Phase Zero Webinar: Session 1

Complex interactions between demographic change, rising standards of living in many parts of the world, new technologies, and changing demands on natural resources are raising the risks to global security and prosperity. Climate change, in particular, means unprecedented shifts in the risk factors for conflict, social unrest, and forced migration.

Digital tools, especially interactive decision support models and data visualizations, hold great promise for helping governments, NGOs, businesses, and other organizations better understand, anticipate, and plan for today’s dynamic human security environment. However, research conducted by New America’s Phase Zero Project found that even the best tools in this space are falling short of their aspirations to turn data into action.

Join this 1-hour interactive webinar to learn about effective approaches from the field and academic research that you can immediately apply to digital tools your organization is building.

Speakers:

Denice W. Ross, @denicewross
Data Strategy Lead, Phase Zero Project and Public Interest Technology Fellow New America

Denice conducted a survey of dozens of digital tools and interviewed the people behind them. In this webinar, she will discuss the findings of her research, with real-world examples of what’s working and where the challenges remain in communicating complex interactions to people who can make an impact.

Bio: Denice has 20 years experience in human-centered design, data transparency and civic engagement, with a focus on action at the local level. Before joining New America, she was a senior advisor in the Obama White House, where she leveraged data and innovation to improve the effectiveness of federal place-based programs. As a presidential innovation fellow in 2014, she co-founded the White House Police Data Initiative and worked with the Department of Energy on crowdsourcing private-sector data to improve community resilience in disaster-impacted areas. Earlier, she served as director of enterprise information for the City of New Orleans, where she established open data as the cornerstone for performance management and public engagement. Prior to her roles in government, Ross co-directed the Greater New Orleans Community Data Center, a non-profit data intermediary that builds community capacity to use data for decision-making and resource allocation.

Dave D. White, PhD
Professor, Community Resources and Development; Director, Decision Center for a Desert City
Arizona State University

Dave will share an evidence-based framework for building tools that successfully span boundaries of science and practice, with examples from ASU’s WaterSim tool.

Bio: Dave White is internationally-recognized for his contributions to science in support of sustainable development. His research develops theory and methods to understand and enhance the linkages between science and policy for sustainability. His work brings together scientists and stakeholders to cooperatively define challenges, develop credible and usable knowledge, promote social learning, build institutional capacity, and implement solutions attuned to cultural, economic, and political context. He has led or co-led projects in the U.S., Mexico, Brazil, and the Niger River basin. Dr. White serves as Director and Principal Investigator for the Decision Center for a Desert City, which has been funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation with more than $18M in grants. He leads a team of more than 25 scientists, research staff, and postdoctoral fellows working in close collaboration with a range of stakeholders to co-develop transformational solutions for water sustainability in an era of climate change. Interactive Q& A will follow.

About the webinar series

This 3-webinar series will feature practical tips drawn from the fields of human-centered design, social sciences, and psychology that can make digital tools have greater impact.

Upcoming topics include “Open Development: Role of open data, open APIs and open source in advancing the field” and “From Awareness to Action: Building solutions into digital tools that raise awareness about big challenges.” To receive notifications of upcoming webinars in the series, either register for this first one, or email zimmerman@newamerica.org.