This Thursday at Change, Computer Science graduate student Nell O’Rourke will giving a talk on her quals work that investigates communication systems for peripheral health facilities in developing countries. *Health systems have a broad range of communication needs and depend on accurate data collection as a means of analyzing and evaluating progress. Providing access to reliable information is vital because health metrics and statistics can influence national policies and initiatives. However, providing effective communication channels between health facilities in developing countries can be challenging, particularly at the periphery of the health system where infrastructure is poorest. This work aims to gain a better understanding of the data communication requirements of rural health facilities and investigates the possibility of supporting health systems through the development of a low-bandwidth communication system. In this talk, I will present findings from a six week field study in Nicaragua that utilized a prototype communication system called Smart Connect to gain insight into the challenges of transmitting data in rural settings. I will also provide recommendations based on these findings to guide the development of future data communication systems for peripheral health facilities.* Please join us for sandwiches, and to learn more about communication systems for peripheral health facilities. *What:* Eleanor O’Rourke on Communication Systems for Peripheral Health Facilities *When:* Thursday, February 24th at noon *Where:* Paul Allen Center, Room 203