January 04, 2007
Panjim, Goa, India
St. John’s University’s College of
Professional Studies conference: "Information and
Communications Technologies and Development" opened January 4, in
Panjim, Goa, India. The conference, which was organized by the
Division of Mass Communications at St. John’s and the Diocesan
Centre for Social Communications Media of Goa and Daman, is being
hosted in an effort to increase public discourse on how Information
and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can be used for holistic
development.
Photo
Gallery
Father Joaquim Loiola Petreira of the Archdiocese of Goa and
Daman welcomed conference delegates to the three-day event and
introduced the conference’s inaugural speaker, Mr. S.C. Jamir,
Governor of the State of Goa. Jamir noted in his address the
close link between ICTs and the notion of “development” in both
local and global contexts. He went on to state that ICTs have a
crucial role to play in the sustainability of human rights and the
environment, saying “harnessing this powerful tool for a more
secure existence” is a mandate for information professionals.
Dr. Basilio Monteiro, Assistant Professor at St. John’s
University, echoed Governor Jamir’s comments, and called for
information policies that looked beyond mere economic development,
consumerism, and globalization to a more holistic notion of “human
flourishing.” He added that ICTs must be applied in ways that are
locally appropriate in the developing world, taking into account
cultural characteristics.
Dr. Monteiro, headed the contingent from New York to India for
the conference. Those participating in the conference with Dr.
Monteiro include: Dr. Kevin Rioux, Assistant Professor of Library
and Information Science at St. John’s, Dr. Jack Phelan, Professor,
Fordham University and Mr. Joseph C. Donnelley, Representative of
Caritas Internationalis, Rome, at the United Nations.
Independent researchers, lecturers and university professors
represent the faction from India. Included in that group are Dr.
Haridas Varikottil, Caritas-India, Dr. K. Subramanian, Deputy
Director General at National Infomatics Center, Ministry of
Communications and Information Technology, New Delhi and Drs.
Anjali Monteiro and K.P. Jayasankar, both of Tata Institute of
Social Sciences, Mumbai.
The ICT and Development Conference runs through January 6.
For more information, please contact Kevin Rioux by e-mail at riouxk@stjohns.edu.