Dear Colleagues, I2D is exploring hosting the HumTech Conference<http://www.humanitariantechnology.org/> in 2018, in lieu of our usual I2D Expo. It would include proceedings by Elsevier, and likely bring 150+ speakers and attendees to campus, solidifying Purdue's standing and spurring collaboration in global development. Hosting a full academic conference with proceedings is a major undertaking, so please reply to me by this Friday September 1st on these quick questions: 1. Would you and your students be significantly more interested in participating in a conference like this than the I2D Expo? Yes/No? 2. Would you be willing to take on a leadership role, e.g. Conference Chair, Program Chair, Publications Chair, Session Chair Yes/No? If so what would your preferred role be? 3. Would you be available for this 3-day conference some time May 6 - June 7 (ie Maymester and into early Summer)? Yes/No? If so do you have any Preferred dates (if any): We realize the timeline for this is much shorter than usual, and wanted to share the opportunity with you regardless. Taking on HumTech would be ambitious, so rest assured that if we do not host it, the I2D Expo would proceed as usual in March/April. Further details on the conference follow: This is one of few international development tech conferences, and "...provides a forum for scientists, engineers, field workers and policymakers to discuss current research and exchange technical ideas that advance global humanitarian action." The 2016 Humtech conference<http://www.humanitariantechnology.org/HumTech2016/> attracted speakers from USAID, Google, IBM, World Bank, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Harvard, MIT, Oxfam, ORNL, and more. Its tracks <http://www.humanitariantechnology.org/HumTech2016/conference-tracks/> were: * Humanitarian Assistance / Disaster Relief * Health and Disease Management * Public Safety and Emergency Management * Emerging Technologies * International Development, Poverty Alleviation and Food Security * Open Track: Water, Energy, Agriculture, Policy, Security, Education, ... Regards, Arvind Arvind Raman Robert V. Adams Professor of Mechanical Engineering Professor of Materials Engineering (by Courtesy) Associate Dean for Global Engineering Programs Purdue University raman@purdue.edu<mailto:raman@purdue.edu> (765) 494-5733