Everything is happening so fast. And a lot of it’s bad. What can research and science organizations do when issues are complex, fast-moving, and super important?

More like this: Independent Researchers in a Platform Era w/ Brandi Guerkink

Building knowledge is more important than ever in times like these. This week, we have three guests. Megan Price from the Human Rights Data Analysis Group (HRDAG) shares how statistics and data science can be used to get justice. Janet Haven and Charlton McIlwan from Data & Society explore the role that research institutions can offer to bridge research knowledge and policy prescription.

Further reading & resources:

• HRDAG’s involvement in the trial of José Efraín Ríon Montt
• A profile of Guatemala and timeline of its conflict — BBC (last updated in 2024)
• To Protect and Serve? — a study on predictive policing by William Isaac and Kristian Lum
• An article about the above study — The Appeal
• HRDAG’s stand against tyranny
• More on Understanding AI — Data & Society’s event series with the New York Public Library
• About Janet Haven, Executive Director of Data & Society
• About Charlton McIlwan, board president of Data & Society
• Bias in Computer Systems by Helen Nissenbaum
• Center for Critical Race and Digital Studies
• If you want to hear more about the history of D&S, the full conversation is up on Youtube (add link when we have).

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Post Production by Sarah Myles | Pre Production by Georgia Iacovou