My research focuses on information and communication technologies for social, economic, and political development. In particular I study mobile phones, the internet, and internet-enabled services and their design, impact, and importance within low-income countries of Africa and Asia. I research engineering, public policy, hci/usability, and sustainability issues as well as methods to assess and evaluate social, economic, and political development outcomes. I am also interested in the impact of information and communication technologies on the development-security nexus and in post-conflict peace and reconciliation.

QUICK BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Michael L. Best directs the United Nations University Institute on Computing and Society (UNU-CS) in Macao SAR, China. He is a associate professor, on leave, with the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and the School of Interactive Computing at Georgia Institute of Technology where he directs the Technologies and International Development Lab. Professor Best is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief Emeritus of the widely read journal Information Technologies and International Development and he leads the Global Computing column for Communications of the ACM. He holds a Ph.D. from MIT and has served as director of Media Lab Asia in India and head of the eDevelopment group at the MIT Media Lab.

TECH STUDENTS – COME JOIN ME IN MACAU!

Expense-paid Study Abroad in Macau, China, May 20-July 1, 2016
This new, expenses-paid summer program is in partnership with the United Nations University Institute on Computing and Society (UNU-CS). It is a six-week long guided research program worth 6 Computer Science or International Affairs credit hours. Based in Macau, China, participants will engage in research programs focused on information and communication technologies and international development, especially in an Asian context.

The program provides a research fellowship to all participants to cover their Atlanta-Macau/Hong Kong airfare and room and board while in Macau. Inquiries are welcome and interested students are encouraged to apply early by emailing fw@gatech.edu.

More information is here.