Notes from BeyondTech 2019 - IBM's Call for Code project.

These notes were taken at BeyondTech 2019, Skills Matter's inaugural conference on Diversity and Inclusion and Tech for Good in the Tech Industry. The speaker is Angela Bates, Programmes Leader at IBM Developer Ecosystems Group. This lightning talk was about a project by IBM on encouraging technologists to do interesting side projects. This is a subject of much relevance to me through my work with Radical Engineers, where we match up technologists who have spare time with radical organisations looking to solve the problems of the day.

There has been a real shift in power to software developers. Technologists used to be seen as not having an influence in business but these days they can create new applications at the touch of a few buttons. It is today's business leaders' responsibility to engage developers and both to put them at the centre of the company and to get them to do good. IBM has been looking at how they can use to help respond to natural disasters. There have been over 800k deaths attributed to earthquakes since 2010, and climate change will only make that worse. IBM has responded to this problem with a project they have called 'Call for Code'.

Call for code was a project which would inspire developers to solve pressing global problems with sustainable software solutions. As a result of this project IBM had over 100k developers from over 150 nations contribute their time to projects. The winner from last year, Project Owl, met through IBM's slack channel and built a solution which connected victims and first responders in areas which lose power and access to networks. IBM are looking to implement the tool in Puerto Rico.

Some of the things learned in running this project:

• Don't run a project like this alone. There will be other partner organisations who can help you achieve a world-changing project
• The power of social influencers to reach developers. Using celebrities to spread the word was helpful.
• Structure the prize. Our judges were helpful in defining success. Money is nice, but developers want their code to be used. IBM added to the prize, the commmitment of IBM team who would put the winner's project into practice.
• Community matters. Software developers have local community groups who can be partnered with to integrate the project into the developer community.

If you are interested in getting involved with Tech for Good projects, you should go to an IBM developers meetup group at meetup.com/IBM-Code-London, or join the call for code at callforcode.org

Alternatively, you can join us at Radical Engineers ;). Message me for more details!