IEEE-Led Workshop at United Nations Science, Technology and Innovation Forum to Expand Conversation on Leveraging ICT to Achieve 2030 Sustainable Development Goals
PISCATAWAY, N.J., USA, 3 June 2016 – IEEE, the world's largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for humanity, today announced a side event during the United Nations (UN) Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (STI Forum) to expand the conversation on leveraging information and communications technologies (ICT) and exploring cross-sectional/cross-functional solutions toward achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The UN describes the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals as “a set of goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all.”
The workshop-style session, hosted by IEEE and organizing sponsors including People Centered Internet and the Internet Society (ISOC), is scheduled to take place 6:15-7:30 p.m. Eastern 6 June 2016 at the UN Headquarters in New York. The event will build on existing work of the global Internet community to advance solutions for connecting the unconnected and invite government bodies, ministers and other stakeholders at the UN STI Forum to contribute collectively to providing concrete, meaningful solutions that illustrate the power of widespread implementation of ICT to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
During the session, IEEE and the organizing partners will facilitate a World Café-style discussion among UN STI Forum attendees and present output from the Global Connect Stakeholders: Advancing Solutionsevent co-hosted by IEEE and the World Bank on 13 April 2016 in Washington, as well as reflect upon the “Policy Options for Connecting the Next Billion” Internet Governance Forum (IGF) initiative, which aims to identify challenges and good practices from all stakeholders on how to extend global Internet access.
“With almost 60 percent of the world’s population still lacking Internet access today, achieving the goal of universal, affordable Internet access will require expertise, experiences and creativity of the global technology and policy communities in the years ahead,” said Oleg Logvinov, chair of the IEEE Internet Initiative. “IEEE is working to facilitating this collaboration, as illustrated by our work with the organizing partners at the UN STI Forum.”
The 2016 STI Forumwill address the topic "realizing the potential of science, technology and innovation for all to achieve the sustainable development goals."
IEEE engagement at the UN STI Forum complements its existing open, global and collaborative work in Internet governance, security and privacy. Activities in this area include the IEEE Internet Initiative, IEEE Big Data Initiative, IEEE Computer Society, IEEE Cybersecurity Initiative, IEEE Internet of Things Initiative, IEEE Smart Cities, and the IEEE Standards Association Industry Connections program for Ethical Considerations in the Design of Autonomous Systems, which helps provide recommendations for the ethical implementation of standardized intelligent technologies.
About IEEE Internet Initiative
The IEEE Internet Initiative is a cross-organizational, multi-domain community that connects technologists and policymakers from around the world to foster a better understanding of, and to improve decisions and advance solutions affecting, Internet governance, cybersecurity, and privacy issues. Learn more at internetinitiative.ieee.org.
About IEEE
IEEE is a large, global professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities, IEEE is the trusted voice on a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics. Learn more at www.ieee.org.
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