About

Mission

The Technology & Social Change Group (TASCHA) at the University of Washington Information School explores the design, use, and effects of information and communication technologies in communities facing social and economic challenges. With experience in 50 countries, TASCHA brings together a multidisciplinary network of social scientists, engineers, and development practitioners to conduct research, advance knowledge, create public resources, and improve policy and program design.

Our purpose? To spark innovation and opportunities for those who need it most.

People

TASCHA brings together a multidisciplinary network of social scientists, engineers, development practitioners, and others to conduct research, advance knowledge, create public resources, and improve policy and program design. Our research network consists of:
  • University of Washington faculty
  • TASCHA research and operations staff
  • University of Washington students
  • Visiting researchers
  • Research partners from around the world

Sponsors

TASCHA works closely with sponsors to ensure that research is useful and applied. Many thanks to:
  • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  • International Develop­ment Research Centre (IDRC)
  • IREX
  • East-West Management Institute
  • European Union / Institute for Prospective Technological Studies
  • Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
  • Microsoft
  • United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
  • Millennium Challenge Corporation
Learn more about how you can support TASCHA’s work.

Home

TASCHA is housed at the University of Washington Information School, a global leader in exploring the relationship between information, technology, and people. Information schools are home to many of the leading scholars in the multidisciplinary field of information and communication technologies and development (ICTD), a community TASCHA actively participates in, here and around the world.

TASCHA contributes to the university’s broader technology and development community by organizing talks, participating in seminars, and offering research clinics. TASCHA researchers are inspired by — and often collaborate with — researchers from other departments, such as Computer Science, Human Centered Design & Engineering, Public Affairs, and Communication, as well as cross disciplinary groups such as Change and DUB (Design-Use-Build).

History

TASCHA was founded in 1999 as the Center for Internet Studies (CIS). The center originally operated as part of the Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs. We built our reputation in the area of information and communication technologies and development (ICTD), leading research and launching programs that brought together faculty and students from across campus.

In 2007 we moved to the University of Washington’s Information School and became the Center for Information & Society. Our ICTD approach expanded to include libraries, information science, and informatics.

Today we manage a large research portfolio and have grown from a three-person team to an ever-expanding group of faculty, researchers, students, and program staff — including an extended network of research partners in 50 countries.

In 2009 we became the Technology & Social Change Group. Our friends call us TASCHA.

Values

TASCHA is committed to research that contributes to advancing knowledge and practice, and that can be used to make better decisions. One element of this commitment is open research — making our processes, tools, findings, and data broadly accessible and encouraging others to build on and extend our work. As part of this effort, TASCHA is developing new practices and protocols for sharing raw data and data collection instruments — in addition to final results.