Lincoln University, New Zealand’s specialist land-based university, will actively participate in a Landcare Research initiated and Christchurch City Council supported online forum on post-earthquake urban redevelopment. Lincoln University welcomes and encourages the involvement of other New Zealand universities and Crown Research Institutes to help shape our future.
The forum – called Magnetic South – will be run by Landcare Research by using an online tool developed in Silicon Valley, California, by The Institute for the Future. Magnetic South is part of the Christchurch City Council’s initiatives to generate ideas regarding the recovery of Christchurch and will be held on June 14 and 15.
Professor David Simmons says the value of the exercise will be increased by having more opinions offered. “The concept is not easy to describe in a sentence, but it has the potential to be very powerful because it’s a discussion which is offered almost in a game format,” he says.
“It is very new technology which has been used in other parts of the world in conferences, but this is the first time it has been used in a community engagement way. People who take part can offer their own ideas for Christchurch, debate other people’s ideas, vote for or against things … and have every comment or vote actually count.
“That is why we would like other universities and Crown Research Institutes to join in, so the great number of contributors offers a wider number of views and votes. That’s the best way to really work out what people want the future Christchurch to look like.”
Professor Simmons says the Magnetic South event will gather feedback to add to the recent ‘Share an Idea’ weekend and TEDxEQChCH Conference and so add to the accumulation of knowledge decision-makers can call on when they are shaping the future city.
He says the ‘game’ will be played on the Lincoln University campus for the entire 27 hours the event runs and anyone from the community is welcome to drop in to offer their feedback.
He says the event is free and open to anyone in Christchurch, New Zealand or around the world. More information, including the ability to register interest in taking part, is available at www.magneticsouth.net.nz and www.lincoln.ac.nz/magneticsouth