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Healthcare

Franz Edelman Award

Hate the middle seat? Flying in the pandemic might mean only windows and aisles

In recent episodes of the podcast we have covered a number of ways that O.R. and analytics have helped address the myriad challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as how they are helping us map out a return to normal, or in most cases a new normal. With social distancing remaining a key priority, there are so many aspects of our day-to-day lives that will be different for the foreseeable future. And in order to find a way to return to many of these activities, like going to school, getting back to a traditional office environment, and in the…

Tags: airplane safety, Arnie Barnett, COVID-19, middle seat, MIT

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Navigating the COVID-19 landscape with the 2020 INFORMS President

When I last spoke with 2020 INFORMS President Pinar Keskinocak, it was the beginning of the year, and the worldwide impact of the COVID-19 pandemic had not yet been realized. It has only been a few months since then, but it feels like a lifetime. And we are only halfway through the year! Needless to say, 2020 has thrown some unexpected challenges to all of us, in how we live and work. I am once again joined by Pinar to discuss the year so far and the role that O.R. and analytics has played in helping the world address many…

Tags: COVID-19, disaster preparedness, disaster response, Georgia Tech, hurricane, pandemic, Pinar Keskinocak

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Should your university reopen in the fall? Let mathematical modeling guide the way

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic this past spring saw universities across the country close their campuses and teachers rapidly transition their curriculums to a virtual classroom setting. Now, after months of social distancing and online learning, these same institutions are looking ahead to the fall semester. Simultaneously however, as states are beginning the process of reopening, many at different rates, we are also seeing a spike in infection rates. So in the face of this, can universities safely reopen their campuses? The answer may truly surprise you. Joining me to discuss how his university is approaching the upcoming fall…

Tags: Cornell University, COVID-19, epidemiological modeling, online learning, pandemic, Peter Frazier, school reopening

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Special Edition of Resoundingly Human Featuring Congressman Jerry McNerney, PhD, Co-Chair of the Congressional Artificial Intelligence Caucus

In this episode, a first for the Resoundingly Human podcast, I am joined by Congressman Jerry McNerney, a Member of Congress representing California’s 9th congressional district and co-chair of the Congressional Artificial Intelligence Caucus. Congressman McNerney, who holds the distinction as the only member of Congress with a PhD degree, is a member of two congressional committees that impact the technology, science, and analytics policy space – the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.

Tags: advocacy, AI, artificial intelligence, congress, Congressional Artificial Intelligence Caucus, Congressman Jerry McNerney, government

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Approaching COVID-19 reopening as an O.R. problem

As the country begins to reopen, we are seeing restrictions put in place to counteract the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic begin to loosen. I think many of us are battling conflicting emotions: excitement at the idea of a return to something closer to normal as well as uncertainty and anxiety, with each state reopening at a different rates and even inconsistencies in requirements regarding the use of face masks. And with some states seeing new spikes in infection rates, it begs the question, in a desire to return to normal are we moving too quickly, or perhaps simply going…

Tags: coronavirus, COVID-19, operations research, pandemic, reopening, University of Texas, Victoria Chen

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Keeping bias out of job applications and school admissions

In today’s world, we are becoming increasingly aware of the prevalence of bias and the significance of its impact, particularly regarding minority groups and at risk and vulnerable members of our community. In an episode of the podcast released last month, we discussed the presence of bias in rideshares, in particular a study which identified that minorities and supporters of the LGBTQ community are twice as likely to have their rides canceled as Caucasians. In this episode, we will continue to explore additional examples of bias and their impact, as well as the role that operations research and analytics plays…

Tags: bias, fairness, Georgia Tech, job applications, metrics, school admissions, Swati Gupta

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Take me out to the (computer) ball game!

Even as we are beginning to see a lessening of restrictions in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic, I think many of us are still processing the myriad ways it has impacted our lives this year. As spring comes to an end and summer is upon us, we are keenly feeling the absence of many of our favorite activities, like concerts, barbeques, parades, and for the purposes of this episode, an afternoon spent with a hotdog and a beer at a baseball game. For those of you who may be feeling these losses particularly keenly, we wanted to share a fun…

Tags: baseball hall of fame, Gary Cokins, sports analytics

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Will your ride be cancelled? Fighting bias in rideshares

I think many of our listeners will agree, that while the timeline to safely do so remains uncertain, we are all looking forward to a day when we can once again spend time with friends on a night out, head to a movie theater or a favorite museum, or frankly, do anything outside the house. When the time comes, people will once again rely on rideshare platforms like Uber or Lyft to get them where they need to go, much as they did prior to the coronavirus pandemic. What they may not know, is the role that bias based on…

Tags: American University, Chris Parker, Indiana University, Jorge Mejia, Management Science, rideshare bias

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Hate the middle seat? Flying in the pandemic might mean only windows and aisles

Navigating the COVID-19 landscape with the 2020 INFORMS President

Bias and social media: What’s the impact on your screen time?

Mapping a return to live sports and concert attendance

Should your university reopen in the fall? Let mathematical modeling guide the way

Special Edition of Resoundingly Human Featuring Congressman Jerry McNerney, PhD, Co-Chair of the Congressional Artificial Intelligence Caucus

Approaching COVID-19 reopening as an O.R. problem

Keeping bias out of job applications and school admissions

Take me out to the (computer) ball game!

Will your ride be cancelled? Fighting bias in rideshares