US media coverage of new science less likely to mention researchers with African and East Asian names

This bias in science journalism seems not to be due only to pragmatic concerns about time zones or the language spoken in the country where the scientist is based.

Hao Peng, Postdoctoral Fellow in Computational Social Science, Northwestern University • conversation
April 8, 2024 ~9 min

DOJ funding pipeline subsidizes questionable big data surveillance technologies

Predictive policing has been a bust. The Department of Justice nurtured the technology from researchers’ minds to corporate production lines and into the hands of police departments.

Andrew Guthrie Ferguson, Professor of Law, American University • conversation
Feb. 7, 2024 ~10 min


Why are so many robots white?

Humanoid robots tend to be white or resemble white people. Here’s why this is a problem and what social scientists, designers and engineers can do about it.

Mark Paterson, Professor of Sociology, University of Pittsburgh • conversation
Jan. 26, 2024 ~9 min

I unintentionally created a biased AI algorithm 25 years ago – tech companies are still making the same mistake

One researcher’s experience from a quarter-century ago shows why bias in AI remains a problem – and why the solution isn’t a simple technical fix.

John MacCormick, Professor of Computer Science, Dickinson College • conversation
May 9, 2023 ~11 min

Yes, Black patients do want to help with medical research – here are ways to overcome the barriers that keep clinical trials from recruiting diverse populations

Overcoming the access barriers and biases that underrepresented and underserved communities face could not only improve research participation but also improve care.

RaKetra Snipes, Physician Assistant in Gastroenterology, Morehouse School of Medicine • conversation
Sept. 8, 2022 ~9 min

Criminal justice algorithms: Being race-neutral doesn’t mean race-blind

A cornerstone of the First Step Act, passed with bipartisan support, is the PATTERN risk-assessment tool.

Jeremy Davis, Postdoctoral Associate, University of Florida • conversation
March 31, 2022 ~10 min

What will 2022 bring in the way of misinformation on social media? 3 experts weigh in

Misinformation will continue to strain society in 2022 as the lines between misinformation and political speech blur, cynicism grows and the lack of regulation allows misinformation to flourish.

Ethan Zuckerman, Associate Professor of Public Policy, Communication, and Information, UMass Amherst • conversation
Dec. 27, 2021 ~9 min

Too few women get to invent – that's a problem for women's health

Boosting the number of female inventors isn't just a matter of fairness. Inventions by men are more likely to ignore women's needs.

Rem Koning, Assistant Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School • conversation
June 17, 2021 ~8 min


What is food insecurity?

A food policy researcher helps make sense of the lexicon of US food policy terms, and explains how they relate to racial justice.

Caitlin Caspi, Professor of Public Health, University of Connecticut • conversation
Feb. 2, 2021 ~8 min

Microaggressions aren't just innocent blunders – new research links them with racial bias

White people are often defensive when they're called out for these subtle snubs and insults. But researchers have found that microaggressions correlate with racial bias.

Jonathan Kanter, Director of the Center for the Science of Social Connection, University of Washington • conversation
Sept. 24, 2020 ~9 min

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