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How Tech Helped San Francisco Clear 9,300 Marijuana Convictions

Rachel Kaufman

February 26, 2019 |

Next City |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

Using an algorithm designed by Code for America, the city of San Francisco has been able to identify and start the process of expunging almost 10,000 marijuana-related convictions. While the initiative has faced some opposition, the city’s District Attorney asserts that convicted individuals should be given dignity and respect by not have to carry the weight of crime for something that’s no longer illegal.

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AI and public data identify fishing behavior to protect hungry seabirds

Marianne Messina

February 22, 2019 |

Mongabay |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom

Albatrosses are known to follow fishing ships, which often puts them in harm's way and leads to death, but scientists are working to decrease this tragic outcome by combining machine learning and public data. This process allows the researchers to make assessments about rules regarding time of day for setting fishing lines and creates a sense of accountability for countries to adhere to.

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Shipping industry takes a page from bitcoin to clean up its act

Maria Gallucci

February 21, 2019 |

Grist |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Denmark, Copenhagen

As part of a larger shift toward transparency, the shipping industry is exploring blockchain technology through a collaboration between Blockchain Labs for Open Collaboration and Frontier Sky. Together, they applied blockchain technology – in this case, apps on their smartphones – at every step of the shipping process, to verify the contents, contracts, and delivery of the process. The industry moves around $4 trillion in cargo annually, and in the global shift to decrease emissions, such technology may be a way forward.

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Tribes Use Western and Indigenous Science to Prepare for Climate Change

Erica Gies

February 21, 2019 |

Hakai Magazine |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington

The University of Washington and Northwestern tribes have partnered to use their collective knowledge to create an online tool that helps regional tribes prepare for the effects of climate change. The tools uses climate forecasting that depicts how different resources in the region will be affected at a hyper-local level. The tool itself is a result of Western science, but researchers say the inputted data and information would not have been possible without the nuanced Indigenous knowledge.

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It's become much harder to rig elections in Nigeria thanks to technology

Yomi Kazeem

February 20, 2019 |

Quartz Africa |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: Nigeria

Using two-step authentication helps to increase the security of elections. Nigeria has addressed several of the problems that marred its 2007 elections by introducing card readers and permanent voter cards (PVCs) to replace paperwork that could be more easily forged. Nigeria’s electoral commission has also worked with cyber-security experts to implement the upgrades to its election systems. What remains is to ensure compliance with new regulations.

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Gig economy platform Thumbtack is helping its users get benefits

Eillie Anzilotti

February 19, 2019 |

FastCompany |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

The National Domestic Workers Alliance created a platform called Alia to deliver job benefits to home cleaners. Now, the NDWA is partnering with Thumbtack, a gig economy platform, in order to deliver this service to thousands more workers around the country. Alia allows employers to pay into a portable benefits fund for each cleaning session, funding paid time off and other job benefits.

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The weird rise of cyber funerals

Ruby Lott-Lavigna

February 17, 2019 |

Wired |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: South Korea, Seoul

People are accustomed to organizing funerals when they lose a loved one, but technology has given rise to a need for digital funerals as well. In order to expunge a person's digital footprint once, companies in South Korea are offering cyber funerals that aim to get rid of all online data after a person has passed away.

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Want to hire a refugee? This program can match you with someone with the right skills

Adele Peters

February 15, 2019 |

FastCompany |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Canada

Talent Beyond Boundaries is an organization that connects refugees with specialized skillsets to employers who can offer them jobs (and visas) in Canada and Australia. For many such refugees, employers traditionally ask for documentation that those fleeing from unsafe conditions cannot provide, but the organizations connect them to jobs, as well as giving English lessons, updating resumes, and conducting practice interviews.

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Making an App to Make a Difference

Tina Rosenberg

February 12, 2019 |

The New York Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

The lack of technology and app solutions for social problems is beginning to change thanks to the help of a growing group of technology accelerators (also called incubators) aimed at tech companies focused on social impact, rather than traditional profit-focused start-ups. Incubators like Blue Ridge Labs, Fast Forward, and Financial Solutions Lab offer capital, connections, and mentorship.

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Where Sex Education Fails, Technology Can Help

Sydney Worth

February 05, 2019 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

A smartphone app connects users with sex experts who are qualified to answer questions about healthy sex and relationships. Juicebox aims to fill gaps in the heteronormative sex education offered in U.S. schools and serves as a substitute for students who receive no sex education or who are only exposed to abstinence-only lessons.

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