#PickoftheWeek | Google It! The Wiki World’s Fair Is in Queens on Aug. 13
To satisfy curiosity, increase skills, and maybe even conquer the world, cybernauts will flock to the Wiki World’s Fair at Queens Museum on Saturday, Aug. 13, at 10 am.
Hosted by the NYC volunteer chapter, the seven-hour event will provide the opportunity for attendees to learn about Wikipedia and how to influence the website’s content by writing articles, uploading photos, inputting data, and making translations.
As per the World’s Fair theme, the organizers will emphasize maps, representations of the world, and sharing Wikipedia’s hundreds of independent language editions. They’ll also encourage attendees to explore Queens Museum’s permanent collection and current exhibitions, such as the Panorama of the City of New York and Stephanie Dinkins: On Love and Data.
Here’s the schedule:
10 am: Brunch picnic outside
11 am: Welcome
Noon: Walking tours
1 pm: Edit-a-thon/Translat-a-thon
2 pm: Lightning Talks on mapping, translation, and other topics
3 pm: Edit-a-thon/Translat-a-thon
4 pm: Lightning Talks
5 pm: Attendees will be encouraged to attend Queens Night Market, which operates a short way away behind the New York Hall of Science on warm-weather Saturdays.
Participants are strongly encouraged to bring laptops. More information is available on this Wiki page (naturally), where people can sign up as well.
Founded by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger in 2001, Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia that’s maintained by employees and volunteers. The word “wiki” translates from Hawaiian to English as “fast” or “quick.”
Queens Museum is located inside the New York City Building in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. It’s basically between the Grand Central Parkway and the Unisphere.
Images: Queens Museum (bottom one by Hai Zhang)
