This session is part of the 10-week seminar series, Data, Technology and Innovation in Government, led by Nick Sinai. Seminars are for students only (graduate and undergraduate) and not-for-credit.
Description: The U.S. government collects and creates a ton of data that is increasingly being made available to the world. President Obama’s Open Data Initiatives include Executive Order 13642, Data.gov, Project Open Data, the G8 Open Data Charter, and the U.S. Open Data Action Plan. We’re only beginning to see the civic and economic potential of making this data available. Weather data and the GPS system are classic examples of public-sector data and information systems that have spurred multi-billion dollar industries. But there is also a lot of exciting data in health, energy, education, finance, and climate sectors that is being made more available to scientists, journalists, entrepreneurs, and most importantly, the American public. Why should policy-makers, entrepreneurs, and journalists care about the open data movement? What is driving many local and national governments to institute open data policies? What is the thesis for (and evidence of) greater innovation, scientific discovery, economic growth, or trust in government?
Time: Wednesday, February 4, 2015, 4:00pm-5:30pm
Location: Harvard Kennedy School, Taubman Building Room 102, Women and Public Policy Program Cason Conference Room
Workshop Materials
Download the presentation slides (PDF)
Suggested Reading:
- Project Open Data
- Obama Administration Releases Historic Open Data Rules to Enhance Government Efficiency and Fuel Economic Growth
- Open Data in Action
- How Government Can Promote Open Data
- Opening Up Open Data: An Interview with Tim O’Reilly
- Open Data Barometer
- Sunlight Foundation Open Data Policy Guidelines
