University will host Wikipedia edit-a-thon at ISE Lab

8 a.m., April 24, 2014--The University of Delaware Library, the History Media Center, the Colored Conventions Project and the Graduate Student Senate Diversity Committee are organizing a "Wikipedia Edit-a-thon for Women + People of Color" on Saturday, April 26, at UD’s Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Laboratory (ISE Lab).

A 2011 survey showed that 90 percent of Wikipedia editors are male, and the majority are white, English-speaking and middle class. While researchers worldwide rely on Wikipedia, Wikipedia's content primarily reflects the interests and worldviews of that demographic. The only way to increase the diversity of the content on Wikipedia is to for those with an interest in diversity and equality to take up Wikipedia editing.

Events Stories

June 5: Blue Hen 5K

University of Delaware graduates planning to attend Alumni Weekend are encouraged to register for the annual Blue Hen 5K walk and run, which will be held Sunday morning, June 5.

June 6-9: Food and culture series

The 20th annual June Lecture Series at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UD in Wilmington will be held June 6-9. Titled 'June a la Carte,' this year's program focuses on great political documents, feminism, world politics and a Newark cuisine sampler.

• June 6-9: Food and culture series
• Through June 30: 'Saving White Clay Creek'
• July 22: WWE Heatwave Tour
• Through Sept. 16: Women of color in academia

While one goal of this edit-a-thon is to create pages about important and neglected social histories of women and people of color, with information and resources provided by the Colored Conventions Project, anyone interested in learning to edit Wikipedia is encouraged to attend and to bring his/her own interests and resources to add to Wikipedia.

The edit-a-thon is open to all and will be preceded by an "Intro to Wikipedia Editing" workshop at 11 a.m. Lunch will be provided, and the edit-a-thon will begin at 1:15 p.m. Those interested are welcome to attend any part of the event.

For more information, see the Wikipedia Meetup page for the event.

Anyone interested may sign-up for the event at this website.

The edit-a-thon is sponsored by the Department of History, the Interdisciplinary Humanities Research Center, ISE Lab, the History Media Center and the University of Delaware Library.