About
Tapan Parikh is an Associate Professor in the Department of Information Science at Cornell Tech, part of Cornell University. Previously, he taught at the UC Berkeley School of Information from 2008 to 2015, where he developed courses on ICT for Social Enterprise, User Interface Design, and Distributed Computing. His research focuses on leveraging information and communication technologies to empower marginalized communities in areas like agriculture, health, governance, and education.
Key projects include Awaaz.De (voice-based social media for farmers), Endaga (community cellular networks), and OpenRosa (mobile data collection standards). He emphasizes participatory design, digital mapping, and grassroots technology adoption. His work spans collaborations with NGOs, universities, and global development organizations such as Dimagi and D-Tree International.
In teaching, he designs courses like Remaking the City and Revolutionary Technologies at Cornell Tech, emphasizing civic engagement and technology ethics. His research integrates sociotechnical systems with community needs, prioritizing equitable and sustainable solutions.
Current initiatives include the Virtual Farm (VR for agricultural extension) and Word2RI (oral history projects). His work bridges academic research with real-world impact, advocating for technology that amplifies community agency and knowledge.
