Let’s focus on pandemic level, not panic level June 12, 2009
Posted by Angelo in Media, pandemic.Tags: H1N1, pandemic, swine flu, WHO Level 6
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‘WHO Level 6,’ which refers to the highest level to be declared by the World Health Organization is meant to trigger many responses.
But just because the word ‘panic’ happens to be embedded in the word pandemic, it’s not the proper response. In fact, there’s another word that starts with P that we have been involved in, since 2008: Preparedness.
Today’s report in The Arizona Republic looks at this current WHO alert from several angles. Surveillance, vaccination and mitigation strategies for the coming fall flu season.
Solid reporting. The stuff that we ought to see more of here.
If at all, space permitting, I would have liked to see more context so readers get a sense of where we stand in Arizona:
- What is the current state of readiness –perhaps broken down by counties
- Infection and mortality comparisons between previous flu seasons
- CDC surveillance data — virological and clinical data
Not many people still understand the difference between seasonal flu and swine flu.
Diagnostic methods have changed, and the speed of diagnostic measures reduces the demand on the national stockpile of antivirals. (source: NIAID)
That’s what I mean by context. It doesn’t hurt to help people understand what ‘Arizona on Alert’ means to them. We’re busy doing just that.
Light Bulb Moments podcasts available here! June 11, 2009
Posted by Angelo in Economy, Education, Media, social media.Tags: Barry Broome, GPEC, Jim Blasingame, P. J. Haarsma
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Follow up to yesterday’s post about uploading to iTunes.
From today, you can listen to our podcasts here. Check the Media Page.
I particularly like these two –an inside look at two events held here last week. It captures how versatile an interactive decision-making space like this could be.
Wiki-Wire: A podcast about the creative use of a learning space. How one professor (details about this event) used the immersive environment of the Drum to promote young adult fiction. He connected a student-created wiki and a larger online community with a science-fiction author.
Economic Summit: A podcast that takes you inside the planning and execution of an economic summit. The Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) hosted a multi-media interactive event (details about event) that reached out to four audiences –two of which were online.
Obama holds up ASU as model for entire country May 13, 2009
Posted by Angelo in Arizona State University, Economy, Education, Media.add a comment
Taken at the beginning of Obama’s speech
Read the Associated Press story that was just posted.
Right through the afternoon, the Decision Theater has been covering the event using this blog, Twitter and Flickr photos. Podcasts, featuring perspectives from students and members of the social team, will be published next week.
Social media juggling act for Obama visit to ASU May 13, 2009
Posted by Angelo in Arizona State University, Events, Media.add a comment
For president Barack Obama’s visit today as he speaks at ASU’s commencement, I’m part of the social media ’swat’ and we’re making it as interactive/multi-media as we can get. Here what to expect:
- Twitter: We are using our event hash tag #asugrad09 (On Twitter search track them here)
- UStream: A live video stream from a laptop with a camera from this link
- Web video: The typical event page with video here http://graduation.asu.edu/live
- Students tweeting: Tanner Wood & Tiffany Duening on our team will be micro-blogging from their seats!
- Podcasts: I will be doing some short podcasts to capture the highlights
- Blogs: Live blogging of course to HoipolloiReport.com, cross-posted to this blog
- Flickr: Photos from the inside –if my camera gets past security
- Twitpic - Photos from mobile devices will be posted here, as was this one by Ninky
- Facebook - the virtual celebration
Greater Phoenix economic summit in progress May 12, 2009
Posted by Angelo in Collaboration, Economy, Media, sustainability.Tags: Barry Broome, Elliott Pollack, GPEC, Michael Bidwell
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An economic summit, convened by the Greater Phoenix Economic Commission is happening this morning at the Decision Theater.
Topics include job gains, wealth creation and personal income, growth, tax policy and looking at the competitiveness of Phoenix, with questions being posed online.
The speakers are:
- Michael Bidwell, chairman GPEC
- Tom Rex, Associate Director, Center for Competitiveness and prosperity Research at the W. P. Carey School of Business
- Elliott Pollack, CEO Elliott D. Pollack and Co
- Barry Broome, president/CEO of GPEC
Watch a live feed here from a dedicated site that includes a way to ask questions and vote on issues being raised.
“For every virus we build a new model, new storyline” May 8, 2009
Posted by Angelo in Collaboration, Emergency Preparedness, Media.Tags: George Basile, H1N1, JJZZ, Tim Lant
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Yesterday we joined State interim health director Will Humble and TGEN’s David Engelthaler to discuss Arizona’s response to the swine flu outbreak.
George Basile and Tim Lant from ASU’s Decision Theater talked about how technology is helping us improve planning for pandemics.
“We come up with models that create a new scenario every time we run an exercise,” said Dr. Lant.
He talked about ongoing work modeling how a virus could move through schools, airplanes, transportation systems etc.
“Then when health officials and decision-makes come in (to the Decision Theater) we have a new storyline for them; a new narrative.”
Listen to the whole segment here.
The program also featured Maricopa County Public Health Director Dr. Bob England, and Brian Levin of the Customs and Border Protection agency.
Listen in to H1N1 flu discussion on KJZZ today May 6, 2009
Posted by decisionlab1 in Arizona State University, Emergency Preparedness, Media, pandemic.Tags: emergency planning, H1N1, Here and Now, KJZZ, Pandemic flu
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Just when you thought the H1N1 virus was going away quietly, comes news that the virus may be already mutating. What does that mean for planners? How should we be approaching decision-making, using short-term events, crises, outbreaks to inform long-term decisions?
That’s what Dr. Tim Lant and Dr. George Basile will be discussing this morning on the local NPR station, KJZZ.
The program is Here and Now. Listen to the web stream here.
Some useful links (in addition to these) if you are following the broader story of planning for emergencies. These are the three counties we have worked with:
Also:
Fixing the grid needs a system solution – WIRED March 30, 2009
Posted by Angelo in Energy & Climate, Media.add a comment
This month’s WIRED, carries an indepth article on what it will take for the new administration to fix the grid, and unleash an era of smart energy. Now that more than $40 billion has been allocated to this, infrastructure projects have been getting a lot of attention. And a good dose of Google juice.
The article, Power to the people, makes an strong statement about the complex systems solution that is needed.
But technology alone won’t solve this mess, because fixing the grid is not a technology problem-it’s a system problem on the broadest scale.
Not the job for “a bunch of smart meters and fancy routers.” Wind and solar will play a big part in this 21st century grid, it says.
The seven ways to do this include:
- Generate Electricity Everywhere
- Deliver Clean Energy to Distant Cities
- Store Power in Super Batteries
- Monitor the Electrons in Real Time
- Trade Electricity Like Pork Bellies
- Think Negawatts, Not Megawatts
- Make Conservation Simple (and Easy)
Amazing coincidence, or great minds think alike? February 23, 2009
Posted by Angelo in Media, Watchlist.add a comment
I just noticed that one of our posts was being linked to from the New York Times — not unusual as far as blogs go.
However, floating at the top of the blog for the NYT was a light bulb icon. It’s called the Green Inc. blog. It focuses on a wide range of sustainability topics too, seen through the wide-angled lenses of great journalists such as Tom Zeller, Kate Galbraith and James Canter. Like us, providing insight into university-led and Arizona-based topics such as energy from algae, sustainable cities and climate, they cover bio fuels and smart buildings, too. Honestly, we’re flattered!
Decision Theater on lowering energy costs February 18, 2009
Posted by Angelo in Collaboration, Energy & Climate, Media.1 comment so far
Listen to George Basile, Executive Director of the Decision Theater speaking to ABC15 News on the energy conservation.
Portions of the extended interview given by Basile, have been used in this investigative report by Joe Ducey.
Worth noting that we agreed to this interview on the condition that we were not going to comment on the investigation, but provide viewers with a broader context of energy conservation, and new interests in smart buildings.
The other aspect of energy efficiency that Basile spoke of was Energy Intelligence –something that did not get into this report. I is about using building science to inform how we design systems and physical structures.
