National Wastewater Tracking Could Help Us Stay Ahead of COVID-19—but Congress Cut the Funds
For years, medical experts have used wastewater to track the spread of diseases. The National Wastewater Surveillance System has the potential to significantly change the way we fight COVID-19 as well as future pandemics, bacterial diseases, and viruses. But building up the robustness of a wastewater surveillance system will take financial support, and it's not clear Congress will provide it.
Mar 24, 2022 San Francisco Chronicle
The Health of Asian Americans Depends on Not Grouping Communities Under the Catch-All Term
Health data have historically lumped all Asian American people together, obscuring distinct health disparities and leaving vulnerable communities neglected by researchers and policymakers. What would be needed to construct a fuller representation of Asian American communities and their well-being?
Dec 13, 2021 NBC News THINK
Tech Assets Might Help Make Public Health Data More Equity-Centered
The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified broad societal inequities and trained a spotlight on the strengths and weaknesses of the U.S. public health system. What would more equity-centered, tech-engaged public health data look like?
Sep 9, 2021 Inside Sources
Asian American Lives and Livelihoods Don't Just Deserve Our Qualified Support
Racism against Asian Americans is deeply rooted in the history of the United States. Enduring stereotypes about and bias towards Asian Americans, as well as lack of concern about them, have had long-standing harm on Asian American lives and livelihoods. What can the Asian American community and its allies do?
Mar 22, 2021 The RAND Blog
Insider Threat at Twitter Is a Risk to Everyone
Three young hackers were charged in the hijacking of dozens of high-profile Twitter accounts. Their tactics point out how vulnerabilities at tech platforms can pose a risk to national security.
Aug 7, 2020 The RAND Blog
Bans on Facial Recognition Are Naive. Hold Law Enforcement Accountable for Its Abuse
Broader police reform may be difficult to achieve. But in the long run, it will be more effective than any specific technology ban.
Jun 17, 2020 The Hill
Incarceration Rates: A Key Measure of Health in America
There's widespread agreement that incarceration has adverse effects on health and health equity, not just for prisoners but also for families and communities. That's one important reason why incarceration in the United States needs to be reduced.
Apr 3, 2020 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Culture of Health blog
The Promise and Perils of AI: Q&A with Douglas Yeung
Douglas Yeung, a social psychologist at RAND, discusses how any technology reflects the values, norms, and biases of its creators. Bias in artificial intelligence could have unintended consequences. He also warns that cyber attackers could deliberately introduce bias into AI systems.
Feb 27, 2019
Data Breaches Could Cause Users to Opt Out of Sharing Personal Data. Then What?
As tech-based systems have become all but indispensable, many institutions might assume user data will be reliable, meaningful and, most of all, plentiful. But what if this data became unreliable, meaningless, or even scarce?
Dec 28, 2018 United Press International
Intentional Bias Is Another Way Artificial Intelligence Could Hurt Us
Conversations about unconscious bias in artificial intelligence often focus on algorithms unintentionally causing disproportionate harm to entire swaths of society. But the problem could run much deeper. Society should be on guard for the possibility that nefarious actors could deliberately introduce bias into AI systems.
Oct 22, 2018 Scientific American
Using Wearable Fitness Devices to Monitor More Than Just Fitness
Manufacturers could reinvigorate the market for personal health devices by incorporating measures of health and well-being beyond step counts. Wearables could gauge a neighborhood's air quality, safety, or its level of social connectedness.
May 14, 2017 Scientific American
What 32 Million Tweets Tell Us About Health and the Twitterverse
Health-related posts and conversations on Twitter shed light on the public's views on obesity, exercise and fitness, safe sex, alcohol, and mental health. Will such discussion increase in communities where health and wellness programs are put in place?
Jan 26, 2017 The Health Care Blog
Expo Line Could Enhance Wellbeing in Santa Monica
On May 20, the long-awaited Metro Expo Line will begin service to Santa Monica. Viewing urban mobility as a key component of community wellbeing may be an instructive way to assess the impact of Expo and other infrastructure efforts.
May 6, 2016 Santa Monica Daily Press
When Public Trust in Corporations Is Shaken
The Volkswagen scandal comes at a time when the public's trust in both the automotive industry and tech companies is at risk. The level of public trust in an individual organization could end up burnishing — or infecting — an entire industry or new technology.
Oct 28, 2015 U.S. News & World Report
Loose Clicks Sink Ships: When Social Media Meets Military Intelligence
Social media updates can reveal military intelligence. But stopping a soldier from posting a geotagged tweet or Instagram photo presents challenges.
Aug 14, 2015 U.S. News & World Report
The Mountains Are High and the Emperor Is Far Away
Since September 22, tens of thousands of protesters have flooded the streets of Hong Kong, calling for universal suffrage in the 2017 chief executive election and the resignation of current Chief Executive Chun-ying Leung. When they took to Twitter to share their ideas and mobilize support, they revealed the profound disconnect that separates elements of Hong Kong society from their mainland counterparts.
Nov 11, 2014 Foreign Policy
The Insight of Twitter
Exploring how people use social media has provided useful insight into public opinion. This insight may be particularly valuable in countries where freedom of expression may be limited, for whom social media may serve as an important outlet, writes Douglas Yeung.
Oct 31, 2012 The RAND Blog
