“The SXSW Interactive Festival (Mar 12-16, 2010 in Austin, Texas) is a mega huge social media industry event.” (Beth Kanter) It looks like anyone can submit a panel and then sessions are determined by community voting until September 4th. I saw this idea of selecting topic specific panels from SocialEdge and decided to do it for global and public health. There are slim pickings for global health as a sole topic, however, there are many that are related and have panels with direct relevance now or issues that will have to be dealt with in the future. If you have others to add to the list please let us know. Also check out the Social Edge on social entrepreneurship, Beth Kanter’s eclectic list (definitely check this one out, lots of good choices) and a  list from FI Space. Vote now for your favorites:

“SXSW Interactive features five days of compelling presentations from the brightest minds in emerging technology, scores of exciting networking events hosted by industry leaders and an unbeatable line up of special programs showcasing the best new websites, video games and startup ideas the community has to offer.”

1. Social Media for Global Health: Catalyst or Hype? Eric Becker, New Media Strategist
This discussion will cover how social media has been both successful and totally worthless in bringing about improvements in population health worldwide. We’ll discuss stellar examples, epic fails, and
generate some buzzword-laden “best practices” anyone can use when thinking about using social media to advance a global health cause.

2. Fedex And Coca-Cola: What Can International Aid Learn? Sean Blaschke, UNICEF
Real time data is fundamentally changing the way international aid is being designed and administered. Innovative new platforms leveraging SMS text messaging are transforming basic mobile phones into dynamic devices for key areas including education, health care services and supply chain tracking.

3. Innovation: How The Web Helps Africa Solve Its Problems, Eve Dmochowska, IdeaBank
Africa’s problems are unique and severe. Good Healthcare, education, democracy, entrepreneurship, community, nutrition and communication are either non-existent or under threat in many regions. Yet the web offers hope like no other medium before it. Find out how Africa is solving its own problems through smart, innovative and daring use of technology.

4. Yes, We Can – But How ? Technology for Social Good, Zaheda Bhorat, Google Inc.
Isn’t all open source software for social good anyway ? We will describe innovative concepts using “open” projects impacting key issues such as Climate Change, Poverty and Healthcare. Our ideas will enable you to impact change around the world and also closer to home whatever your passions. Learn, be inspired and take action!

5. Question Box – What the World Wants to Know, Rose Shuman, Open Mind – Question Box
Over 4 billion people aren’t on the Internet. Question Box brings information to people that way they want it, when they want it. We setup hotlines and SMS services in local languages, so a rural villager can call or text a question about anything they want. Users ask about everything from agriculture tips, to health questions, to the names of the President of every country imaginable. Want a look inside the minds of the other 4 billion? Come to the Question Box presentation and find out what they are thinking!

6. When Swine Flew: Embracing Innovation in H1N1 Response , Andrew Wilson, US Dept of Health & Human Services
With social media and emerging technology, public health agencies can utilize more tools than ever in a public health emergency. In this panel, social media strategists and researchers, working in the frontlines of the pandemic H1N1 response, will discuss strategy, innovations and the changing relationship between citizens and government.

7. Gaming and Social Media for Health, Kristi Miller Durazo, American Heart Association
Gaming is increasingly merging with health and fitness as a way to engage larger audiences and change social norms and attitudes about being active. The role of social media to augment these experiences is increasing. The panel will explore how gaming, social media and health intersect to carve out new opportunities. Games run across a broad spectrum from fully on-line to on-line/off-line and even fully off-line experiences.

8. Blogs, Tweets & Movies: Fueling the Good Food Movement, Ashley Colpaart, U.S. Food Policy Blog
The Good Food Movement is using twitter, blogging, newspapers, movies and other creative forms of media to fuel changes in the way we eat and produce our food. Individually and globally, it is the cornerstone issue that connects people, the environment, health and energy. Can highlight: Meatless Monday, Food Inc., Fresh, Free Range Media, Berkshares, CSA/farmers markets/farm to school

9. Business Models for Social Innovation, Pat Christen, HopeLab
Double- and triple-bottom-line business models are becoming more popular in the swell of social entrepreneurship. Some traditional principles apply, but how does an organization prioritize revenue when social benefit is also a primary interest? Hear how HopeLab, a nonprofit developing products to improve kids’ health, listened and learned its way to potential business models. The models we identified support scaling and mass distribution of a product designed for social impact, while embracing the commercial potential.

10. Rx Tech – How Getting Wired Helps Users Hack Health, Jen McCabe, Contagion Health
Gaming culture, mHealth, eHealth, geotech, and health infotech has transformed the way we express ourselves, access information, and interact with one another. But are ‘Me-trics’ extreme hackability and open access to these channels helping or harming us? In key ways, moving moribund systems, our wired culture is improving health and informing healthcare reform. This panel explores how being wired helps users hack healthcare.

11. Designing Change: Social Innovation In Product Development, Richard Tate, HopeLab
Designers and developers dream of creating products that solve problems and improve lives. Sometimes it just “happens,” but can positive change be intentionally designed? Social innovators discuss creating interactive products for health and education, how impact is measured, and how principles of play and behavior change drive efficacy.

12. ER 2.0, Aimee Roundtree, University of Houston-Downtown
Hospitals and health care providers are slowly but surely using new media and social networking software for some of their primary objectives–treatment, research, education and outreach, and
patient-provider communication. This presentation will feature best practices from case studies and prescribe future uses of new media in public health.

13. Creating the LifeData EcoSystem, Shawn Morrissey, frog design
What happens when you combine personal health monitoring data networks, personal performance data networks, lifestreaming, communities, and economics? This panel will discuss the implications of insurance companies, retailers, health professionals, and others having access to your life data. Would insurance companies offer discounts to those who exercise more? Would doctors and coaches work together to create a more holistic life plan?

14. Maximizing Health Care Opportunities Through Interactive Communication, Dana Lewis, co-creator  #hcsm
Our healthcare system is stagnant, but interactive media provides countless opportunities to engage in new ways with patients and other key healthcare publics. This panel would bring together experts of social and interactive media from government, non-profit, private, and other health care areas to discuss collaboration to maximize interactive applications.

15. Craig Garner, Coast Plaza Hospital
Technology and the Internet, praised as the “magic bullet” to save healthcare, is the opposite. Instead of helping, this has been the source of abuse and self-diagnosis. As a result, healthcare resources face a greater strain. The inability of healthcare to grasp this technology may prove to be its downfall.