“The Algorithm Is Not a Sentient Being:” Health Equity in Data Science (An Interview with Heather Krause)

In this episode, we sit down with Heather Krause, the founder of the We All Count project aimed to increase data equity in research; as well as DataAssist which aims to help non-profits, communities, and governments tell better stories through data. She discusses how we, as clinical researchers, can use advanced statistical techniques to advance the social world not only in shiny boardrooms but primarily on the ground involving the participants we hope to serve. Krause calls us to action to harness data, as a privilege, to make meaningful changes in the world.She discusses her theory of Onus of Change, which involves moving the onus from individuals to systems, by leveraging disaggregated data, thus allowing us to translate words into actions. Ultimately, she reiterates that we are storytellers and must include the human side of statistics. To accomplish this goal, she provides listeners with concrete tools to tell better stories using statistics. She also references Nigerian-American artist and researcher, Mimi Ọnụọha’s groundbreaking art/research work, The Library of Missing Data Sets, as a poignant piece that illustrates the host of data sets yet unresearched.

For a transcription of today's podcast episode, visit here.

To read more about Heather Krause (as well as future guests), please visit our website here.

For more information about Breaking Research Barriers, see our website.