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.

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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.

    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

    Recap from the 9th ICAT

    Technology to Empower People

    ICAT & The Tech-a-thon

    AT and Innovative Agriculture

    AT and Small-scale Farming

    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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