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Tech for Turnout

Roxanne Patel Shepelavy

April 17, 2019 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Illinois

High tech tools offer low cost ways to reach many voters and mobilize turnout, especially in mid term elections. From applications that allow campaigns to deliver personal text messages to hundreds of people at once, to new digital platforms for online polling and campaign management, many of the successful campaigns launched across the country during and after 2016 have leveraged these tech innovations to engage with voters.

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Endangered rhinos are now being protected by powerful data analytics

Adele Peters

April 15, 2019 |

FastCompany |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: South Africa

To fight a recent surge in endangered rhino poaching, the South African government began utilizing data analytics typically used to study consumers to map out poaching networks. Piecing together data from sources as varied as the serial numbers on guns left behind in parks, police data, intelligence data, and social media posts that show relationships between people, the government was able to isolate a European supplier that supplied most of the poachers' guns.

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They Found a Way to Use Science in the Fight for Human Rights – and It's Working

Alison Kotch

April 08, 2019 |

NationSwell |

Multi-Media |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

A special cross-sector collaboration has emerged with the On Call Scientists Hotline by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Human rights advocates call the hotline when they're in need of data to back up their findings, and on the receiving end are volunteers with expertise in areas like forensic chemistry, public health, refugee trauma and food/environmental toxins. This immediate response with analyzing research, filling in data, and reviewing reports helps those on the frontline of human rights make stronger arguments in service of their cause.

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How Tribes Are Harnessing Cutting-Edge Data to Plan for Climate Change

Terrie Hansen

March 29, 2019 |

Yes! Magazine |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Puget Sound

For many tribal and indigenous communities in the Pacific Northwest, the impact of climate changes has already become terrifyingly clear. As communities attempt to plan and adapt to new environmental conditions, the Climate Impacts Group at University of Washington is working to provide hyper-localized data that can help predict changes and allow communities to change accordingly, and in line with cultural traditions.

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Nonprofit helps reunite homeless with family, friends through digital detective work

Gary Warth

March 25, 2019 |

San Diego Union-Tribune |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco

The San-Francisco based organization Miracle Messages has helped to reunited around 200 people experiencing homelessness with friends and family using the internet and a small-but-dedicated group of staff. The team fields requests from people looking for information and the ability to re-connect with friends or family, than uses Facebook, Whitepages Premium, and more to track someone down and make the connection, although some cases are more difficult than others.

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New software to help KCPD identify crime risk areas

Andres Gutierrez

March 19, 2019 |

KSHB-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Kansas City, Missouri

In Kansas City, Missouri, the police department has been using crime data to strategically understand which areas require more resources. This model, which has been used since 2012 and has led to a 12% decrease in violent crimes, is being expanded upon. New technology called “risk-terrain modeling” helps police officers work more proactively to change environments, like lighting on certain corners, to prevent crime.

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How drones and satellite images are measuring the forests used for carbon offsets

Adele Peters

March 15, 2019 |

FastCompany |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

The technology company Pachama has developed a way to combine “satellite, drone, and lidar images” to estimate the size of trees and forests around the globe. Its founders were motivated by the carbon offset industry. If companies want to offset emissions, the rationale goes, it is better to know precisely where forests need to be restored. Pachama’s technology can do just that.

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Citywide data partnership offers new ways to serve students

Tara Garcia Mathewson

March 14, 2019 |

The Hechinger Report |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Kansas City, Missouri

The Kansas City school district and a group of local nonprofits are implementing a new software management system that will allow partners to access student data from a range of sources. The data-sharing agreement will paint a more holistic picture of students and, in the future, allow teachers and others to make informed interventions when appropriate.

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3 cities in the U.S. have ended chronic homelessness: Here's how they did it

Adele Peters

March 11, 2019 |

FastCompany |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Abilene

The national program Built for Zero is aiming to end veteran and chronic homelessness by using a comprehensive data set that allows for tracking of the homelessness situation day-by-day, along with a Housing First approach that emphasizes getting people into permanent housing before offering services for other issues. The work is spreading across the country, with more than 50 cities implementing some version of the same solution, although there are concerns for the privacy of people experiencing homelessness, as well as the sustainability of the solution.

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New Independence Street Crimes Unit already making an impact

Kevin Holmes

March 07, 2019 |

KSHB-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Independence, Missouri

In Independence, Missouri, the police department has developed the Street Crimes Unit devoted entirely to addressing crime in the city. Taking a proactive, data-driven approach, law enforcement has been able to devote more time and resources to closing criminal investigations.

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