From Mendiolaza to Katowice

Many thanks to Wikimedia Argentina for sharing this experience!

Hi, I’m Agustín Zanotti and I live in the city of Mendiolaza, Córdoba, Argentina. I work as a university professor and scientific researcher. Since 2016 I edit mainly in the Spanish Wikipedia, although over time I was dabbling in Wikimedia Commons, Wikiviajes and Wikidata. I am interested in editing about science and technology, as well as social, cultural and political issues. Together with colleagues from Córdoba, we organize talks to spread open culture and editathons on topics such as democracy, indigenous peoples and local populations. To do this, we partner with high schools and colleges. In particular, I am interested in fostering links between students, teachers and specialists in different areas, who often feel an affinity with these initiatives.

When I was told that I would receive the scholarship to attend Wikimania, it was a great surprise and joy. I had been following some discussions on the web or Wikimedia Foundation channels for years, but participating in person has a particular intensity. It was the biggest event for me so far, with more than 1,000 people from 140 countries and about 300 conferences, hackathons and workshops. The trip to Katowice involved about 25 hours, counting three planes and two buses.

Once there, I felt the festive tone of the meeting, with the desire to share customs of each place and generate collaborations. The opening ceremony, with the recognition of the Wikimedians of the year, was a moment full of emotion, where the people behind a wide variety of daily tasks become visible: newcomers and long-time users, foundation and chapter staff, technical and content contributors and administrators, among many others. The organization, led by Wikimedia Polonia, was in every detail and ready to welcome us. The conference also stood out for its openness to ecosystem organizations and for its multiple forms of participation.

The cultural activities allowed me to get to know the Silesian culture, with visits to historical sites and museums, as well as music and typical food. There was also a Wiki Orchestra, composed of Wikimedians from all over the world who gathered to perform traditional melodies. In addition, I participated in a visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum, located in the Polish city of Oświęcim, dedicated to the memory of the victims of that concentration and extermination camp. This site was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1979.

My experience at the conference

As for my participation in the conference, I attended activities on education and open knowledge, as well as research and governance. It was inspiring to meet first-hand with global leaders in the movement and their visions for the coming years. I also caught up with new projects, ideas and tools that can be transferred to local communities. 

The most important thing I took away with me is having been able to share with Wikimedians from all over the world, particularly from the Ibero-American region. I also took the opportunity to do some “hacking” and improve the infrastructure for the Wikiproyecto:Portales, a task I have been involved in for some time now (thanks Lahi, Ezarate y Jmmuguerza!). Content portals allow you to explore and enhance the visibility of featured articles on different topics, so that Wikipedia offers its own thematic paths.

The event allowed me to get closer to the communities that support Wikimedia and reaffirm my commitment to free knowledge. In the future, I wish to continue collaborating and participate again in Wikimania!