The Conversation

How do forensic engineers investigate bridge collapses, like the one in Miami?

Written by Martin Gordon, Professor of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology

What caused this bridge to collapse?AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee

On March 15, a 950-ton partially assembled pedestrian bridge at Florida International University in Miami suddenly collapsed onto the busy highway below, killing six people and seriously injuring nine. Forensic engineers are taking center stage in the ongoing investigation to find out what...

I treat patients on Medicaid, and I don't see undeserving poor people

Written by Audrey M Provenzano, General Internist, Instructor of Medicine, Harvard University

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin with President Trump on Jan. 11, 2018, a day before Trump gave the go-ahead for Medicaid work requirements.AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

As more states join Kentucky in trying to impose work requirements for people who receive Medicaid, I could not help but think of a patient of mine whom I’ll call Linda.

Linda is a healthy...

Regulating Facebook won't prevent data breaches

Written by William H. Dutton, Professor of Media and Information Policy, Michigan State University

Facebook already controls how its users' data can be gathered and shared. It's university ethics boards that need to join the digital age. Shutterstock

After revelations that political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica allegedly appropriated Facebook user data to advise Donald Trump’s 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, many are calling for...

After Tempe fatality, self-driving car developers must engage with public now or risk rejection

Written by Andrew Maynard, Director, Risk Innovation Lab, Arizona State University

An autonomous vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian on March 18.ABC-15.com via AP

On Sunday evening, March 18, an Uber SUV hit and killed a pedestrian in the Arizona city of Tempe. In a place where vehicle-related pedestrian fatalities are unfortunately a regular occurrence, this shouldn’t have stood out as particularly unusual. But what...

Bombed into oblivion: The lost oasis of Damascus

Written by Karen Pinto, Professor of History, Boise State University

Syrians go on a picnic on Friday, March 14, 2008 in Ghouta, before the destruction of the region. (AP/Bassem Tellawi)

Ghouta, the one-time oasis of Damascus, is being destroyed. Every day brings with it news of renewed bombing, deadly chemical attacks and starved or crushed bodies, accompanied by desperate scenes of mass exodus.

Located a mere...

Asians could opt out of naming a country of origin on the 2020 census, a policymaker's nightmare

Written by Jennifer Lee, Professor of Sociology, Columbia University

A proposal to change the race question for the 2020 census would give Asians the option to mark their race as “Asian,” and also check off or write in their national origin as Chinese, Filipino, Asian Indian, Vietnamese and so on.

For the first time in the history of the census, which began in 1790, “Asian” would be a...

A clue for how to reduce HIV transmission when using hormonal contraceptives

Written by Thomas L. Cherpes, Assistant Professor of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University

The US AID program has provided the contraceptive Depo-Provera to other countries, including Senegal. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

More women are affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) than any other life-threatening infectious agent. This makes it crucial to identify all factors increasing the risk of HIV infection.

One risk factor may be injec...

Threat assessments crucial to prevent school shootings

Written by Dewey Cornell, Forensic clinical psychologist and professor of education, University of Virginia

Students rally outside the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, on March 14, 2018 to protest gun violence. Andrew Harnik/AP

Editor’s note: This article was adapted from testimony the author gave on March 20, 2018 at a school safety forum convened on Capitol Hill by U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) and House Democrats. The forum took place just...

Think Facebook can manipulate you? Look out for virtual reality

Written by Elissa Redmiles, Ph.D. Student in Computer Science, University of Maryland

What these people are seeing isn't real – but they might think it is.AP Photo/Francisco Seco

As Facebook users around the world are coming to understand, some of their favorite technologies can be used against them. It’s not just the scandal over psychological profiling firm Cambridge Analytica getting access to data from tens of...

Facebook is killing democracy with its personality profiling data

Written by Timothy Summers, Director of Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Engagement, University of Maryland

Facebook's data know exactly what fits best in your mind.leolintang/Shutterstock.com

What state should you move to based on your personality? What character on “Downton Abbey” would you be? What breed of dog is best for you? Some enormous percentage of Facebook’s 2.13 billion users must have seen Facebook friends sharing results...