Gabriela and Ravi
👩🏽🎓 Gabriela and 👨🏿💻 Ravi meet at an interdisciplinary conference in Lisbon and share their views on smart cities in colonial contexts.
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Gabriela
Hi, I’m Gabriela. I’m a sociologist focusing on post-colonial studies in South America. What about you?
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Ravi
Nice to meet you, Gabriela. I’m Ravi. I work in IT, mostly on smart city infrastructure.
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Gabriela
Oh, smart cities! That sounds futuristic. But I wonder—how do you approach issues of equity in your projects?
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Ravi
Equity? Well, we’re more about efficiency and innovation. You know, solving practical problems like traffic jams or energy waste.
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Gabriela
I see. But sometimes, focusing only on efficiency can leave certain groups behind. In South America, colonial histories often shape which communities get access to resources.
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Ravi
That’s a good point, but colonialism was ages ago, wasn’t it? Does it really still affect people now?
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Gabriela
Absolutely. The legacies are everywhere—in land ownership, education, even urban planning. Many indigenous communities still face systemic exclusion because of it.
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Ravi
Hmm. I hadn’t thought about that. But how does that connect to smart cities?
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Gabriela
Well, think about whose data gets prioritized. If policies are based on the needs of wealthier, urban populations, rural or marginalized groups might be ignored.
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Ravi
That’s a fair critique. We do tend to focus on cities with more resources—it’s easier to implement technology there.
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Gabriela
Exactly. And that’s why it’s important to consider the historical context. Otherwise, tech might unintentionally widen those gaps.
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Ravi
You’re right. I should start asking more questions about who benefits from our projects.
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Gabriela
That’s a good start. Recognizing the bias in systems can lead to more inclusive solutions.
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Ravi
Thanks for sharing your perspective, Gabriela. This is definitely making me rethink some things.
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Gabriela
I’m glad to hear that. These conversations matter more than we realize.
Activities
Antonella and Taka
👩🏻🦱 Antonella and 👦🏻 Taka meet in Japan, where Antonella, an anthropologist from Argentina, explains her fieldwork methods and the study of human cultures. Taka, intrigued by anthropology, learns about its significance and how it helps understand different societies.
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Antonella
Hello! I’m Antonella. I’m from Argentina and I’m an anthropologist. This is my first time in Japan.
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Taka
Hello! Nice to meet you, Antonella. You’re from Argentina, that’s amazing! But… what exactly is anthropology?
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Antonella
Great question! Anthropology is the study of humans, their cultures, societies, and histories. It’s about understanding why people have certain customs, how different cultures have developed over time, and how they change.
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Taka
Wow, that sounds interesting! But how do you actually study it?
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Antonella
Well, we mainly use a method called “fieldwork.” This means you actually go to the place where people live and interact with them, observe them, and sometimes interview them. For example, I’ve lived in indigenous villages in Argentina to learn about their way of life.
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Taka
So you actually live with them to understand their culture? That’s amazing!
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Antonella
Exactly! There’s a lot you can only learn by being there. You observe things like language, food, religion, and family relationships, all of which are connected to people’s lives.
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Taka
I see now. That’s really cool! So, where can you study anthropology?
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Antonella
You can study it at universities or research institutions. I studied at a university in Argentina, and now I do research in different countries. If you’re interested, you can study it too, maybe at university!
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Taka
That sounds interesting! I’d like to learn more about anthropology.
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Antonella
I’m glad to hear that! There’s so much to learn about the world’s different cultures. It’s a really fun subject to study!
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Taka
Thank you! I definitely want to know more about anthropology now.
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Antonella
You’re very welcome! If you ever have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!
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