Douglas Schuler

Like it or not, we all must rely on society's civic intelligence. The books that Douglas Schuler has written and the books that he's co-edited are devoted to the development of that elusive capability.

Although Doug's educational background focused on computer science, he has spent much of the past two decades looking at the opportunities and risks of information and communication systems in the social realm. Doug has given presentations around the world on democratic, equitable, and sustainable uses of technology. Locally, Doug co-founded the Seattle Community Network, an all-volunteer, free public access computer network. In 2008 Doug was awarded a Safeco Community Hero award for his work. Doug is a faculty member (Evening and Weekend Studies) at The Evergreen State College where he teaches interdisciplinary programs such as Community Information Systems and Global Citizenship.

Over the last eight years Doug coordinated an online, participatory "patterns language" for social change project. Doug and 85 co-authors developed 136 patterns for "Liberating Voices: A Pattern Language for Communication Revolution" which is being published by MIT Press. Doug is also the author of "New Community Networks," co-editor of six books, and author of numerous articles and book chapters. Doug is former chair of Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility, a public-interest organization concerned about the impact of computers on society, and organized 11 CPSR conferences. He is the director of the Public Sphere Project where he is working on projects such as e-Liberate, a web-based application that supports distributed meetings using Roberts Rules of Order. Doug is continuing to explore the idea of "civic intelligence," the collective capability of society to address its problems, with his teaching, learning, and organizing.