Richard Anderson

Professor Richard Anderson at the University of Washington is a pioneer in Information and Communications Technologies for Development (ICTD), focusing on humanitarian applications of computing in global health, education, and underserved communities. His work bridges computer science, public health, and anthropology through community-driven solutions.

• Founder of the ICTD field, addressing low-income populations via tech
• Led Projecting Health (190,000 residents reached in India)
• Developed Open Data Kit (ODK) for mobile data management with global humanitarian impact
• Recipient of the ACM Eugene L. Lawler Award (2020) for interdisciplinary humanitarian contributions

Anderson’s research emphasizes technology-for-good in health systems, education, and financial inclusion, with deployments across four continents. He also organizes ACM COMPASS conferences in developing regions, fostering inclusive knowledge exchange.