Free software is software that gives you the user the freedom to share, study and modify it. We call this free software because the user is free. To use free software is to make a political and ethical choice asserting the right to learn, and share what we learn with others. Free software has become the foundation of a learning society where we share our knowledge in a way that others can build upon and enjoy (http://www.fsf.org/about/what-is-free-software).
Incorporating Free Software in Research and Teaching is the most natural settling between the two. When an ethical Software system with the motto of 'sharing and growing together', meets the proponents of knowledge in the society, the ramifications will be profound, as we have already witnessed in the recent past.
Free Software in Academics and Research has proven itself to be an undisputed requirement in today's technology driven society, with most of the Foreign and National universities, Research Establishments inculcating the culture of using Free and Open Source Software to perform all their computational tasks. We have seen entire Governments like in Brazil, Venezuela and the state of Kerala in India endorse a full fledged Free Software paradigm.
In an attempt to portray this phenomenon of Free Software in Academics and Research at a regional level, the Free Software Movement-Karnataka in collaboration with the Reva Institute of Technology & Management are organizing a 'State Level Convention for Academicians on Free Software in Research and Teaching'. The convention aims at bringing out the various facets of Free Software in Academics and extents of applicability in Research to facilitate and enable the teaching faculty and research pursuers to utilize the abundant resources available in the Free and Open Source Software world.
This event, apart from showcasing the wide variety of Free Software tools available, would also try to emphasize the importance of including Free Software in the system of teaching and learning.
We urge each of you to be part of this Convention, to share and grow together!
More details in the brochure...
