Information for Sustainable Development: Technology, People and Society

This book presents a comprehensive discussion on the role and importance of data, information, people, and society in achieving the Targets of the SDGs. It discusses the different types of metadata required for capturing data and information related to the Targets of different SDGs, and various data-related challenges, such as data availability, completeness, and even challenges associated with metadata and data collection, such as qualitative vs. quantitative data for some Targets, and Indicators. Appropriate data, charts and tables have been used from different reports and statistics from the various UN agencies, OECD and EU, as well national agencies like the ONS (Office for national Statistics) in the UK.

A core agrument of the book is that in addition to data and technology, human and social issues, and the associated challenges are also important for achieving success in different SDGs. For example, it critically analyses some datasets around SDG16.10, focusing on the access to information legislations, and the digital and information skills that are required to access the relevant data and information, arguing and demonstrating that unless people’s skills are improved and the digital divide in society and communities is reduced, legislations alone cannot guarantee the intended goal of access to information for all in every country and society.

G. G. Chowdhury is a Professor of Information Science in the Department of Computer & Information Sciences at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, UK. He has held several senior academic positions including as Professor and Head of Mathematics and Information Sciences, and as the Head of iSchool at Northumbria University in Newcastle, UK; and as a Professor and Director of Information and Knowledge Management at the University of Technology Sydney in Australia. Professor Chowdhury’s research focuses on connecting people with information through technology. He is a leading expert in digital libraries, cultural information management and sustainable information systems and services. He has published 16 books and over 160 research papers. Professor Chowdhury has `been the European and Global Chair of the iSchools organization.

Sudatta Chowdhury is Research Associate in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, UK. She had held numerous academic and research positions at universities in the UK, Singapore and Australia. Sudatta’s research focuses on information seeking behavior and human-centred challenges for access to information including the digital divide, and digital and information skills. She has co-authored five book, several journal and conference papers and book chapters.