Month: March 2026

Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 21) – Ettie Unwin on “Crafting a More Equitable Framework for Global Epidemiological Research Practice: Working With Not On”

This is the twenty-first episode of our podcast based on the vignettes contributed by friends and colleagues to Tim Unwin’s new book Digital Technologies in an Unequal World: An Empancipatory Manfesto. In it, Ettie Unwin draws on her experience in using statistics and mathematical modelling of infectious diseases to argue powerfully that scientists (and by implication all of us) need to work with rather than on people living in economically poor parts of the world. As she says “Since the global burden of infectious disease is not
equitable, it’s important to help train my future colleagues around the world in methods and tools so they can model transmission themselves”.

The full vignette can be read here.

All audio files relating to the book are also available on our podcast with a new episode every week.

Ettie is a Senior Lecturer in Statistical Science at the University of Bristol where her research focuses on developing methodologies related to infectious disease transmission to improve global public health. She is passionate about co-creating research with partners in areas where the global burden of disease is highest, whilst sharing her technical knowledge when appropriate.

Full details of the book are available through the following links:

Order your copy direct from Routledge here

Other recent episodes

Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 21) – Ettie Unwin on “Crafting a More Equitable Framework for Global Epidemiological Research Practice: Working With Not On” – ICT4D Collective » ICT4D

Ettie is a Senior Lecturer in Statistical Science at the University of Bristol where her research focuses on developing methodologies related to infectious disease transmission to improve global public health. She is passionate about co-creating research with partners in areas where the global burden of disease is highest, whilst sharing her technical knowledge when appropriate. … Continue reading Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 21) – Ettie Unwin on “Crafting a More Equitable Framework for Global Epidemiological Research Practice: Working With Not On”
  1. Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 21) – Ettie Unwin on “Crafting a More Equitable Framework for Global Epidemiological Research Practice: Working With Not On”
  2. Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 20) – Dato’ Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi on “It’s about what technology can do for society”
  3. Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 19) – Revi Sterling on “Retreads: Pushing New Rocks up New Hills”
  4. Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 18) – Paul Spiesberger on “Spinning Digital Cotton to Counter Digital Colonialism”
  5. Inclusão Digital num Mundo Desigual (Episódio 17) – Fernanda Scur sobre “A Tecnologia Digital e os Desbancarizados: A Pandemia da COVID no Brasil” (Áudio em português)

Heloisa Melino: seminar on “Perspectivas latino-americanas e brasileiras sobre descolonialidade do saber”

Heloisa Melino has been working in recent years together with Hari Harindranath and Tim Unwin on the use of digital technologies by those living on the periferias (peripheries) in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, especially in Maré. Much of this research-practice has focused on developing resources and providing training on the safe, wise and secure use of digital tech within the LBT communities there, with some of our co-designed resources being launched at the Casa Resistências in Maré in September 2024. More recent activities including a rare dance performance on the use of digital tech by Efeito Urbano in Morro da Providência took place in June/July 2025, funded through Royal Holloway’s Social Science Impact Accelerator (SSIA).

As an extension of this work, Heloisa was granted a Social Science Impact Residency to spend the month of March 2026 based at Royal Holloway, University of London, to explore further collaborations and synergies that will extend our research-practice together and explore new openings for future cooperation. As part of this, she presented a fascinating and thought provoking seminar on Latin American and Brazilian Perspectives on Decoloniality of Knowledge on 12th March, which gave rise to much subsequent discussion

Her slide deck is available below (click on the image), excluding the 4 minute music video (Residente – This is Not America) on Slide 4 which can be accessed from the original on YouTube.

We are most grateful to Heloisa for spending this month with us and look forward to continued research practice with her and those she works with in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro in the years ahead.

Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 20) – Dato’ Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi on “It’s about what technology can do for society”

This is the twentieth episode of our podcast based on the vignettes contributed by friends and colleagues to Tim Unwin’s new book Digital Technologies in an Unequal World: An Empancipatory Manfesto. In it, Dato’ Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi draws on his experiences in Malaysia to reflect on what has changed over the last two decades in terms of how and why digital tech is being used, from the days of kedai.com which was seen as being a way to “bridge the digital divide” to the contemporary period when Malaysia is still providing free collective broadband to rural and underserved communities. He concludes that “the technology has evolved and yet inequalities still remain. In the end, it’s never about the technology but it’s about what technology can do for society. Let’s begin by agreeing on the societies we want, then apply the appropriate technologies to make them thrive”.

The full vignette can be read here.

All audio files relating to the book are also available on our podcast with a new episode every week.

Sharil, from Malaysia, trained and practised as a lawyer, became a policy maker, went into corporate finance and then moved on to become a telco regulator and a trade negotiator. Thereafter, got involved in corporate restructuring, automotive, infrastructure and aviation, whilst dabbling in a spot of angel investing, startup mentoring, media and movie making. He is currently serving as the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia.

Full details of the book are available through the following links:

Order your copy direct from Routledge here

Other recent episodes

Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 21) – Ettie Unwin on “Crafting a More Equitable Framework for Global Epidemiological Research Practice: Working With Not On” – ICT4D Collective » ICT4D

Ettie is a Senior Lecturer in Statistical Science at the University of Bristol where her research focuses on developing methodologies related to infectious disease transmission to improve global public health. She is passionate about co-creating research with partners in areas where the global burden of disease is highest, whilst sharing her technical knowledge when appropriate. … Continue reading Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 21) – Ettie Unwin on “Crafting a More Equitable Framework for Global Epidemiological Research Practice: Working With Not On”
  1. Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 21) – Ettie Unwin on “Crafting a More Equitable Framework for Global Epidemiological Research Practice: Working With Not On”
  2. Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 20) – Dato’ Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi on “It’s about what technology can do for society”
  3. Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 19) – Revi Sterling on “Retreads: Pushing New Rocks up New Hills”
  4. Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 18) – Paul Spiesberger on “Spinning Digital Cotton to Counter Digital Colonialism”
  5. Inclusão Digital num Mundo Desigual (Episódio 17) – Fernanda Scur sobre “A Tecnologia Digital e os Desbancarizados: A Pandemia da COVID no Brasil” (Áudio em português)

Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 19) – Revi Sterling on “Retreads: Pushing New Rocks up New Hills”

This is the nineteenth episode of our podcast based on the vignettes contributed by friends and colleagues to Tim Unwin’s new book Digital Technologies in an Unequal World: An Empancipatory Manfesto. In it, Revi Sterling reflects on the challenges facing gender digital inclusion, and asks: “I wonder what we did wrong for the last twenty years. Were we ahead of ourselves? Were we just Cassandras warning people about restrictive social norms and technology determinism? It’s a petty bitterness I have. There’s a twinge of resentment when I look at the ‘new’ gender and digital inclusion research agendas – retreads if there ever were. No one has heard of the canon of digital divide research we built. If they have, they say ‘It’s so old!’ but if you don’t address a gaping wound, it doesn’t heal”. She concludes that “‘Development’ now is not about progress; it’s about keeping progress from slipping. Our goal is to hold the gendered rock. The goal of development work now may be maintaining a state – instead of expecting state change – until newer systems evolve to fill the vacuum. We need to be content, even dedicated, to holding the boulder on the steep hillside and not letting it slide”.

The full vignette can be read here.

All audio files relating to the book are also available on our podcast with a new episode every week.

Revi started out elevating women’s voices through technology. This led to positions and programmes helping millions of women use technology to achieve their goals, as well as 20+ years of frustration with donors, governments, peer institutions and rural busses. I will never stop talking about social norms, opportunities, and inequities.

Full details of the book are available through the following links:

Order your copy direct from Routledge here

Other recent episodes

Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 21) – Ettie Unwin on “Crafting a More Equitable Framework for Global Epidemiological Research Practice: Working With Not On” – ICT4D Collective » ICT4D

Ettie is a Senior Lecturer in Statistical Science at the University of Bristol where her research focuses on developing methodologies related to infectious disease transmission to improve global public health. She is passionate about co-creating research with partners in areas where the global burden of disease is highest, whilst sharing her technical knowledge when appropriate. … Continue reading Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 21) – Ettie Unwin on “Crafting a More Equitable Framework for Global Epidemiological Research Practice: Working With Not On”
  1. Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 21) – Ettie Unwin on “Crafting a More Equitable Framework for Global Epidemiological Research Practice: Working With Not On”
  2. Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 20) – Dato’ Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi on “It’s about what technology can do for society”
  3. Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 19) – Revi Sterling on “Retreads: Pushing New Rocks up New Hills”
  4. Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 18) – Paul Spiesberger on “Spinning Digital Cotton to Counter Digital Colonialism”
  5. Inclusão Digital num Mundo Desigual (Episódio 17) – Fernanda Scur sobre “A Tecnologia Digital e os Desbancarizados: A Pandemia da COVID no Brasil” (Áudio em português)

Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 18) – Paul Spiesberger on “Spinning Digital Cotton to Counter Digital Colonialism”

This is the eighteenth episode of our podcast based on the vignettes contributed by friends and colleagues to Tim Unwin’s new book Digital Technologies in an Unequal World: An Empancipatory Manfesto. In it, Paul Spiesberger argues that those who can should switch to Linux OS, support initiatives such as Public Money Public Code, encrypt data, use decentralised Internet services, and dusrupt power structures by demanding policy changes.

The full vignette can be read here.

Audio read by Georg Steinfelder

All audio files relating to the book are also available on our podcast with a new episode every week.

Paul graduated as a computer scientist from TU Wien and is a passionate programmer. He is the operative head of ROTA at INSO, and works with SAI, TU Graz. Since 2014, he has served as the chair of ICT4D.at, and he is a member of the ICT4D Collective.

Full details of the book are available through the following links:

Order your copy direct from Routledge here

Other recent episodes

Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 21) – Ettie Unwin on “Crafting a More Equitable Framework for Global Epidemiological Research Practice: Working With Not On” – ICT4D Collective » ICT4D

Ettie is a Senior Lecturer in Statistical Science at the University of Bristol where her research focuses on developing methodologies related to infectious disease transmission to improve global public health. She is passionate about co-creating research with partners in areas where the global burden of disease is highest, whilst sharing her technical knowledge when appropriate. … Continue reading Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 21) – Ettie Unwin on “Crafting a More Equitable Framework for Global Epidemiological Research Practice: Working With Not On”
  1. Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 21) – Ettie Unwin on “Crafting a More Equitable Framework for Global Epidemiological Research Practice: Working With Not On”
  2. Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 20) – Dato’ Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi on “It’s about what technology can do for society”
  3. Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 19) – Revi Sterling on “Retreads: Pushing New Rocks up New Hills”
  4. Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 18) – Paul Spiesberger on “Spinning Digital Cotton to Counter Digital Colonialism”
  5. Inclusão Digital num Mundo Desigual (Episódio 17) – Fernanda Scur sobre “A Tecnologia Digital e os Desbancarizados: A Pandemia da COVID no Brasil” (Áudio em português)