22.10.2021

Wiki­dat­aCon 2021: The path to fair, sustainable and global Open Data

Wiki­data is the free and open know­ledge base that holds the world’s know­ledge as machine-readable data. Count­less insti­tu­tions and compa­nies use Wikidata’s linked data to power their products. Wikipedia’s sister project will soon have 100 million entries (as of October 2021) and can be read and edited by humans and machines alike. 

Focus on Open Data in the Global South

In order to give the commu­nity a stimu­la­ting envi­ron­ment for exch­ange, Wiki­media Deutsch­land and Wiki Movi­mento Brasil are jointly orga­ni­zing the Wiki­dat­aCon 2021. “Wiki­data is in count­less appli­ca­tions that we all use every day and thus forms the basis of Free Know­ledge. This is precisely why it is so important that the deve­lo­p­ment of Wiki­data is in the hands of a diverse inter­na­tional commu­nity and that the circum­s­tances of all users around the world are taken into account,” states Fran­ziska Heine, Deputy Execu­tive Director and Head of Soft­ware Deve­lo­p­ment at Wiki­media Deutsch­land. 

A place of exch­ange for the Open Data commu­nity

Wiki­data editors, tool deve­lo­pers and part­ners will come toge­ther between 29 and 31 October to develop solu­tions for the know­ledge plat­form. “A major focus of this event is to re-imagine Wiki­data from the margins, that is, to connect the idea of envi­sio­ning a sustainable future for Wiki­data and the urgent agenda of the Global South and the under­re­pre­sented commu­ni­ties in the Global North,” says João Alex­andre Peschanski, Coor­di­nator Wiki Movi­mento Brasil. 

Wiki­data editors, tool deve­lo­pers and part­ners will come toge­ther between 29 and 31 October to develop solu­tions for the know­ledge plat­form. “A major focus of this event is to re-imagine Wiki­data from the margins, that is, to connect the idea of envi­sio­ning a sustainable future for Wiki­data and the urgent agenda of the Global South and the under­re­pre­sented commu­ni­ties in the Global North,” says João Alex­andre Peschanski, Coor­di­nator Wiki Movi­mento Brasil. 

Future-oriented program for Open Data 

Day one will feature keynotes on topics such as deco­lo­ni­zing data­sets, making Wiki­data more acces­sible, and the importance of Open Data for biodi­ver­sity and for the climate. Online work­shops, panels and talks are planned for days two and three, and the commu­nity will cele­brate Wikidata’s ninth birthday with soft­ware givea­ways. Several partner orga­niza­tions provide support for this year’s Wiki­dat­aCon.

Contact:

Elisa­beth Giese­mann, Commu­ni­ca­tion Manager Soft­ware Deve­lo­p­ment, Elisabeth.giesemann@wikimedia.de