Prof Derek

About me

Gender	Male
Occupation	CIO
Location	Cape Town, Western Cape
Links	Audio Clip
Introduction	I am is Executive Director (thats like CIO) of Information & Communication Services at the University of the Western Cape. I am a marine biologist with strong interests in using technology to improve teaching-and-learning, to enable higher education in the developing world to respond to the challenges of globalization, and to promote sustainable development while maintaining the quality of the environment. My research interests include e-Collaboration and lessons for international collaboration from Free Software and related initiatives; next-generation e-learning systems and Education 3.0; Free and Open Source Software and Free/Open content. I am most passionate about the potential of ICT-based collaboration to unify expertise within Africa and stimulate development, so I established the African Virtual Open Initiatives and Resources project, along with a number of like-minded colleagues around Africa, for this purpose. I have developed a number of initiatives in the fields of educational and environmental informatics, Free Software, Free and Open Resources of Education and have published over 75 research papers in biology and the application of technology.
Interests	Internet and education, technology and development, free software, free and open resources for education, tinkering with my guitars, in-line skating, SCUBA diving, nature and hiking, photography, writing and computer programming

Foxes are clever and tigers are cunning. So, what's your cat's safety school?

Nine Lives Elementary School in Catatonia