Public Policy

People Do Not Understand Logarithmic Graphs Used to Visualize COVID-19
Impact
June 10, 2020

People Do Not Understand Logarithmic Graphs Used to Visualize COVID-19

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Can Social Science Save Lives in a Pandemic?
Impact
June 10, 2020

Can Social Science Save Lives in a Pandemic?

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COVID-19 UK: How Do Pandemics Come to an End?
News
June 8, 2020

COVID-19 UK: How Do Pandemics Come to an End?

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Article Collection Examines How to Prevent Police Killings
Bookshelf
June 2, 2020

Article Collection Examines How to Prevent Police Killings

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Police Officers Accused of Brutal Violence Often Have Extensive History of Citizen Complaints

Police Officers Accused of Brutal Violence Often Have Extensive History of Citizen Complaints

As protests against police violence and racism continue in cities throughout the U.S., the public is learning that several of the officers […]

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How Behavioral Sciences Could Help More With COVID-19

How Behavioral Sciences Could Help More With COVID-19

Countries across the world have been turning to behavioral science in the fight against coronavirus. In May, The New Scientist proclaimed that ‘behavioral science is […]

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Emergencies: Why Do We Leave It So Late?

Emergencies: Why Do We Leave It So Late?

David Canter considers the social psychological processes that turn emergencies into disasters.

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Hetan Shah on Social Science and the Pandemic

Hetan Shah on Social Science and the Pandemic

“You don’t have to go back many months,” says Hetan Shah, the chief executive of the British Academy, in this Social Science Bites podcast, “for a period when politicians were relatively dismissive of experts – and then suddenly we’ve seen a shift now to where they’ve moved very close to scientists. And generally that’s a very good thing.”

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The Pandemic Highlights How We Miss Security Threat of Climate Change

The Pandemic Highlights How We Miss Security Threat of Climate Change

With climate change disasters, as with infectious diseases, rapid response time and global coordination are of the essence. At this stage in the COVID-19 situation, there are three primary lessons for a climate-changing future: the immense challenge of global coordination during a crisis, the potential for authoritarian emergency responses, and the spiraling danger of compounding shocks.

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Do Governments Ever Listen to ‘The Science,’ Or Do They Seek post hoc Fig Leaves?

Do Governments Ever Listen to ‘The Science,’ Or Do They Seek post hoc Fig Leaves?

“Being led by the science” evokes a linear model of policy making which is more a myth than reality. In reality, politicians use claims about scientific knowledge in order to justify a course of action.

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Lack of Data Hampers COVID Predictions, But Models Still Matter

Lack of Data Hampers COVID Predictions, But Models Still Matter

Models are not meant to predict the future perfectly – yet they’re still useful. Biomedical mathematician Lester Caudill, who is currently teaching a class focused on COVID-19 and modeling, explains the limitations of models and how to better understand them.

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Coronavirus UK – Models or Crystal Balls?

Coronavirus UK – Models or Crystal Balls?

As far back as we have records, humans have tried to predict the future. Some societies turned to prayer, divination or oracles. Others to tarot cards or crystal balls. In the modern world, much of that function is fulfilled by mathematical models. Is this new technology of forecasting really an upgrade?

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