As countries around the world are rapidly re-arming and increasing defence spending, there is a growing need to invest in peacebuilding too. The Build Peace 2026 conference in Waterloo this weekend will explore emerging challenges to peace in a digital era, and innovative approaches to addressing them.
“Build Peace is not a typical academic conference,” explained Paul Heidebrecht, Director of the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement at Conrad Grebel University College and the University of Waterloo. “Build Peace is structured around short talks, hands-on workshops, and curated plenary sessions that aim to spark ideas and deepen connections that will advance peace in concrete ways far beyond the conference.”
Bringing together peace practitioners, technologists, academics, activists, and artists from dozens of countries, Build Peace creates opportunities for collaboration among people working at the intersection of peace, technology, and the arts.
How can technology be used to advance peace rather than simply strengthen security? One of the conference's public events will address this question directly. The panel discussion, "Where is the Peace Tech? Enabling Encounters Between Peacebuilders and Technologists," will explore how technology can support efforts to prevent conflict and address its root causes. The discussion is open to the public on Friday, November 13, at 7:30 p.m.
The panel will share creative examples of Peace Tech highlighting how technology can support the work of civil society organizations, social-purpose businesses, and governments in advancing peace and justice. It will also provide a window into the work of Build Up, a collaborative that has been working at the intersection of peacebuilding and technology since 2014.
Members of the Build Up team and their partners have produced knowledge and tools for peacebuilders in dozens of countries around the world that have led to greater inclusion in peace processes, challenged hate speech, and influenced the design and governance of technology.