ASHEVILLE – The Collider, a nonprofit innovation center in Asheville, is working with IBM to mobilize volunteer software developers to deliver disaster resiliency tools in support of communities impacted by Hurricane Florence.
Under the agreement, IBM will provide free access to solutions created through a global initiative, Call for Code, that asked developers to outthink natural disasters and build sustainable software solutions to significantly improve the current state of disaster preparedness and recovery across in local communities and around the world. The effort is a part of IBM’s Corporate Citizenship program.
The Collider aims to empower climate data entrepreneurs who help companies, communities, and consumers become resilient to a changing climate, and will leverage its climate innovation ecosystem to partner in the initiative.
Those interested in participating can register online.
“We feel great responsibility and see important opportunities to better equip communities and organizations with insights and tools to prepare, act, and recover from extreme weather,” said Josh Dorfman, CEO of The Collider, in a statement.
To assist, the Collider plans to convene volunteer talent including software developers, climate scientists, and data scientists. The volunteers will help configure and deliver tailored solutions designed through Call for Code to communities and organizations across the Carolinas working on recovery efforts.
“We hope that by galvanizing our startup and tech community to assist those impacted by Hurricane Florence we can bring some relief and support to those on the front lines of this massive recovery effort,” said Dorfman.
Interested software developers and volunteers can contact The Collider’s COO Megan Robinson to get involved. According to the organization, the first volunteer convening will take place on October 16, and volunteers will learn how to tailor and deliver solutions that will make a difference in the recovery efforts that will occur in the coming months.
