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RAND experts have often been among the pioneers of key scientific research, including computer analysis, satellite development, military technology, and the foundations of the Internet. RAND's research has also resulted in the development of new methodologies and ways of analyzing policy issues, from the Delphi method to Robust Decision Making.

Commentary

Bans on Facial Recognition Are Naive. Hold Law Enforcement Accountable for Its Abuse

Jun 17, 2020

Broader police reform may be difficult to achieve. But in the long run, it will be more effective than any specific technology ban.
Report

Strategies for Countering Online Abuse

Jun 18, 2020

Digital platforms that let users interact virtually and often anonymously have given rise to harassment and other criminal behaviors. Tech-facilitated abuse—such as nonconsensual pornography, doxing, and swatting—compromises privacy and safety. How can law enforcement respond?

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What If China Becomes the World's Leader in AI Innovation?

Artificial intelligence technologies may become critical force multipliers in future armed conflicts. China has prioritized AI to enhance its national competitiveness and security. If its plan is successful, China will achieve a substantial military advantage over the United States and its allies by 2030.

Jul 8, 2020
Report

Online Shopping: Many Americans' Habits Haven't Changed During COVID-19

Almost two-thirds of Americans haven't changed their online shopping habits since the pandemic began. About one-quarter are shopping online more, but 13 percent are actually shopping online less.

Jul 7, 2020
Research Brief

Research Brief

Investing in the Future of Health Care: A Strategic Assessment of Federally Funded Health Services Research and Primary Care Research

Health services research and primary care research portfolios funded by agencies have distinct focus areas, and most overlap is complementary, but there are gaps in research, driven by the complexity and pace of change in the U.S. health system.

Jul 7, 2020
Report

Report

An Analysis of Education and Training Programs in Advanced Manufacturing Using Robotics

As industrial robots become more advanced, there likely will be a shortage of human workers with the technical and nontechnical skills to work with, program, and repair these robots. RAND researchers assess the state of training for these workers.

Jul 6, 2020
Research Brief

Research Brief

How Can the United States Prepare a Workforce for Advanced Manufacturing Using Robotics?

As industrial robots become more advanced, there likely will be a shortage of technicians with the skills to work with, program, and repair them. This brief presents findings of RAND researchers' analysis of the state of training for these workers.

Jul 6, 2020
Report

Report

Limb Salvage and Recovery After Severe Blast Injury: Eighth Department of Defense International State-of-the-Science Meeting on Blast Injury Research

Advances in medicine, protective equipment, and surgical reconstruction have led to questions about when to emphasize limb salvage over amputation for individuals with severe blast injuries. The authors summarize recent research on the topic.

Jul 6, 2020
Commentary

Book Review: 'The Kill Chain: Defending America in the Future of High-Tech Warfare' by Christian Brose

As the Pentagon and commercial technologists continue to explore the potential of commercial technologies for the military and work towards greater adoption, they may wish to focus not only on lowering bureaucratic barriers but also on managing expectations about what technologies will be most beneficial and how they will be used.

Jul 2, 2020
Commentary

Drone-Era Warfare Shows the Operational Limits of Air Defense Systems

External powers have intervened in the civil wars in Libya and Syria, supplying advanced conventional weapons that have intensified the conflicts. But not all of the weapons have performed as claimed.

Jul 2, 2020
Report

Report

Joint All-Domain Command and Control for Modern Warfare: An Analytic Framework for Identifying and Developing Artificial Intelligence Applications

The authors examine and recommend opportunities for applying artificial intelligence and, more broadly, automation to deliberate planning for joint all-domain command and control for the U.S. Air Force.

Jul 1, 2020
Commentary

Three Steps to Make Learning More Equitable Should Schools Close Again This Fall

The quality of remote instruction depends on whether students can connect and interact with educators online. But poverty is a major driver of who gets high-quality online instruction and who doesn't. What can states do in this new reality?

Jun 30, 2020
Tool

Toolkit for Weighting and Analysis of Nonequivalent Groups: A Tutorial on the TWANG Shiny App for Two Treatments

This tutorial describes how to use a menu-driven Shiny app based on the Toolkit for Weighting and Analysis of Nonequivalent Groups (TWANG) R package. It can be used to estimate propensity score weights and treatment effects for binary treatments.

Jun 30, 2020
Report

Health Services and Primary Care Research Study: Comprehensive Report

This report provides an independent assessment of the breadth, scope, and impact of health services and primary care research funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs from FYs 2012 to 2018.

Jun 30, 2020
Blog

The Postal Service, Election Security, Reducing Child Deaths: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on the role of the U.S. Postal Service, preparing for the presidential election, reducing child deaths in Nigeria, and more.

Jun 26, 2020
Commentary

A Machine Learning Approach Could Help Counter Disinformation

Disinformation has become a central feature of the COVID-19 crisis. As this type of malign information and high-tech “deepfake” imagery can spread so fast online, it poses a risk to democratic societies worldwide by increasing public mistrust in governments and public authorities. New research highlights new ways to detect and dispel disinformation online.

Jun 25, 2020
Testimony

Testimony

China's Health System Reform and Global Health Strategy in the Context of COVID-19: Addendum

Document submitted on June 23, 2020, as an addendum to testimony before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission on May 7, 2020.

Jun 24, 2020
Report

Report

Decoding Data Science: The U.S. Coast Guard's Evolving Needs and Their Implications

This Perspective outlines the role that data science can play in decisionmaking processes and provides a selected set of key questions and sensitivities for the U.S. Coast Guard to consider in developing its future usage of this expanding field.

Jun 24, 2020
Commentary

Japan and Dynamic Force Employment

In April, the United States ended a program that maintained a rotational bomber force to the U.S. territory of Guam. While the removal of a permanent bomber presence in the region has caused some in Japan to worry, U.S. commitment to Japan's defense shows no sign of changing nor does America's deterrent capability.

Jun 23, 2020
Report

Machine Learning Can Help Detect Misinformation Online

As social media is increasingly being used as a primary source for news, there is a rising threat from the spread of malign and false information. A new machine learning model identified differences between authentic political supporters and Russian trolls shaping online debates about the 2016 U.S. election. How could the model be applied in the future?

Jun 23, 2020
Commentary

Considering Military Culture and Values When Adopting AI

As the U.S. military contemplates increasing the number and diversity of AI and other autonomous systems, it should consider timely means of mitigating any potential negative side effects.

Jun 22, 2020
Commentary

Keep Voters Healthy. Keep Elections Secure. Can the U.S. Do Both?

U.S. adversaries have stepped up cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns. The United States should expect these foes to take advantage of the logistical challenges of voting in a COVID-19 world to redouble their efforts against elections.

Jun 22, 2020

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RAND Topic:
Science and Technology

Topic Synonyms:
S&T;
Scitech

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