AshCast

In the third episode of the Conference on the Political Economy of Artificial Intelligence, we hear from speakers Marc Aidinoff, Institute for Advanced Study; Andy Russell, SUNY Polytechnic Institute; Mar Hicks, University of Virginia; and moderator Susannah Glickman, Stony Brook University on the topic of alternative models of technological innovation in history. The mission of the Roy and Lila A...

Join us for the final podcast on panel four of GETTING-Plurality's conference on the Political Economy featuring speakers Secretary Jason Snyder, Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Secretary Yvonne Hao, Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Ami Fields-Meyer, Former White House; and moderator Alex Pascal, Harvard University. This episode covers the topic of AI in the public interest from federal and state per...

In the second episode from GETTING-Plurality's Conference on the Political Economy of AI, we hear from speakers Janet Haven, Amba Kak, and Julius Krein about unpacking the motivations behind AI innovations.  The mission of the Roy and Lila Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation is to develop ideas and foster practices for equal and inclusive, multi-racial and multi-ethnic democracy an...

In this first episode of GETTING-Plurality's Conference on the Political Economy of Artificial Intelligence, listeners can tune into the opening remarks given by Allen Lab Director Danielle Allen, as well as the Lightening Talks panel which includes speakers Yochai Benkler, Harvard University; Sharon Block, Harvard University; and Noman Bashir, MIT. The mission of the Roy and Lila Ash Center for D...

In the second half of their conversation, Archon Fung and Khalil Gibran Muhammad continue a discussion of campus protests, civil disobedience, and the role speech and democracy as universities across the country grapple with how to respond to this latest wave of protest activity. The mission of the Roy and Lila Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation is to develop ideas and foster prac...

In part one of a two part conversation, Archon Fung and Khalil Gibran Muhammad discuss campus protests, civil disobedience, and the role speech and democracy as universities across the country grapple with how to respond to this latest wave of protest activity. The mission of the Roy and Lila Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation is to develop ideas and foster practices for equal and...

In his newest book “A Hacker's Mind: How the Rich and Powerful Bend Society’s Rules, and How to Bend Them Back,” cybersecurity expert and HKS faculty affiliate Bruce Schneier asks readers to expand their simple definition of hacking beyond just computer and IT systems but to consider how nearly everything around us can be hacked — for better or worse. With chapters covering everything from airline...

The United States continues to grapple with creating an accurate, national picture of racial inequality in crime and justice. Criminal justice reform requires policies that interrogate and solve for the historical legacy of racial exclusion and structural inequalities. On Tuesday, February 28, the Institutional Antiracism and Accountability Project (IARA) at the Ash Center hosted a discussion with...

Subscribe to the new Data-Smart City Pod channel to listen to future episodes!  In this episode Professor Steve Goldsmith interviews Allie Kelly, the Executive Director of transportation and sustainability nonprofit The Ray and Andrew Heath, Deputy Chief Engineer of Georgia's Department of Transportation about their work incorporating emerging technologies along I-85. The highway of the future wil...

Subscribe to the new Data-Smart City Pod channel to listen to future episodes!  In this episode Professor Steve Goldsmith interviews William J. Flynn, the CEO of Amtrak, about navigating COVID-19, the intersection of trains and climate change, and the future of rail travel. As the CEO of a government-owned corporation and a major infrastructure system, Flynn discusses how Amtrak plans to build bac...

In this episode Professor Steve Goldsmith interviews Sharon Weston Broome, the mayor of Baton Rouge. Mayor Broome talks about leading a data-driven city, prioritizing resident engagement, and how the city relies on GIS data to manage climate resiliency. Tune in to learn about data-driven flood mitigation, What Works Cities certification, and how to build a resilient city. About Data-Smart City Pod...

This episode is a conversation between Professor Steve Goldsmith and Ricardo Hausmann, the Rafik Hariri Professor of the Practice of International Political Economy and director of the Growth Lab, one of the most well-regarded and influential hubs for research on international development. Professor Hausmann discusses the Lab's new Metroverse tool, a powerful yet easy-to-use data visualization of...

This episode a conversation between Professor Steve Goldsmith and transit expert Andrew Salzberg. Previously the director of transportation policy at Uber and a fellow at Graduate School of Design at Harvard Kennedy School, Salzberg currently advocates for open mobility as a service in Montreal, Canada at Transit. A twist on the "mobility as a service" idea, Salzberg argues that transportation tec...

This episode is a lightly edited version of a recent panel discussion about our newest paper, “Toward a Smarter Future: Building Back Better with Intelligent Civil Infrastructure -- Smart Sensors and Self-Monitoring Civil Works." Professor Steve Goldsmith interviews co-authors Betsy Gardner and Jill Jamieson, and subject matter expert Professor Luna Lu, about why developing intelligent infrastruct...

In this episode, Professor Steve Goldsmith interviews Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson. They discuss the role of the mayor in maintaining public safety, balancing community values, and prioritizing research-based ideas over reactionary polarization. Tune in to hear Professor Goldsmith and Mayor Johnson talk about the positive strides Dallas has made against violent crime, how mayors can implement non-law...

In this episode, Professor Steve Goldsmith interviews Christen Watts, GIS Manager at the city of Asheville, and Scott Barnwell, the city's Business and Public Technology Manager. They discuss how Asheville is using data and GIS to further racial equity in the city and correct for historical, systemic racism. They also talk about equitable asset management, how equity is everyone's responsibility,...

In this episode, Professor Steve Goldsmith interviews Jack Dangermond, the founder and president of Esri. They talk about the way cities can utilize multi-dimension GIS, how important mapping is for equity-focused organizations and the interrelatedness of systems and policies.  Listen below, or wherever you get your podcasts, to hear Professor Goldsmith and Jack Dangermond discuss the invention of...

In this episode, Professor Steve Goldsmith interviews the renowned professor, author, and urbanist Richard Florida. They talk about the interconnectedness of shared labor markets, how to address racially concentrated disadvantage, and the importance of a living wage. Tune in to hear Professors Goldsmith and Florida discuss concentrated advantage and disadvantage, and how cities can use data in a m...

In this episode, Professor Steve Goldsmith interviews Kip Harkness, the deputy city manager for San Jose, California. Harkness is in charge of the city’s IT and innovation portfolios; despite being in the middle of Silicon Valley, many low-income residents don’t have access to broadband internet. Thanks to efficient digital permits, a partnership with national telecommunications providers, and a d...

On Tuesday, May 4, 2021, the Ash Center hosted a book talk of  Prisms of the People: Power & Organizing in Twenty-First-Century America  with co-authors  Elizabeth McKenna  and  Michelle Oyakawa . Joined by  Alejandra Gomez  and  Tomás Robles  of Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA), the panel draws upon their collective research and experience to discuss the characteristics of winning and...

In this special episode, Professor Steve Goldsmith interviews Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Mayor Ras Baraka as part of an event on addressing vaccine hesitancy. Based in a recent research project of 18 American cities using sentiment mining, Professor Goldsmith interviews the Mayors to understand how they’re using data, policy, and influence to understand the concerns of their residents and ensure th...

In this episode, Professor Steve Goldsmith interviews David Eaves, author and lecturer in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. Eaves recently co-authored the 2020 State of Digital Transformation report, and the two discuss the publication, trends in digital governance, cross-sector collaboration, and the importance of government transparency. About Data-Smart City Pod New from the Ash Cent...

On Monday, April 26th, the Ash Center hosted the annual S.T. Lee Lecture on Military History, Strategy, and Policymaking titled “ China Inside Out: A Conversation with Professor Susan Shirk .” Professor Shirk , who serves as Chair of the 21st Century China Center at the University of California San Diego argued that it is not possible to assess the external dynamics of contemporary China unless on...

In this episode, Professor Steve Goldsmith interviews Maria-Alicia Serrano, Senior Director of Research, Analytics, and Insights at the YMCA of the USA. As an organization operating in over 10,000 neighborhoods across the country, the YMCA relies on geospatial data tools to understand each local community and work with individual Ys to address pressing issues of equity, public health, and mental w...

Estonia's spectacular journey of digital transformation and the development of X-Road by the Nordic Institute of Interoperable Solutions has been a game-changer in the way digital public goods are created and shared.  Tune in to hear Ville Sirviö, CEO of the Nordic Institute of Interoperable Solutions (NIIS), and Siim Sikkut, CIO for the Republic of Estonia, join David Eaves, Lecturer at Harvard K...