Data Nation

In this episode of MIT's Data Nation, hosts Liberty Vittert Capito and Munther Dahleh sit down with economist, Harvard professor and former Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund, Kenneth Rogoff, to discuss his latest book Our Dollar, Your Problem: An Insider's View of Seven Turbulent Decades of Global Finance, and the Road Ahead. Rogoff breaks down the intricacies of global economics, the trouble with crypto currencies and what we can expect if the US dollar loses its global importance.

What can data science reveal about the mind on psychedelics? In this episode of MIT's Data Nation, hosts Munther Dahleh and Liberty Vittert Capito speak with Nicolas Langlitz and Joshua S. Siegel about the future of mental health treatment and the role of psychedelics. Join us for a provocative look at the science behind altered states.

In this episode of Data Nation Liberty interviews our very own Munzer Daleh. Munzer emphasizes that while data is most important, focusing on the right data is essential for meaningful impact. Drawing from his latest book, Data, Systems, and Society: Harnessing AI for Societal Good, he shares insights on how AI and data can be aligned to create positive societal change. Tune in to learn how to harness data responsibly and effectively for the greater good.

In this episode of Data Nation, we talk with leaders of Colossal, a company working to bring back extinct animals like the wooly mammoth, Tasmanian tiger (thylacine), and dodo bird. Colossal CEO Ben Lamm, Chief Science Officer Dr. Beth Shapiro, and Colossal Foundation President Matt James join us to explain how they use gene editing and advanced technology, like CRISPR, to try and make de-extinction possible. We will break down the science and talk about the big questions, like is it right to bring back extinct animals, how it might help the planet, and what it takes to fund such bold endeavors. You’ll also hear how data-driven solutions are reshaping the future of conservation. Tune in to MIT’s Data Nation to learn how science, ethics, and innovation come together in the wild work of de-extinction.

In this episode of Data Nation, economist Dr. Dave Donaldson joins us to explore how data shapes U.S. tariff policy. The discussion focuses on why Americans are skeptical of tariffs, how different industries are impacted by trade protections, and how these choices reflect broader social and political values. In this episode, Dr. Donaldson gives us further insight on whether recent shifts in trade policy are driven by economics or politics. We also look at how uncertainty around tariffs affects the economy and what smart, data-informed policy might look like moving forward.

In this episode of Data Nation, economist Giovanni Peri and political scientist Margaret Peters join us to explore the evolving landscape of U.S. immigration and the data that shapes it. The discussion covers key issues like the economic impact of immigration on native-born workers, the role of wealth in shaping immigration policy, and the accuracy of immigration data. Peri and Peters share insights on how immigration affects wages, job markets, and public opinion, while examining the limitations of current immigration data and the misinformation it can fuel. Together, we unpack the myths, policies, and political pressures surrounding immigration, and what the numbers truly reveal.

In this episode of Data Nation, fitness expert Jillian Michaels joins us to explore the complex world of food safety, nutrition, and health. The discussion covers critical topics like hidden food chemicals, misleading food labels, calorie tracking challenges, and the controversial rise of weight loss medications like Ozempic. Michaels provides insights into the food industry's manipulation of ingredients, the potential health risks of processed foods, and the broader implications of chemical additives on chronic diseases.

Today on Data Nation, we are speaking with Kerry Emanuel and Kelvin Droegemeier to better understand extreme weather prevention and technology. Together, we’ll explore extreme weather displacement, changing weather conditions, and the legislation behind natural disaster procedures and measures. With Kerry Emanuel’s expertise in meteorology and extreme weather prediction as well as Kelvin Droegemeier’s legislation work as the Former Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, today’s episode will provide insightful and credible conversation on this topic. With millions of Americans at risk from climate change, it is crucial to understand where laws and technology are shifting in the world of extreme weather events.

In this episode, we dive into the rapidly evolving world of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) with Michael Schwimer, CEO of Big League Advantage and Alabama Men’s Basketball’s secret weapon to making it to the Final Four. First, we explore the origins of NIL, the NCAA’s initial resistance, and the mechanics of NIL deals, including how collectives operate. Schwimer shares insights on the opportunities and pitfalls of NIL, discussing the cases of Nijaree Canady’s $1 million transfer deal and Matthew Sluka’s broken NIL promises. Next, we discuss the long-term implications of NIL for athletes, especially female athletes, and how data analytics can revolutionize roster-building in the NIL era. Schwimer explains how Big League Advantage is shaping the landscape and offers a behind-the-scenes look at strategies that helped Alabama men’s basketball reach the Final Four with minimal NIL spending. This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about the intersection of sports, money, and data in the collegiate world.

Today on Data Nation, we are speaking with Jeffrey Karp and Daniel Belsky to explore the future of anti-aging technologies. Together, we’ll explore the accuracy of biological age tests, the ethics of anti-aging technologies, and how to ensure these innovations benefit more than just the wealthy. With Jeffrey Karp’s expertise in brain health and creating biomedical advancements in the Karp Lab and Daniel Belsky’s work in aging and healthspan research at the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, today’s episode will provide insightful and credible conversation on this topic. With anti-aging and healthspan being a concern for many people’s future, it is crucial to understand where these technologies are shifting towards.

The 2024 election was a time of tension and polarization amongst Americans. With these pressures, according to Associated Press elections data, over 153 million Americans felt the need to cast their ballot this year. Polls leading up to the election painted it as one of the tightest races in history, with The New York Times even reporting that “In the history of modern polling, there’s never been a race where the final polls showed such a close contest”. In a race with incredibly tight polls, many were shocked when Donald Trump won by a margin far larger than anticipated. A post-election survey conducted by Prolific found that over half of Americans, from both political parties, were shocked by the results with “54% of people at least quite surprised by the outcome of the election”. On top of the tension between Democrats and Republicans, other stressors divided Americans further with debates over voter fraud and geopolitical conflicts. With millions of mail-in ballots cast, thousands of voter fraud claims flooded social media platforms. Additionally, an increase in American media coverage of the Israel-Palestine conflict sparked lots of debate over Biden’s global policies and how affected demographics will be voting. Overall, the 2024 Presidential election is a huge moment in American history and will shape the country’s future. So today we are speaking with Spencer Kimball, founding Director of the Emerson College Polling Center, and Charlie Rollason, a Senior Research Manager for Ipsos to unpack the election’s outcomes and how Americans really voted in 2024.

Today on Data Nation, guests John Della Volpe and Scott Tranter join us to discuss the approaching 2024 U.S. presidential election. Together, we’ll explore the many factors at play in the 2024 election from discussing the role of Gen Z voters and the use of social media in campaigning to the importance of swing state voters. Our guests bring fascinating insights with John Della Volpe, the Director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, and the author of “Fight: How Gen Z is Channeling Their Fear and Passion to Save America”, and Scott Tranter, head of data science and owner of Decision Desk HQ, Former Director of Data Science for Marco Rubio for President, and co-founder of Øptimus. Ultimately, there’s so much strategy and a multitude of factors surrounding the 2024 U.S. presidential election, and the results will undoubtedly shape the future of our country and our democracy.

With Election Day nearing, this episode explores the relationships between polling and election digitalization with experts Andrew Gelman, a statistician and political scientist at Columbia University, and Brendan Lind, the founder of Human Agency - a company specializing in creating digital footprints for companies and individuals. Co-hosts Liberty Vittert and Munther Dahleh lead conversation to unpack polling methodologies, the implications on campaign strategy of the "bandwagon" and "underdog" effects, how data can be leveraged to target key demographics and swing states, the influence of social media on public opinion, and more. Tune in to Data Nation for an insightful discussion that unpacks the role of data in our democracy!

Why are they using more electric cars in Norway than in the US? What are the underlying mechanisms that drive technological change, and how can we influence them? What is ‘soft technology’ and what role can it play in lowering carbon emissions? In the season 2 finale of Data Nation, IDSS professor Jessika Trancik explains how her lab attempts to measure and model a technology’s real or potential impact, beneficial or harmful, on people, the environment, society — and on critical outcomes like mitigating climate change.

When Maxwell Frost was elected to Congress, he struggled to find housing in DC. Today he advocates for stronger consumer protections and authors legislation to level the playing field between renters and landlords. Frost joins Data Nation along with Catherine D’Ignazio, an Urban Science and Planning professor at MIT, to talk about the challenges renters and home buyers face, how algorithmic technology perpetuates discrimination, and the importance of understanding where data comes from and who benefits from usi

As an MIT professor and tech entrepreneur, Devavrat Shah has seen firsthand how AI tools can impact research, business, and careers. While some have dire warnings about the scale of harm AI can cause, Shah is optimistic. He joins the Data Nation podcast to dispel some doom and gloom, unpack ways that people are already using AI to make change for the better, and to examine how future benefits can emerge with regulation and education.

Facing the tough decisions of a serious health threat brings the need for information and analysis into a sharp and personal focus. Computer scientist Regina Barzilay was an expert in natural language processing when she joined MIT; her cancer diagnosis led her to collaborations in healthcare, where she has advanced imaging, prediction, drug discovery, and clinical AI. She joins Munther Dahleh and Liberty Vittert to talk about issues from data collection and privacy to bias and “distributional shift” – when an algorithm is used on a dataset with key differences from the data used to train it.

The term “election fraud” is on the verge of making a comeback with the approach of the 2024 presidential election. Liberty Vittert and Munther Dahleh speak to MIT political scientist and MIT Election Lab director Charles Stewart to get to the bottom of modern-day election fraud. When are voting errors significant? How has voting evolved throughout American history? What effect did the COVID pandemic have on our elections? What do you need to know to be an informed voter in America?

Liberty Vittert and Munther Dahleh dive into the world of augmented and virtual reality this month with Professor Fox Harrell. Harrell is Professor of Digital Media & AI in both the Comparative Media Studies Program and the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at MIT. Is the world ready for what’s coming? Will augmented reality and virtual reality be a force for good or for evil, and what can you do to prepare yourself? You can follow us on Twitter and Instagram @mitidss. Thanks for listening to Data Nation from the MIT Institute of Data Systems and Society.

Ford Professor in the MIT Department of Economics David Autor joins Data Nation to explore how AI automation can replace, augment, and unpredictably change how we work.