Embracing Inclusivity in Open Knowledge: Introducing the IDEA Network
Welcome to the first blog post for the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility in Open Knowledge Network (IDEA Network for short!). We are thrilled to share our mission, values, and aims with you, and we hope that you will join us on this exciting journey to foster a more inclusive and diverse open knowledge community.
Why the IDEA Network?
The digital age has revolutionised the way we access and share knowledge, with platforms like Wikipedia becoming a go-to resource for millions worldwide. Despite this, underrepresented subjects and marginalised communities often struggle to find their voices in the vast open-knowledge landscape. The IDEA Network was founded to address this very challenge.
Our group of passionate staff and students from the University of St Andrews and beyond are united in their commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility to open knowledge through research and community engagement activities. Together, we aim to increase engagement with, and representation of, marginalised people and subjects, develop digital, data, and information literacy, and establish ourselves as a leading organisation for open knowledge.
Our Mission: Wikipedia and beyond
The initial focus of the IDEA Network is Wikipedia and her sister projects. By engaging with these platforms, we can not only enhance digital, data, and information literacy for editors but also contribute to the quality and quantity of open knowledge available worldwide.
However, our mission extends beyond Wikipedia. We strive to encourage more public engagement among students and staff, facilitate greater equality and diversity within the University of St Andrews, and nurture a culture of civic engagement and volunteering at local, national, and international levels.
Our Aims
The IDEA Network seeks to address the challenge that although anyone can edit Wikipedia, not everyone does edit Wikipedia. Therefore, the Network will have three key aims:
- Increase engagement with, and representation of, marginalised people and subjects.
- g. via edit-a-thons
- Work with partners to develop digital, data and information literacy through Wikimedia.
- g. via training for staff, students and external community partners
- Develop our capacity and profile as a leading organisation for open knowledge.
- g. via increasing the number of individuals involved in the Network who would be integrating Wiki projects into their research, teaching and public engagement/knowledge exchange practice.
Join Us on Our Journey
These aims will not be straightforward or easy to fulfil, but we believe the moral universe’s arc leans towards fairness and equity. We can drive change and leave the world a little better than we found it with your support and participation. Stay tuned for upcoming events!
Sign-up for our mailing list
The IDEA Network Team
Are you excited about working with various university stakeholders to advance open knowledge initiatives? If so, we’d love to hear from you! Join our team by signing up:
https://standrews.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_e3UVDHHCm0ghese