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Thousands of poor young people are using Minecraft to redesign their cities

Odette Chalaby

January 29, 2018 |

Apolitical |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, Mumbai

Too often, poor community members are not included in public discourse over how public spaces should look-- rather, the urban planning is more top-down. To change that, the UN’s Block by Block project is using the computer game Minecraft to include locals in shaping the physical spaces in their own communities by teaching them digital design skills. The UN program has engaged over 17,000 people, and 20 crowdsourced designs have already been built in cities around the world.

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This Map of New Orleans Might Save a Life

Jared Brey

January 19, 2018 |

Next City |

Multi-Media |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, New Orleans, Louisiana

By relying more heavily on data analysis, New Orleans officials decreased ambulance response time in many parts of the city from 12 minutes to 8 minutes. This is just one successful project of many from the non-profit group Results for America. The group works with local governments to use data and evidence to solve urban issues, and it has seen successes in New Orleans, Atlanta, Baltimore, and Philadelphia.

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The Health App That Beat Hurricane Harvey

Erick Trickey

January 18, 2018 |

Politico |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Houston, Texas

For patients with tuberculosis, it is vital that they take their medicine consistently and on schedule, even after they are no longer contagious, which can be time consuming and expensive for public health departments to manage. Teleconferencing has helped people remember to take their medications, even during a disaster like Hurricane Harvey.

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States require doctors to use prescription drug monitoring systems for patients

Christine Vestal

January 15, 2018 |

The Washington Post |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Prescription drug mointoring programs provide a doctor with information about a patient’s prescriptions and—in some states—drug-related hospitalizations and arrests. With this tool, doctors are better able to identify drug-seeking behavior and intervene with at risk patients.

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Predicting Crime in Chicago

Scott Pelley

January 07, 2018 |

60 Minutes |

Broadcast TV Programs |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

What if a computer program could tell you who was at risk for shooting someone or being shot themselves? This is now a reality for Chicago Police Department. By piloting the use of this technology, and assembly a cohort of cops, social workers, ministers and moms to visit the names of those the computer names, the city has seen a decrease in violence over the last year.

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Can an Algorithm Tell When Kids Are in Danger?

Dan Hurley

January 02, 2018 |

The New York Times Magazine |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Wrongly assessing risks for children in potentially abusive or dangerous homes has dire consequences, but a new predictive analytics system is assisting screeners to help those who need it most.

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Tracking some of the world's biggest killers, via cellphone

Rae Ellen Bichell

December 25, 2017 |

Public Radio International (PRI) |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Madagascar

A new project uses cellphones to provide users with information about mosquitos carrying deadly viruses as well as the ability to report sightings of virus carrying mosquitos. Through this reporting system, entomologists are able to more comprehensively and quickly know where work has to be done to keep people safe from disease.

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How Georgia State Stopped Students From Slipping Through The Cracks

Martha Dalton

December 18, 2017 |

WABE |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Georgia

Georgia State University recognized that a large portion of their students don't graduate. They identified academic behaviours that correlate to flunking out and hired advisors to keep an eye on all students and contact them to help if a student exhibits one of these behaviours.

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How a custom Microsoft app is helping the Caribbean rebuild after hurricanes

Gregory Scruggs

December 17, 2017 |

GeekWire |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Antigua and Barbuda, Codrington

Bringing data analysis technology into post-disaster scenarios can improve methods of allocating funding for disaster relief and reconstruction projects. The UN and Microsoft have partnered to develop the Building Damage Assessment app. Teams on the ground can use the software package to collect and analyze data, which can then be easily disseminated and shared with policymakers.

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Estonia, the Digital Republic

Nathan Heller

December 11, 2017 |

The New Yorker |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Estonia

The e-Estonia project eliminates information silos, pairing blockchain with an easy to use data-sharing platform. The X-Road platform platform acts like a bridge, linking the information in places like doctors offices and governmental agencies together, providing a more efficient data management system for users and bureaucrats alike. The e-Estonia program also offers e-residencies to those who wish to use the services outside of the country. Blockchain technology lends the entire system added security.

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