Uncommon Courses[1] is an occasional series from The Conversation U.S. highlighting unconventional approaches to teaching. Title of course:Engineering Systems for the Common GoodWhat prompted the idea for the course?As a control systems researcher[2], I have long felt that control systems – and systems science in general – have much to
... How does raw water compare to tap water? A microbiologist explains why the risks outweigh the benefits
Water that comes straight from natural sources, dubbed “raw water,” is gaining popularity[1]. Raw water advocates reject public water supplies, including tap water, because they don’t enjoy the taste or believe it’s unsafe and depleted of vital minerals.
On the surface, raw water might seem alluring – the natural surroundings may look...
AI misunderstands some people’s words more than others
The idea of a humanlike artificial intelligence assistant that you can speak with has been alive in many people’s imaginations since the release of “Her,” Spike Jonze’s 2013 film about a man who falls in love with a Siri-like AI named Samantha. Over the course of the film, the protagonist grapples with the ways in which Samantha,...
Reproductive health care faces legal and surveillance challenges post-Roe – new research offers guidance
Long before Roe v. Wade was overturned, reproductive justice advocates had been sounding the alarm[1] about the increasing number of women subjected to criminal investigation for suspected abortion, stillbirth or miscarriage. These cases were often initiated by health care providers and bolstered by state laws used to prosecute women for having...