Michael Best

My research focuses on information and communication technologies for social, economic, and political development. In particular I study mobile phones, the internet, and internet-enabled services and their design, impact, and importance within low-income countries of Africa and Asia. I research engineering, public policy, HCI/usability, and sustainability issues as well as methods to assess and evaluate social, economic, and political development outcomes. I am also interested in the impact of information and communication technologies on the development-security nexus and in post-conflict peace and reconciliation. QUICK BIOGRAPHY Dr. Michael L. Best is associate professor at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and the School of Interactive Computing at Georgia Institute of Technology where he directs the Technologies and International Development Lab. Dr. Best is director of the PhD Program within the Sam Nunn School. He is also a faculty associate of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. Professor Best is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief Emeritus of the widely read journal, Information Technologies and International Development. He holds a Ph.D. from MIT and has served as director of Media Lab Asia in India and head of the eDevelopment group at the MIT Media Lab.