Connecting Systems with Humans

Over more than a decade long journey of research and exploration from a developing country, there has been challenges and opportunities where technology could be a vehicle to solve critical problems that impact marginal people more. The lecture aims to focus on three major problems explored over a period of time.

First, how technology can address the problem of sexual harassment and abuse for women and marginal communities where strong patriarchal values persist in the context of South Asia exploring Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. This work was partially funded by Google.

Second, how the social-cultural and economic challenges impact women in computing from resource constraint regions (e.g., Bangladesh and Afghanistan) and how opportunities are created. This work was partially funded by Google.

Third, how technology has been an enabler for women and marginal communities prior to and during the Covid-19 pandemic set in the context of Bangladesh. This work has been funded by Bill and Melinda Gates foundation.