Can design address global health?

October 15, 2013

Using interactive technology to improve education and human wellness is the focus of a colloquium October 23 exploring how technology, design, and cross–disciplinary education can solve global health issues. “The Edge of Educational Technology” will take place at 5:30 p.m. in Lawrence Hall Room 177, 1190 Franklin Boulevard in Eugene.

The panel discussion is part of the year-long Koehn Colloquia, a series of events, classes, exhibitions, and forums to explore how technology, design thinking, and cross-disciplinary education and practice can solve critical issues in global health and human wellness. The colloquium this year takes on the question, “Can massive design thinking make global breakthroughs?”

The October 23 event includes demonstrating the Ripple student response system developed as an interactive tool by the UO Libraries Interactive Media Group. Attendees are encouraged to bring their smart phone, laptop, or tablet and participate.

Presenters include:

Richard Beckwith, research psychologist, interactions and experiences research, Intel Labs
William Deresiewicz, cultural critic, author, and writer for the Nation, the New Republic and the American Scholar; former professor of English at Yale University
Kiersten Muenchinger, designer, associate professor, and director, Product Design Program, University of Oregon
John Park, artist and instructor, Digital Arts Program, Department of Art, University of Oregon
Carol Stabile, professor, Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, and director, Center for the Study of Women in Society, University of Oregon
Yong Zhao, professor, Department of Educational Methodology, Policy, and Leadership, College of Education, and Presidential chair for global academic extension, University of Oregon.

The colloquium includes a winter term class, Product Design 410 Epic Challenges, an in-class and online four-credit course open to all UO students. The class will create concepts for entry in the next Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenges Explorations to redesign, research, and improve sexual health worldwide by redesigning the condom.

The colloquia are sponsored by the School of Architecture and Allied Arts and Academic Affairs, and are presented by the UO Digital Arts and Product Design Programs.

event poster