"How do new technologies in citizens' hand challenge risk and vulnerability management ?" - Resilience Partnership with Swansea University.

1. Conceptualizing citizen data

Dr Leighton Evans & Dr Yan Wu

This talk will propose a conceptual framework for the study of citizen data, focusing on the transformation of natural phenomena into data through digital technologies, and how this transformation leads to a normalisation of the digital in everyday life and how such collection and utilization of data leads to civic participation in risk management or governance.

• Dr Leighton Evans is Senior Lecturer in Media Theory at Swansea University, and is Undergraduate Programme Director for Media and Communications. Leighton’s research background is in the Philosophy of Technology and new media, and he has published work on social media, location-based social networking, phenomenology, webnography, management systems, smart logistics and smart cities. Leighton’s primary research interests lie in the transformation of natural phenomena into data through digital technologies, and how this transformation leads to a normalisation of the digital in everyday life.
• Dr Yan Wu is an Associate Professor in Media and Communications studies, College of Arts and Humanities, Swansea University, and a Higher Education Academy Fellow since 2017. Dr Wu’s research interests cover two main areas - Chinese media and communication and digital inclusivity in Wales. Her research expertise in Chinese media and communication encompasses a range of issues including online community, citizen journalism, social media in China, and China’s soft power communication. Currently she is researching the use of social media by the Chinese elderly. Over the past several years, she has also developed a series of research projects on digital media and inclusivity in Wales.

2. Citizen data and communication for development in Africa

Dr Chedza Simon & Prof Krijn Peters

The talk focuses on organisational crisis communication, the governance of citizen data generated on digital media platforms and opportunities and risks for the planning, implementation and evaluation of development interventions to be informed by citizen data.

• Dr Chedza Simon is a lecturer in media and public relations at Swansea University. His work in media studies addresses organisational crisis communication in the global south and the role of social media.
• Krijn Peters is a professor in politics, philosophy, and international relations. As a rural development sociologist and expert in post-war reconstruction, international development, transport services, and technology, he led projects based on a frugal innovation approach in West African countries.

3. Citizen data and interactions co-designed with/for emergent users.

Prof Simon Robbinson & Dr Thomas Reitmaier

Prof Robbinson and Dr Reitmaier will be sharing their experience of research with marginalized communities in India and South Africa. Their research focuses on devices and interactions co-designed with/for emergent users, which opens discussion about innovates ways of co-creating with citizens and communities in risk management and governance.

• Dr Simon Robbinson is Professor in Computer science. His  research focuses on devices and interactions designed with and for emergent users – people in rural or developing regions where connectivity and technology availability are often low. Devices and interactions co-designed with/for emergent users.
• Dr Thomas Reitmaier - Slum Community Co-design of Self-Powered Deformable Smart Messaging Materials.
  Dr Thomas Reitmaier is a lecture in Computer Science  in the Department of Computer Science, Swansea University. He has recently been involved in a research project about frugal innovation and co-design for inter-family communication in Indian slums