Harvard Data Science Review Podcast

Over 30% of the world’s data is comprised of healthcare data with the U.S. government arguably collecting the largest portion. On this month’s episode of the Harvard Data Science Review Podcast, we explore all things healthcare data with the help of two experts who provide their perspectives from the public and private sectors.  Our guests are Justin Fanelli, Chief Architect of Defense Medical Intelligence Data and the Technical Director at the Naval Information Warfare Center and Michelle Holko, Principal Architect Public Sector Cloud for Healthcare and Life Sciences at Google.

Margarita Alegria, Chief of the Disparities Research Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Robert Gibbons, a biostatistics expert at the University of Chicago, delve into the intersection of data science and mental health. They discuss how adaptive testing can swiftly assess mental health risks like depression and anxiety. The conversation touches on the cultural nuances in reporting mental health issues, the unexpected suicide trends during the pandemic, and the promise of psychedelics as potential treatments, emphasizing the need for better data methodologies.

Hany Farid, a Professor at UC Berkeley specializing in disinformation, and Scott Tranter, CEO of Optimus Analytics, tackle the nuances of misinformation and its impact today. They delve into the historical roots of fake news and its effect on public trust in media. The discussion covers the challenges posed by social media and the necessity for accountability. They also advocate for education to enhance critical thinking skills, helping individuals to navigate a landscape filled with sensationalism and misinformation.

What is the value of art? Is it in the eye of the beholder or can data analytics tools place a monetary value on beauty? Hosts Xiao-Li Meng and Liberty Vittert explore the use of data and technology in the art world with guests Jason Bailey, CEO and founder of Artnome and author of “Can Machine Learning Predict the Price of Art at Auction?” for HDSR and  Dan Cameron, American art curator, writer, and educator.

Renowned Oscar predictors, Ty Burr and Ben Zauzmer, discuss the predictors of Oscar wins, the impact of Critics Awards and campaigning, influence of Oscar campaigns and spending ranges, the impact of streaming on Oscars campaigns, and the intense competition between nominated actresses. They emphasize the importance of combining data and intuition in expert predictions.

Data science is huge in sports, and it's not just game stats anymore.  Player and ball tracking data are changing the way major sports leagues play games. We dive into how these data are analyzed and what the results mean to coaches and teams with Kirk Goldsberry, NBA analyst at ESPN and author of Sprawlball, and Brian Macdonald, Faculty in Sports Analytics at Carnegie Mellon University, the author of “Recreating the Game: Using Player tracking Data to Analyze Dynamics in Basketball and Football” for HDSR.    

Xiao-Li Meng and Liberty Vittert speak with relationship experts Drs. Julie and John Gottman. Listen to find out how to ensure your relationship lasts the test of time.