ac.za or call +(27) 711963215.


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