Archived Newsroom • Press Release |
|
ITU asks schoolchildren around the world: How can technology make
the world a better place?
10,000 young people invited to join the global
debate at ITU Telecom World 2011 and imagine the innovations that could make a
real difference
Geneva, 18 October 2011 – ITU is calling on schoolchildren
across the world to
join a global metaconference
at
ITU Telecom World 2011 (24-27 October, Geneva, Switzerland)
on how technology can be harnessed to solve socio-economic problems and
accelerate progress toward the Millennium Development Goals.
Students and teachers are encouraged to sign up their schools or classes and
send in their ideas, prototypes and innovations in areas where technology could
be harnessed to:
- alleviate poverty and hunger
- improve education
- address gender inequality
- make sure everyone has access to health care
- protect our environment
- improve the lives of disabled people
- close the gap between the developed and developing world
Students are asked to consider burning questions such as how can we
close the gap between rich
and poor? How can we
make disabled people’s lives easier? Or how can we
improve education for all? Ideas and prototypes will be
shown to the more than 5,000 influential delegates expected to attend the event,
including Heads of State/Heads of Government, industry CEOs, technology gurus,
digital innovators and delegations from students’ home countries.
As well as the chance to influence key ICT decision makers, taking part in
the metaconference can provide teachers and students with a valuable real-world
context in core curriculum areas such as history, geography and mathematics.
Ideas will also form a key part of the ITU Telecom World 2011 Manifesto for a
Connected World, a collaborative vision that will be developed out of the event
focused on how connected technologies can make citizens happier, healthier,
safer and smarter.
Those unable to attend in person will be able to follow the action as it
unfolds from wherever they are in the world via live video streams. They will
also be encouraged to network and share ideas beforehand, participate remotely
in workshops and feed into key discussions as they take place.
“Children are our future and deserve the opportunity to have their voices
heard. We’re delighted that the power of technology will enable children
everywhere to join the discussion and share ideas and innovations alongside
global leaders,” said Dr Hamadoun Touré, ITU Secretary-General.
To find out more and to register your school or class, click
here.
Delegate registration is now open at
http://world2011.itu.int/be-there/register-now.
Media accreditation is available at:
http://world2011.itu.int/media-accreditation-procedure. Please note
that accreditation for media closes at 18:00 CET Wednesday 19 October.
Live and archived webcasts of selected ITU Telecom World 2011 sessions will
be available at:
http://world2011.itu.int/
Follow ITU Telecom World 2011 event activities on Facebook at
www.itu.int/facebook and through the @ITU_News twitter account
#ITUworld11.
For more information, please contact:
Sally Moore
Axicom UK
|
Sarah Parkes
Chief, Media Relations and Public Information, ITU
|
About ITU...