Shuttleworth Foundation Honorary Steward, Beth Simone Noveck, selected three exceptional fellows from a highly compelling shortlist.
Each new fellow holds openness at the heart of their ideas and is breaking new ground in their respective fields: Felix is working to make European copyright laws better suited to the modern, open Internet; Shannon is improving interoperability of open environmental data, and Nelson is applying openness to freshwater pollution monitoring.
Honorary Steward, Beth Simone Noveck: “In this day and age of increased political divisiveness and even despair, it was a tremendous joy and honor to read the applications of so many passionate and committed people, who are devoting their energies to improving the lives of others. They remind us that, when we work openly and collaboratively, every one of us can be powerful.”
“While picking three people to invest in was among the most difficult but pleasurable tasks I have undertaken, Shannon, Felix, and Nelson are nothing short of extraordinary. This is not only because of their outstanding ideas but because they have a clear-sighted vision, and they demonstrated ‘sticktoitiveness’ to see these important projects through from idea to implementation and real impact.”
Introducing: Nelson Wasswa
Background: A technologist with experience in artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Idea: Lawuna: Uses open-source software and image-capturing drones to detect and monitor contaminants on freshwater shores.
The Problem
Lake Victoria is the source of the River Nile and the world’s second-largest freshwater lake, stretching across Uganda, Tanzania and the borders of Kenya. It provides over 40 million people with hydration, nutrition, power and transportation routes, and is home to over 200 species of fish and numerous reefs. From a distance, it appears pristine. But this vast lake and the ecosystem it supports are under immediate threat.
Waste litters Victoria’s banks. Industry clears vegetation from its shores en masse, before pumping effluent into the life-giving waters. Fish die, algae grows, and traditional communities disintegrate. Conservationists are reaching a worrying consensus that unless we take action soon, this vital stretch of water will no longer sustain life. Lake Victoria is just a microcosm of what is happening elsewhere. Water scarcity linked to climate change is one of society’s most challenging issues; polluting our essential reserves is a needless act of self-harm.
The Idea
Nelson Wasswa is a technologist, specializing in artificial intelligence and machine learning. As a Ugandan living and working within the Lake Victoria ecosystem, he has a keen understanding of the critical issues facing the local communities. His project, Lawuna, is designed to help them become more resilient, knowledgeable, and empowered to take affirmative action.
The big idea is to combine open-source technology with image-capturing drones to detect and monitor contaminants along the shores of freshwater bodies. Open, environmental data will be analyzed, mapped, and visualized in real-time, via an interactive dashboard, and then used to engage stakeholders such as policymakers, academics, and industry leaders. The hope is that positive action will occur quickly and more effectively as a result.
“Oceans and water bodies absorb 30 percent of the carbon dioxide produced by humans,” Nelson explains. “We see a 26 percent rise in ocean acidification since the beginning of the industrial revolution, yet more than 3 billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods. Barely any open-source solutions have been developed to curb this danger.
“I want to develop practical, open technology solutions for the most demanding challenges in the developing world. If we avail the masses with enough information and data so they can transform their communities, we can also replicate these ideas in other areas of society.”
The Fellow
Nelson Wasswa: “I believe the Lawuna project can make an impact and transform people’s lives as it combats adverse climate effects as well as protecting life below water. It’s a big challenge, but now it is upon my team and I to go the extra mile and create a story worth remembering for all the right reasons.
“Being awarded a fellowship and joining the family of change-makers in this prestigious family is an honor. The Foundation gives us the freedom to own our dream, and it will be a privilege to spread the Shuttleworth philosophy among my fellow citizens.”
The Foundation
Nelson is applying open thinking, community empowerment, and bundles of energy to one of the most pressing issues of our time. Water scarcity is a reality, in the here and now. Pollution is killing our seas and lakes. And while there are a handful of political and industry leaders taking action, many solutions are accessible to only a small percentage of the world’s population.
This innovation is an opportunity to open up and share knowledge with communities and entrepreneurs who rely heavily on preserving the health of Lake Victoria. With real-time evidence in hand, there is more opportunity for community leaders and representatives to engage with stakeholders, environmentalists, and officials to pursue much-needed change.
Nelson has the experience, potential, and willingness to collaborate to solidify his vision into a reality. He is expressing an idea that could resonate elsewhere, both in terms of location, scope, and entrepreneurial innovation. And his project focuses on hardware, data, and the environment and shares touchstones with the broader Shuttleworth community. It will be interesting and exciting to see where these conversations might go.
Read about other fellows here: Read More
