CV
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Presentation CV
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Donald Z. Osborn is motivated by a commitment to development as a process leading to a more just, peaceful, and prosperous world. His current activities relate to a vision of using information and communication technology (ICT) in diverse African languages in the service of development and education in Africa.
Three broad areas have been the focus of his professional and academic work over the last three decades:
- development, especially rural/community and with work in agriculture and natural resource management
- language, with publication about Fula (Fulfulde/Pular) and mastery of Bambara (a Manding language), and a broad knowledge about African languages throughout the continent
- technology - ICT - which can be adapted to any language and serve development and educational purposes.
Dr. Osborn's experience and approach can be characterized as both interdisciplinary and international. His regional focus is Africa, having worked 11 years in four countries of West Africa (Guinea, Mali, Niger and Togo), and he has other international experience in China (two years) and Israel (one year).
Development
Dr. Osborn's background in international development focuses on rural development, with experience in agriculture, forestry, and natural resource management (NRM) on village levels, in development administration, research, and teaching. He has an extensive technical knowledge as well as theoretical and applied understanding of approaches to development.
His field experience in West Africa includes 6 years of community-level work in agriculture and forestry, 4 years' management experience (Associate Director of Peace Corps/Niger), and some research.
Language
Although not a linguist by training, Dr. Osborn has spent many years learning and learning about languages, aspects of linguistics, and issues related to policy. His interested in the linguistic dimensions of development (relation to development communication, participation, use of indigenous knowledge, localization of ICT for development, etc.).
He speaks French, two dialects of Fula, and Bambara, while having some elementary skills or basic familiarity in several other languages (survival skills in Chinese; rudiments of Arabic, including the script; developing reading skills in Spanish; rudiments of German).
He was the principal researcher and author on a dictionary of Fula .
Technology
Dr. Osborn has developed expertise in localization of ICT, especially in African languages. He is keenly interested in assuring that ICT used for development and education in Africa take account of linguistic realities. This work, begining with founding the Bisharat initiative (since 2004, Bisharat, Ltd.) and including work as project lead of PanAfrican Localisation (2005-8), has involved: networking, research, online gathering and presentation of information, moderation of online discussions, organization of workshops, and public presentations.
His initiation into use of extended-Latin orthographies on computers was in working on the Fula dictionary 1988-9 and 1991-3.
Formal education
Ph.D. in Resource Development, Michigan State University, Dec. 1997
M.S. in Resource Development, Michigan State University, May 1993
B.A. in Social and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University, May 1978
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