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Hacker Methodologies and Makers Space

Page history last edited by Leslie Chan 5 years, 1 month ago

 

Jan. 31, 2019

 

Please note that the class tonight will take place in the library's Makerspace and the computer lab next to it (AC286A). Please be there at 5 pm promptly.

 

Overview

This presentation aims to introduce students to the Maker philosophy in the African context. They will learn: 1) foundations of the maker movement, 2) specificities of the makerspaces in Africa and the necessity to stay critic depending of the context; 3) conditions for makerspaces to fully meet SDG. This presentation can be relevant for decision makers, policy-makers, researchers and all those working in the field of technology for development, digital humanities and social innovation.

 

About the Guest Speaker

 

Thomas Hervé Mboa Nkoudou is PhD Candidate in Public Communication, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada.  He is interested in: The Contribution of the maker movement to the sustainable development of Africa. For this purpose, he studied 03 makerspaces based in Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Senegal. One of the milestone questions is: in which conditions makerspaces can bring contextualized solutions for local needs, rather than to be a technocolonial tool?  Thomas is also Open African Innovation Research (Open AIR) network researcher and International President, Association for the Promotion of OpenScience in Haiti and Africa (APSOHA).  

 

 

 

Resources

 


Summary

 

1- Generalities 

  • The Maker philosophy
  • Spaces and Equipment
  • Values, principles and practices

   

2- Hacking & Making in African context and specificities

  • Makerspaces across the continent
  • Expectations of stakeholders
    • Meet social, economic and environmental sustainability   
    • The quest of social, generative and cognitive justice
  • Opportunities for local development
    • Inclusiveness, practical learning and empowerment 
    • Fight unemployment
    • Bridging the gap between theory and practices in STEM
    • catalyze local innovation
  • Challenges
    • Financial issues
    • lack of political supports
    • Infrastructural and physical barriers
    • Local traditional culture vs Hacker Ethics  
  • Strategies and practices
    • Low-cost technology 
    • Small business
    • Cultural appropriation
    • Mutual support, solidarity and group learning

 

3- Makerspaces for sustainable development: Lessons from hacking practices.

  • Makerspaces as a Common
  • Local communities, first! technology, last!
  • Contextualize outreach activities
  • Change the narrative
  • The maker movement in fragile contexts
  • The triptych: informal, informal sector and grassroots innovation

 

Readings

 

 

  • Ron Eglash and Ellen K. Foster, 2017 Chapter 6: On the Politics of Generative Justice: African Traditions and Maker Communities, in Mavhunga Clapperton Chakanetsa, éd. 2017. What Do Science, Technology, and Innovation Mean from Africa? Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments (1)

Tasneem Mewa said

at 2:37 pm on Feb 7, 2019

Hi Thomas,

I think this is the right place to be asking you questions? If so, I hope this comment finds you well.

Thank you again for your presentation last week, and especially for providing us with all these resources.

Professor Chan mentioned that part of your work involves keeping an eye on big investors and their involvement/ buy-ins into the maker movement. I'm wondering if you can speak more to this and offer us insights in terms of what you've noticed so far, if this is having an impact on the way the movement operates, and what you think the implications of their involvement could be. I suppose this one way of lens into beginning to answer the big question on maintaining generative justice, which is difficult question to tackle.

Thank you!

Best,
Tasneem

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