It is significant that the Elpub meeting this year is held in Brazil, as we need to acknowledge that while the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is now truly global, its development and diffusion is still highly uneven around the world. This Special Session brings together researchers and practitioners from various regions of the Americas who have extensive experience using ICT for various aspects of development and scientific advancement. The key objectives is to share practical strategies for knowledge and community building using appropriate technology, and to exchange lessons on bridging “expert” and “lay” knowledge in the local as well as the global context.