In the U.S., it seems the Ebola scare is subsiding. Craig Spencer, the New York doctor diagnosed with the virus, was determined healthy and released Tuesday. Dallas was cleared of the disease last week and Kaci Hickox, the Ebola-free nurse who received media attention for challenging the quarantine mandate, passed the 21-day incubation threshold Monday.
But while the threat in the U.S. is largely contained, the Ebola fight is still raging in West Africa. That’s where Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s investment company, Vulcan, wants to help.
Saturday, Vulcan is hosting Tackle Ebola with Smartphones, an event designed to support the U.N. Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER). Volunteers will gather to equip 8,000 data-enabled smartphones with software healthcare workers and community leaders can use to track the virus in West Africa.
“Currently, communication barriers prohibit humanitarian workers in West Africa from helping the people that need them most,” says Vulcan. “The UNMEER phones will be installed with software that allows community support centers to quickly identify available resources in real time and notify the humanitarian support network of local community members’ needs.”
The Vulcan team is asking volunteers to join them at the Living Computer Museum, 2245 1st Ave S. in Seattle, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to help prepare the phones. No previous technology experience is required and snacks and beverages will be served. Sign up to volunteer here.
That’s just one of our selections from the GeekWire Calendar — our curated list of the top tech events in the Pacific Northwest. Keep reading and check out the full calendar for more.
Kirkland Startup Weekend: Maker’s Edition
The third Kirkland Startup Weekend is coming up — this time with a twist. While the previous events have focused on web and mobile-based ideas, this event is all about creating tangible, useable products. Tool kits and machinery will be provided for ideas focused on robotics, sensors and wearable tech, techno/functional art, and aeronautics. Tickets are available for $99 here.
When and where: Nov. 14, 6 p.m. – Nov. 16, 9 p.m. Google Kirkland.
Art + Civics + Code
Code for Seattle, Independent Sector, and Seattle Arts and Technology are joining forces to put on this unique hackathon. The event is an experiment in cross-discipline projects, bringing artists and technologists together to focus on civic engagement. Suggested project themes include collaborative art, critical interventions, projection mapping, data visualization, generative art, and privacy and surveillance. Register here.
When and where: Nov. 15, 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Seattle Sheraton.
ZINO Keep on (Food) Truckin’ Investment Forum
The Pacific Northwest is one of the most popular regions for food trucks in the country. Seattle alone has over 175 operations serving meals on wheels to locals and tourists alike.
It’s fitting, then, that the ZINO Keep on (Food) Trucking Investment Forum is taking place right here in the Emerald City. This event is an opportunity for food trucks and other food and hospitality companies to pitch to investors. Local chefs and restauranteurs Thierry Rautureau and Ethan Stowell will serve as judges and panelists. Guests will get to sample food truck items and enjoy beverages from local distilleries. Tickets are on sale for $55 – $75 here.
When and where: Nov. 17, 4:30a.m. – 9:00p.m. Westland Distillery.
Converge @Seattle 2014
This year’s Converge Innovation Summit will bring together tech leaders in the Pacific Northwest for four days of programming. The conversation will focus on innovation in higher education, manufacturing, and the digital economy. Event organizers emphasize that this is not your average conference.
“Do not expect: lectures, mind-numbing PowerPoints, tedious plenary speeches, expert pontification, classroom seating, dull participants, or repetitive ideas,” they say. “Do expect: inspiration, insights, multitude of perspectives, powerful networking, small group interaction, abundant knowledge sharing, galvanizing collaboration, and scalable solutions.”
When and where: Nov. 19, 12:00p.m. – Nov. 22, 1:00p.m. Hyatt Olive 8 Downtown.
Contact GeekWire’s Monica Nickelsburg at monica@geekwire.com. Listings for this feature are picked from the GeekWire Calendar, where you can submit free listings for technology-related events in the Pacific Northwest.
