When you want to learn about a businessperson, activist, politician, scientist, or anyone who’s life story interests you, a quick Google search will probably take you to her Wikipedia biography. But what if she doesn’t have one?
With its wide availability, Wikipedia presents a unique chance to democratize knowledge about notable figures in U.S. history. Yet only 19% of Wikipedia biographies are about women. According to Wikipedia’s notability and sourcing guidelines, in order to warrant a biography a person must receive coverage in secondary sources. But women are covered less in the media and journalists approach them less often for interviews. It’s cyclical: When it comes to public perceptions of whether someone is important, not having a Wikipedia biography weighs into that judgment. While women face a variety of barriers to inclusion on Wikipedia, the biggest barrier remains the simplest one: if no one takes the time to create the Wikipedia biography, it won’t exist.
As a part of Wiki Education’s 2024 Climate Finance Initiative, we’re running an 8-week Wiki Scientists course to guide scholars as they add biographies of women leaders in climate finance to Wikipedia. Together, we will help increase visibility to the people helping the world adapt more sustainable finance practices and provide the necessary funding to achieve sustainability. Together, we will celebrate these often unsung heroes, possibly even inspiring new generations of investors, funders, bankers, and government leaders to adopt more sustainable finance practices and standards.
Research shows Wikipedia content influences tourism, scientists, and even judges’ legal rulings. That’s why it’s vital that we take part in updating and correcting Wikipedia’s content. Let’s leverage that power for the climate.
Who is this course for?
We’re looking for scholars, professionals, and graduate students eager to build their climate action network while advancing public knowledge. This course should have an atmosphere that is hopeful and regenerative, providing some hope about the people already doing the work to make sure climate solutions get the massive funding they require in order to be effective. You don’t need to be an expert in climate finance at this stage, but you should be willing to research leaders in climate, banking, and other sectors who are guiding the world in this direction.
Ready to shape narratives and drive change? Reserve your spot now to make a big impact on public knowledge!
The Wiki Scientists course
Wiki Education invites subject-matter experts to participate in an 8-week virtual course as they learn how to edit Wikipedia. We’ll take a deep dive into Wikipedia’s coverage of climate finance leaders, focusing particularly on women. From May 21 – July 9, 2024, Wiki Scientists will attend a series of virtual classes facilitated by Wiki Education’s Wikipedia experts. Each participant should expect to add or expand at least one biography of a notable woman working in climate finance.
Meet Tuesdays: 8 live sessions with our Wikipedia experts and a focused group of 10-20 other climate-passionate participants
3 hours per week of light reading, researching your chosen individual and writing directly on Wikipedia
Access a collaborative community of Wikipedia experts and professional peers
Amplify climate finance from your laptop, reaching an audience of millions
Week 1: Introductions
Get to know each other and begin to see Wikipedia as a powerful tool for communicating biographies of influential individuals in climate finance to the public .
Weeks 2–5: Joining the community
Discover more about the people who make up Wikipedia’s community and pick a notable person you’d like to take your deep dive into. We’ll show you how to identify what information is missing from Wikipedia and how to add it according to Wikipedia’s standards. You’ll begin drafting content for pages that get as many as thousands of readers every day!
Weeks 6–8: Educating the public
You’ll take what you’ve learned and make your work “live” on Wikipedia. Your peers and Wiki Education’s experts will help you polish your work to make sure you meet readers with the best information out there. And you’ll get to commune with your fellow Wiki Scientists about any challenges and successes you’ve experienced so far.
What will you achieve?
- An audience of millions. Few other actions you take as an individual for the climate can have an effect like a Wikipedia page can. Even adding one sentence about climate solutions to an existing page with a lot of traffic can reach millions. Imagine the possibilities!
- Membership in an enriching, hopeful community of practice. Develop professional connections across fields while incorporating climate action into your life in a tangible way. Wikipedia editors and a close-knit group of 10-20 peers will commune with you each week to share expertise, stay accountable to our goals, and inspire hope in each other.
- Wikipedia expertise. Create your first Wikipedia article or brush up on your existing Wikipedia-editing skills. You’ll complete the course able to continue this important work both through your own editing and through organizing local projects, embedding Wikipedia know-how within your institution or job.
- And more!
Email scholars@wikiedu.org with questions.
