ITKAN Monthly Meeting - March 2019: Tech and Agriculture

Join us on March 14 as ITKAN dives deeper into the Netflix techumentary series Liquid Science with Tech’s Growing Impact on Agriculture and the Built Environment. The Midwest is renowned for our soil, crop yields and feeding the world, but in the face of more unpredictable weather, increasing moisture, and rising global temperatures the agricultural industry as well as urban centers are turning to tech as an ally to adjust how farmers and city/suburb dwellers alike are adjusting to these dramatic shifts.

Microsoft and other tech giants have made increasingly significant investments in this critical global dynamic in areas of AI, Big Data and supporting the growing sophistication of farming methods to help feed the world. We’ll look at how their framework AI for Earth can optimize the use of arable land in the face of environmental change. Jim Angel, recently retired State Climatologist for IL and professor at UIUC, will join us to discuss the technology associated with gathering data for the recent Midwest section of an environmental impact report. Closer to home, Chicago’s Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) is helping to address the impact that more volatile, wet weather patterns have on Chicago and other large urban environments through programs like Rain Ready.

With spring around the corner this is a timely topic. Join us as ITKAN gets closer to the land we love, and the tech we love!

Jim Angel, Illinois State Climatologist, worked at the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) since 1997. As state climatologist, Angel conducted research projects on topics related to weather and climate, particularly drought, extreme rainfall events, Great Lakes storms, and weather impacts. He also maintained an extensive archive of historical climate data dating back to the mid-1800s.