In the emerging field of crisis mapping, scholars and practitioners explore how advanced technologies and methodologies can be used in complex humanitarian emergencies – both to provide early warnings and coordinate effective and rapid responses.

In October, John Carroll hosted the first-annual International Conference on Crisis Mapping (ICCM 2009), bringing to Carroll crisis-mapping practitioners, scholars, and platform developers from around the world to advance the field. More than 60 organizations on the leading edge of the field participated, from the United Nations Secretary General’s Office to the Department of Homeland Security.

John Carroll’s Department of Political Science and the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI) co-hosted the event, which included a Tech Fair. ICCM co-founders Patrick Meier and Jen Ziemke, assistant professor of political science at Carroll, also launched the International Network of Crisis Mappers (CM*Net) during the conference. Both Mr. Meier and Prof. Ziemke are fellows at HHI.

The Open Society Institute, Humanity United, and the U.S. Institute of Peace sponsored the event. For more information, visit www.crisismapping.net/.