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* Zelenika, I. and J.M. Pearce. Barriers to Appropriate Technology Growth in Sustainable Development. Journal of Sustainable Development.(Accepted: September 2011, In Publication: December 2011)
* Zelenika, I. and J.M. Pearce. [http://www.appropedia.org/Barriers_to_Appropriate_Technology_Growth_in_Sustainable_Development Barriers to Appropriate Technology Growth in Sustainable Development]. Journal of Sustainable Development. (In Publication: December 2011)




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== Thesis Research Topic ==
== Thesis Research Topic ==



Revision as of 15:15, 25 October 2011

    "Be the change you want to see in the world" - Gandhi 
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Academic Background

Currently finishing Master's of Environmental Studies (MES) at Queen's University, Kingston. I completed my undergraduate at Carleton University, Ottawa also in Environmental Studies with a minor in Political Science. My research interests are in applied sustainability, appropriate technology, barriers to sustainable development, power of Information and Communication Technologies (internet, access to knowledge etc), open source/ open access and innovation through collaboration, technology and society, as well as the theory of common good and morality. My thesis topic is on Open Source Appropriate Technology and will be done under the supervision of Dr. Joshua Pearce.

Just as we are all connected, so is everything co-related and the key to understanding world's problems is in comprehension of all of the elements that influence them. This means study of the entire social, technological, cultural and political factors that affect our lives as well as our relationship/ effects in them.

Campus Involvement and In the News

I am the Sustainability Coordinator for the Society of Graduate and Professional Students (SGPS). If you would like to get involved with the Sustainability Committee or apply for the SAF Grant contact sustainability@sgps.ca

In the News:
Involvement with the Queen's Sustainability Advisory Committee
Our Eco Art project 2010
Facilitating Recyclemania 2011
Gazette Article - Queen’s: The First Solar Powered University?
Coalition for Solar Powered Queen's Article
Comment on Bottled Water Free Campus
Nuclear power not worth the risk in Canada - Our Nuclear Insurance Subsidy paper in Queen's media release
Solar power outshines nuclear power: Study, Toronto Star, 2011
Bottled Water Free Day March 10, 2011


Publications







  • Pearce, J.M., Albritton, S., Grant, G., Steed, G. and Zelenika, I. . "Enabling Innovation in Appropriate Technology for Sustainable Development". Sustainability: Science, Practice, & Policy. (Accepted - In print 2011)



  • I. Zelenika and J. M. Pearce., "The Internet and ICTs as Tools and Catalysts for Sustainable Development: Innovation for 21st Century". Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics. (under review, submitted December 6, 2010)


  • Saleh, N., Pearce, J., Zelenika, I., Usability and Quality of Information Systems for Appropriate Technology in Sustainable Development: A Study Design. iConference 2012 (Submitted: September 2011, Under review)


Thesis Research Topic

Open Source Appropriate Technology and Sustainable Development

Questions: Can we improve development of appropriate technology (smart/ efficient/ relevant tech) using the paradigm of open access/ open source/ knowledge commons where information, technical know-how and general knowledge is shared and improved by working together as a community? What are the barriers to development, AT and open source? How do we establish rich interconnected networks/ website/ database/ wikis for all A.T. related needs to facilitate self-directed development? How can we speed it up and scale up? What role are ICTs and Internet playing and what is their impact on appropriate technology and development in general? What are some example of the benefits of open source/ open access paradigm, innovation through collaboration + crowd-sourcing? How have the internet and ICTs already been used to spur innovation faster in new and creative ways? What role do social, cultural and economic barriers play in sustainable development? How much can biomimicry and small scale systems improve energy and development challenges.

Barriers to sustainable development and appropriate technology are complex as there are a lot of variables involved - but as it's been said before: the complexity of the matter must not paralyze us into inaction! Identifying problems leads to finding solutions, and the more hands and eyes working on it together the faster the process of development evolves.


Thesis Outline

  • Title: BARRIERS AND SOLUTIONS TO OPEN SOURCE APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: INNOVATION THROUGH COLLABORATION - soon available through Queen's open access

Thesis Poster - School of Environmental Studies Research Day, April 28th 2011. [Barriers to OSAT for Sustainable Development] --

Chapters:

Chapter 1 - Introduction

  • Development Challenges
  • Research Objectives and Overview


Chapter 2 - Literature Sources and Appropriate Technology Review

  • Literature Sources
  • Appropriate Technology and Development
  • Technological Design
  • Open Source and Knowledge Commons
  • Interview Basis and Methodology
  • Development Matters: The Complexity of Sustainable Development
  • History of the Appropriate Technology Movement
  • Current Situation and Relevance: Making the Case for OSAT
  • Literature Identified Barriers to AT
  • Defining principles
  • Technical Aspects
  • Organizational Aspects


Chapter 3 - Examining the Barriers to Open Source Appropriate Technology: Interview Methodology, Results and Analysis Goal and Purpose of the Study

  • Data Collection
  • Analysis Process
  • Interview Results and Discussion
  • Collaboration and Communication
  • Technological Dissemination
  • Defining Principles
  • Socio-Technical Barriers
  • Economic Relationship
  • Open Source and Knowledge Commons
  • Research Limitations


Chapter 4 - Breaking Down Barriers to Open Source Appropriate Technology Collaboration

  • Open Access, Knowledge Commons and The Future of Innovation
  • The Openness Factor: Background on the Open Source Movement
  • Examples of Crowd-Sourcing for Development
  • Enabling Collaborative Innovation: Open Source AT
  • The Role of Universities in OSAT


Chapter 5 - Discussion: Obstacles and Issues to Consider and Future Work

  • General Obstacles
  • Building the Network
  • Details, Dynamics and Components of Online OSAT


Chapter 6 - Conclusions

--

Key Points by Eric Raymond in The Cathedral and the Bazaar

  • Feedback -  very important; users are co-developers (works for open source software and same for O.S.A.T.)
  • Clearly established idea / project - can be several but clearly defined
  • Leadership + Effective Coordination + Cooperation
  • #1 ingredient - a tool as good as Internet!

Open Source Appropriate Technology Literature Review

Anyone interested in the work and looking for the bibliography related to open source and appropriate technology can consult our OSAT Lit review list:

Open Source Appropriate Technology Literature Review

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