With Earth Day on April 22, columnist David Corliss features the work of Data for Good scientist-activists that supports environmental action.
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Data for Good: The Year in Review
Data for Good had a wonderful 2019, full of new resources, networking opportunities, and shared enthusiasm.
Home for the Holidays: Data for Good Researchers Fight Homelessness
Homelessness is an area in which analytics is much needed but often in short supply. Shelters and other organizations providing direct services to individuals many times have good data but no one to analyze it. Though they are making great strides to help, they could do even more with statistical support.
Statistics at the Tipping Point: Data for Good in Environmental Advocacy
Environmental dangers are often described in terms of tipping points—a maximum greenhouse gas level, the total human population our planet can support, or the increase in temperature triggering a large rise in sea levels. As much as we hear about tipping points for environmental disasters, the concept itself is benign: a mathematical threshold in a small value that, when crossed, leads to a large change in something else. Examples of statistics at the tipping point are all around us, and all of us can participate in making a difference for good.
Data for Good Goes to Washington
ASA science and advocacy activities play a crucial role in driving understanding and adoption of sound statistical analysis, helping Data for Good make the greatest impact.
2018 Stewardship Report: A Big Impact on Data for Good
David Corliss discusses how the American Statistical Association’s annual stewardship report, published in April, serves a necessary function in reporting how the ASA spends the money members have contributed to programs and the causes we care about.
Data for Good in the Public Square
David Corliss introduces Code for America and how they’re helping to change how people see government and how professional service in technology is seen as a force for good in the community.
Data for Good Has Growing Need for Project Leaders
2018 was a banner year for Data for Good, full of important projects and new opportunities. It also started developing growing pains.
ASA’s Leadership Institute Is Great Opportunity for Data for Good Researchers
David Corliss spoke to ASA President Lisa LaVange about her leadership institute and how it can allow Data for Good to have a greater effect on the ASA and wider society.
Stats4Good: Data for Good Researchers Respond to Hurricanes
Data for Good researchers perform vital roles in mining social media, mapping, geospatial analysis, resource optimization, and other analytic functions, partnering with organizations that put boots on the ground to provide critically important information, logistical support, and guidance for hands-on relief efforts. Crowdsourcing can play an important role in bringing together many resources in a short time in response to a crisis. As a result, many organizations now sponsor hackathons and data dives and create applications to collect crowdsourced information from people in affected areas.