Home / Uncategorized / Harriet from Citizen Driven Stats takes the OZ SI Camp Changemaker Quiz

Harriet from Citizen Driven Stats takes the OZ SI Camp Changemaker Quiz

| March 5, 2010

Open Forum invited all of the Changemakers who have had their ideas selected as projects to be developed at the innaugrual Australian Social Innovation Camp, 5-7 March 2010, to join us for a quick Q&A. Harriet Wakelam, co-creator of Citizen Driven Stats had this to say.  

Have you ever entered a contest like this before?

No.
 
How much research did you do to find out if other people are already developing an idea like yours here or overseas?
 
A fair bit. I live online and make extensive use of crowd sourced and aggregation services for research.
 
Are you now combining efforts with anyone you’ve connected with through that research process? Tell us about it. 
 
Yes. Russell Kallaman and I met at an ASIX event in Melbourne where we pitched the idea together. We then worked to post the idea online and collaborate prior to the camp. I have also spoken with contacts in the industry and online around context and stats
 
In less than 100 words, what is your idea?

Enables Australian citizens and non-profit organisations to suggest ideas for new types of statistics, openly evaluates the potential and supports the idea through to reality by providing a platform for collaboration. Independent experts inform the discussion, but are not approvers. Government can choose to fund an idea, or a partnership of individuals and non-profits can move forward on their own supported by a micro-funding model.

Which individuals or organisations would you really love to see get behind your idea? 

Indigenous organisations to enable funding to be targeted to actual need. Goverment to encourage niche funding to target localised capacity gaps . The research community to more closely align innovation and need. 
 
 
Are you working on this project as part of your job or in your own time? 

On my own time.

How do you first find out about OZ SI Camp? 

From the UK camps.

What stage do you expect this project to have reached 12months from now? 

Having a strong community of users, some financial backing and using the community to advise on future services and integration.

In your wildest dreams, what would be the ultimate measure of success for this idea?  

Community advocacy building capacity to influence funding decisions that enable collaborative partnerships between gov serviced, innovator and researchers. Emergence as reality!

What’s the worst that could go wrong?  

Nothing. Even If the concept fails, the thinking and the need will enable a stronger idea to emerge.

Was this a new idea you developed specifically for SI Camp, or did the call for submissions simply provide an opportunity to get some traction on an idea you’ve been trying to make happen for a while? 

This idea was specific for SI Camp, but was a spin-off from a long focus on participative democracy and distributed group collaboration.

Your definition of Social Innovation in one sentence… 

Data and innovation meet need.

Name your favourite example of social innovation… 
 
Micro Patronage.
 
Highlight the correct answer below. When it comes to technology I’m an:
a) luddite
b) know the basics
c) competent  
d) uber nerd
e) professional tech geek 
 
Will you report back after SI Camp and share your progress with us? 

It will be shared with anyone who thinks it’s useful!

Anything else you’d like to add before we finish? 

Nope.

Thanks Harriet, it will be interesting to see who puts their hand up first to lead some citizen driven stats.
 
 
Harriet Wakelam manages e-learning Content at e-Works, and the Toolbox Business Activity for the Australian Flexible Learning Framework. Her interests are user generated content, semantic web, simplicity and the principles of good design. To learn more about her, check out Harriet’s blog.

 

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