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.
All About INAT
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
Mission
Objectives
- Develop an international network of appropriate technology researchers and practitioners (focusing on people of color) committed to assisting poorer communities and the global south.
- Support appropriate technology projects to empower the disadvantaged, focusing on people of color.
- Organize regional and Intenational conferences, workshops and symposiums to facilitate objectives 1 and 2.
- Develop a web portal to support objective 1, 2 and 3
We Invite You to Host the 11th or 12th ICAT!
- Expresses the interest of your institution to host 11th ICAT (or 12th) and your willingness to lead the local planning effort;
- Affirms and describes the capability of your institution to fulfill each of the required items in the letter;
- 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
- States what you would aim to add to ICAT and to the field of appropriate technology through organizing the 11th ICAT (or 12th).
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
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - https://www.cdc.gov
- World Health Organization - https://www.who.int
- Worldometer: Coronavirus Update - https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
Articles of Interest related to COVID-19
- "The Man Who Saw the Pandemic Coming." Nautilus, Issue 83
http://nautil.us/issue/83/intelligence/the-man-who-saw-the-pandemic-coming - "Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup." Ventureburn - Startup news for emerging markets
https://ventureburn.com/2020/03/covid-19-and-african-tech-startups-roundup-26-03-2020/ - "Coronavirus Funding Monitor." Frontiers
https://coronavirus.frontiersin.org/covid-19-research-funding-monitor - "Here’s how Asia is using tech to tackle COVID-19." World Economic Forum
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/03/asia-technology-coronavirus-covid19-solutions/
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at trimbleja@tut.ac.za or call +(27) 711963215.