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Satellite Data and Cheeseburgers

August 9, 2018

Mariel Borowitz, assistant professor at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Institute of Technology, wrote the Space News, August 8, op-ed, “Satellite Data and Cheeseburgers.” The Sam Nunn School of International Affairs is part of the Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Excerpt:

“If cheeseburgers were declared a global public good because food is necessary for life, and therefore it’s a global public good and cheeseburgers therefore had to be given away to the world for free, how many cheeseburgers would have been available to me at nine o’clock at night on a Sunday when I landed in Washington, D.C.? The answer is zero. Why? Because nobody is going to start producing cheeseburgers for free.”

There are a couple technical issues with this analogy, discussed below, but it captures the key question well: how do we balance support for an exciting, new commercial market with the government’s responsibility to provide data that supports science, protects lives and property, and enables value-added companies in sectors ranging from agriculture to energy?

For the full article, visit the Space News website.

Published in: Space News
Searching for a Lost Odessa — and a Deaf Childhood

August 9, 2018

Ilya Kaminsky, Margaret T. and Henry C. Bourne Jr. Chair in Poetry and professor at the School of Literature, Media and Communication at Georgia Institute of Technology, wrote the New York Times, August 9, article, “Searching for a Lost Odessa — and a Deaf Childhood.” The School of Literature, Media, and Communication is part of the Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Excerpt:

I had no hearing aids until I came to America. The Odessa I know is a silent city, where the language is invisibly linked to my father’s lips moving as I watch his mouth repeat stories again and again. He turns away. The story stops. He looks at me again, but the story has already moved on.

Decades later, when I come back to this city, I don’t feel I have quite returned until I turn my hearing aids off.

For the full article, visit the New York Times website.

Published in: New York Times
Something Is Wrong at Facebook

July 30, 2018

Ian Bogost, professor at the School of Literature, Media, and Communication (LMC) at Georgia Institute of Technology, wrote The Atlantic, July 26, article, “Something Is Wrong at Facebook.” The School of Literature, Media, and Communication is part of the Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Excerpt:

Facebook’s chief financial officer, David Wehner, warned that its revenue growth would slow over the remainder of the year. Wehner also said that the company’s profitability would slow. Its operating margin has almost reached 50 percent in the past. That’s an incredible number—Google and Apple often reach only 25 to 30 percent. Wehner urged investors to expect that figure, 44 percent for the current quarter, to trend toward the mid-30s in the future. The reasons amount to investments in new products and services, and changes related to privacy and security. Facebook’s user growth also slowed, and actually dropped in Europe, thanks to the effects of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which went into effect in May.

For Facebook’s critics, the crash had moral implications. At last, the company’s misdeeds might be catching up with it. But a single bad day—one that hasn’t even concluded as I write this—says very little about its performance over time. With the exception of the March calamity, driven by election scandals and the company’s questionable responses to them, many of Facebook’s stock dips tracked with fears about its ability to continue to increase profits at its prior

For the full article, visit The Atlantic website.

Published in: The Atlantic
Study: US Unlikely To See New Nuclear Power Anytime Soon

July 30, 2018

Marilyn Brown, professor in the School of Public Policy, was quoted in the WABE, July 25, article, “Study: US Unlikely To See New Nuclear Power Anytime Soon.” The School of Public Policy is part of the Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Excerpt:

Marilyn Brown, who runs the climate and energy policy lab at Georgia Tech, agrees with Morgan that nuclear power is important for addressing climate change, and she said the paper, which she was not involved with, is a fair assessment of the challenges for nuclear.

But, she said, her outlook for the future isn’t quite as grim as Morgan’s. She said she would like to see the U.S. build a few more nuclear reactors, but she also believes that renewable sources of energy and battery technology will keep improving.

“I think we can manage no new nuclear. I just don’t want to see a bunch of good plants retired,” Brown said

For the full article, visit the WABE website.

Published in: WABE
Driving Without a Smartphone

July 10, 2018

Ian Bogost, professor at the School of Literature, Media, and Communication (LMC) at Georgia Institute of Technology, wrote The Atlantic, July 10, article, “Driving Without a Smartphone.” The School of Literature, Media, and Communication is part of the Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Excerpt:

Last week, for the first time in years, I stopped my car at a red light and didn’t bide the time by fondling my smartphone. This isn’t a proud admission, but it is an honest one: Pretty much every time I stop my car at a traffic signal, I pick up my phone and do something with it. I’m not even sure what. I “check my phone,” as people say. Checking your phone doesn’t really mean checking your email or text messages or social-media feed. Mostly, it means checking to see if there’s anything to check.

For the full article, visit The Atlantic website.

Published in: The Atlantic
Ex-US NATO Commander Breedlove: ‘We Need More Force in Europe, Not Less’

July 9, 2018

General (retd.) Phil Breedlove, distinguished professor and CETS Senior Fellow in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, was interviewed in “Ex-US NATO Commander Breedlove: ‘We Need More Force in Europe, Not Less’” by Deutsche Welle. The Sam Nunn School of International Affairs is part of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Excerpt:

I have testified consistently that we need more force in Europe, not less. I remain convinced that in order to meet the speed that our opponent can bring to his troop movement we need to be able to react at that speed. And that speed requires forward forces. In some cases we may not be able to move the troops forward, but we need to enable speed of reaction and in some cases that might be by prepositioning materials forward to allow forces to rapidly fall in on them. But I am not a proponent of further reducing any of the troop sizes in Europe. Rather I am a proponent of increasing our ability to rapidly respond and part of that rapid response requires forward troops.

For the interviwe, visit Deutsche Welle website.

Published in: Deutsche Welle
Closer Look: Attacks on News Media — Journalist Round Table; GA. Distracted Driving Law; and More

July 6, 2018

Robert Rosenberger, associate professor in the School of Public Policy at Georgia Institute of Technology, was interviewed for “Closer Look: Attacks on News Media — Journalist Round Table; GA. Distracted Driving Law; and More” on WABE. The interview discusses the implication of the new Georgia HB673 commonly referred to as the hands-free law. The School of Public Policy is part of the Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

For the full interview, visit the WABE website

Published in: WABE
Christine Ries Interviewed by Georgia Public Broadcasting

July 5, 2018

Dr. Ries discussed the implication of tariffs and taxes on global trade on the Georgia Public Broadcasting show “Breaking Down Trade, Tariffs And Taxes"

Dr. Ries is a professor in the School of Economics, in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. The show was title “Breaking Down Trade, Tariffs And Taxes” and the entire podcast can be heard on the Georgia Public Broadcasting website.

Published in: Georgia Public Broadcasting
Safety Advocates: Georgia’s Distracted Driving Law a ‘First Step’

July 2, 2018

Robert Rosenberger, associate professor in the School of Public Policy at Georgia Institute of Technology, was quoted in the WARL, June 29, article, “Safety Advocates: Georgia’s Distracted Driving Law a ‘First Step’.” The School of Public Policy is part of the Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Excerpt:

Rosenberger, the Georgia Tech professor, called the law “a good first step.” But he said it doesn't go far enough to deter dangerous behavior.

“My worry about a law like is that it might somehow encourage using hands-free phones while driving, rather than giving the signal that you shouldn't be on the phone while driving,” said Rosenberger.

“I’m afraid that laws like this tend to signal that these things are safe, and they're not safe,” he said. “They're just as bad.”

For the full article, visit the WARL website

Published in: WARL
Facebook’s Latest Problem: It Can’t Track Where Much of the Data Went

June 29, 2018

Ian Bogost, professor in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication at Georgia Institute of Technology, was quoted in the Wall Street Journal, June 27, article, “Facebook’s Latest Problem: It Can’t Track Where Much of the Data Went.” The School of Literature, Media, and Communication is part of the Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Excerpt:

Facebook Inc.’s internal probe into potential misuse of user data is hitting fundamental roadblocks: The company can’t track where much of the data went after it left the platform or figure out where it is now.

For the full article, visit the Wall Street Journal website *(subscription required)

Published in: Wall Street Journal
Inside or Outside? Demand at a Premium for Atlanta Patio Space

June 29, 2018

Hans Klein, associate professor in the School of Public Policy at Georgia Institute of Technology, was quoted in the Atlanta Business Chronicle, June 22, article, “Inside or Outside? Demand at a Premium for Atlanta Patio Space.” The School of Public Policy is part of the Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Excerpt:

Atlantans have loved patios since the first one appeared. But outdoor space is more important than ever as retail evolves in the e-commerce area.

For the full article, visit the Atlanta Business Chronicle website *(subscription required)

Published in: Atlanta Business Chronicle
What Petty Nextdoor Posts Reveal About America

June 22, 2018

Ian Bogost, professor at the School of Literature, Media, and Communication (LMC) at Georgia Institute of Technology, wrote The Atlantic, July/August 2018 issue, article, “What Petty Nextdoor Posts Reveal About America.” The School of Literature, Media, and Communication is part of the Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Excerpt:

Here are some of the things I heard about in my neighborhood over the past year: A thunderstorm downed a tree, blocking a central road; a shadowy agent called “the night clipper” arose, surreptitiously cutting overhanging bushes while unsuspecting property owners slept; several dogs and cats were lost, found, or “on the loose,” whatever that means for a cat; a federal-grand-jury-summons telephone scam struck; someone sought belly-dancing classes, an apparent alternative to Pilates; and, innumerable times, people deposited bags of dog poop into lawn-clipping and recycling canisters at the curb. All of this news came courtesy of the social-media service Nextdoor. On its website and app, people can post recommendations, updates, and warnings about their building, block, or neighborhood.

For the full article, visit The Atlantic website.

Published in: The Atlantic
Synthetic Biology Could Enable Bioweapons Development

June 21, 2018

Margaret Kosal, associate professor in the Nunn School, was quoted in the Chemical and Engineering News June 18, article, “Synthetic Biology Could Enable Bioweapons Development.” The Sam Nunn School of International Affairs is part of the Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Excerpt:

“The report was extremely well done and delivered something that has potential to be useful for policy-makers,” says Margaret E. Kosal, a chemist by training and currently a professor of international affairs at Georgia Institute of Technology, who reviewed a draft of the report. In particular, Kosal applauds the committee for prioritizing potential threats, “because if everything is a problem, then nothing gets addressed,” she says.

For the full article, visit the Chemical and Engineering News website.

Published in: Chemical and Engineering News
Apple’s Airpods Are an Omen

June 18, 2018

Ian Bogost, professor at the School of Literature, Media, and Communication (LMC) at Georgia Institute of Technology, wrote The Atlantic, June 12, article, “Apple’s Airpods Are an Omen.” The School of Literature, Media, and Communication is part of the Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Excerpt:

The moment I put the Apple AirPods in my ears, I feel like I’ve already dropped them in the toilet. They are so small and slippery. The mere act of removing these precious, wireless ear buds from their lozenge-shaped case makes them feel like a futuristic cure to unknown ills. I am late to adopt them, so I indulge a marvel. I take one out of an ear; this time I feel like I’m sure to ingest it, eventually, mistaking it for a space-age apparatus for wellness or transhumanism. My AirPods, I am convinced, are not long for this world.

For the full article, visit The Atlantic website.

Published in: The Atlantic
Gwinnett among Georgia Tech Smart Community Grant Winners

June 18, 2018

Omar Isaac Asensio, assistant professor in the School of Public Policy at Georgia Institute of Technology, was mentioned in the Gwinnett Daily Post June 13 article “Gwinnett among Georgia Tech Smart Community Grant Winners.” The School of Public Policy is part of the Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Excerpt:

Albany Housing Data Initiative: Led by the city of Albany, the project will evaluate an automated housing registry. The system will allow for improved neighborhood infrastructure and revitalization and encourage a safe and sustainable housing inventory for the city. The assigned Georgia Tech researcher is Omar Isaac Asensio, assistant professor in the School of Public Policy.

For the full article, visit the Gwinnett Daily Post website.

Published in: Gwinnett Daily Post
Georgia secretary of state shows up on declassified report on Russia

June 6, 2018

Adam Stulberg, professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, was quoted in “Georgia secretary of state shows up on declassified report on Russia” by CBS 46.

Excerpt:

CBS46 also asked Georgia Tech professor Adam Stulberg, who specializes in U.S/Russia relations. He said, it's important to distinguish between Russian acts of smearing and propaganda versus actual attacks on the election system -- which he's seen no evidence of.

Professor Stulberg also says, while he "can't comment on the effects of Kemp's decisions, it's likely, the feds are in a better position to know about the vulnerabilities of the infrastructure to Russian attack".

Find the article on the CBS website.

Published in: CBS
Ideas for Creating an Effective Syllabus for Online Learning

June 4, 2018

Danielle Geary, Lecturer & Online Coordinator of Spanish at the School of Modern Languages (ModLangs) at Georgia Institute of Technology, wrote The Faculty Focus, June 4, article, “Ideas for Creating an Effective Syllabus for Online Learning.” The School of School of Modern Languages is part of the Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Excerpt:

Online students need to feel an instructor presence in their classes. Thorough explanations and effective communication help fulfill this need and can transform a mediocre online course into a great one—and it all starts with the syllabus.

Structure and communication. That’s what I’ve found to be the keys to an effective online course syllabus. Well, that, and something I call a chapter checklist, to go along with the syllabus. I’ve discovered both to be essential to my asynchronous online foreign language course.

Now that I’ve been teaching Spanish online for five years, experience has taught me some excellent ways to both connect with my students and provide much-needed structure.

For the full article, visit The Faculty Focus website.

Published in: The Faculty Focus
Road Map Lists GA. Climate Questions

June 4, 2018

Marilyn Brown, professor in the School of Public Policy, was quoted in the Savannah Now, June 1, article, “Road Map Lists GA. Climate Questions.” The School of Public Policy is part of the Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Excerpt:

The team of 41 co-authors from academia, government, non-governmental organizations, and industry winnowed the list from 180 questions state-wide experts submitted online. “To our knowledge, we are the first to use this novel research prioritization methodology on such a complex cross-cutting issue at the state level,” said co-author Marilyn Brown of the Georgia Institute of Technology.

For the full article, visit the Savannah Now website.

Published in: Savannah Now
Q&A with Mary Frank Fox: Time to Ditch the Leaky Pipeline Model

May 30, 2018

Mary Frank Fox, ADVANCE professor in the School of Public Policy at Georgia Institute of Technology, was interviewed in Nature Index, May 25, “Q&A Mary Frank Fox: Time to Ditch the Leaky Pipeline Model.” The School of Public Policy is part of the Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Excerpt:

Science revolves around the cooperation of individuals and groups, and entails human and material resources. Collaborative linkages are becoming more global, and work conducted with international collaborators is more influential. International collaboration is especially consequential in Europe where mobility and collaboration are explicitly designated as markers for advancement in ranks.

I am currently working on a project with two scientists in Spain — Carolina Cañibano and Javier Otamendi — looking at gender and mobility of European researchers. We find that men are more likely to be mobile for research. Confidence about career prospects is a factor in predicting who is mobile internationally, and women are often less optimistic about their prospects.

Interestingly, the largest gap in mobility appears in established career stages. This goes back to the point that formal factors of seniority and time do not accomplish gender equity.

For the full interview, visit the Nature Index website.

Published in: Nature-Index
Who gets credit? Survey digs into the thorny question of authorship

May 30, 2018

John Walsh, professor in the School of Public Policy at Georgia Institute of Technology, was quoted in Nature, May 29, article “Who gets credit? Survey digs into the thorny question of authorship.” The School of Public Policy is part of the Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Excerpt:

Previous surveys have focused on one field or just a few, and they have looked at a limited range of contributions, says John Walsh, a sociologist at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. The authors of the latest study “really get down to serious detail”, he says.

Walsh notes that there are no recognized authorship standards across all scientific disciplines: different fields have different norms. For instance, in some subfields of physics, it has become common to have thousands of authors on a research paper. But in biology, author lists tend to be much shorter, Walsh says.

For the full article, visit the Nature website.

Published in: Nature