EVENT STRUCTURE
An unconventional format
The event’s structure is different from traditional conferences. The agenda is set by those who attend, and the rules are simple:
PRODUCT-ORIENTED
There will be presentations and discussions, but we focus on opportunities to make, write, design, code, question, break.
FLUID TIMEFRAME
Come for as long or as short as you can over a month-long period.
DOCUMENT YOUR WORK
Produce something while you are there: an art piece, policy brief, music, map, digital app, risk model, etc. Document your work, and contribute to the conference community.
EMERGENT SCHEDULE
Few organizers will lead a set of workshops and trainings, but most of the schedule is created by participants (bring your own project, host a workshop, run an activity).
SETTING
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chiang Mai is a flood-prone urban area in northern Thailand with around 1 million residents. It’s a cultural center of the region, with hundreds of Buddhist temples and numerous important holidays and festivals. It is also a technology hub, and a destination for Thai and international software developers who want to participate in the rapidly growing digital economy. In 2017 the national government announced major investments aimed at helping Chiang Mai become a “smart city.” In Chiang Mai along with many other cities around the world, flood risk is increasing due to growing population, changing land-use and climate change. Floods are becoming increasingly frequent, limiting the ability of cities to achieve sustainable and equitable development.
VENUE
International Sustainable Development Studies Institute
The event will be hosted at the International Sustainable Development Studies Institute. The space is itself an experiment in sustainable design and architecture. Made from shipping containers, the venue provides flexible and versatile spaces to support the diverse activities of the UR Field Lab: large and small rooms for presentations and break-out work sessions, design and build artistic pieces in covered outdoor space, replenish on caffeine and brainstorm at the cafe, test a new drone sensor outside, etc.
Event is organized by:
With support from:
