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Re:Ask HN: How could a data scientist/engineer/analyst help ... by manx on Tuesday May 10, 2022 @12:13AM (#31323378)
You can try to help making better decisions, e.g. citizen participation in policy making.

One example project is Polis (https://pol.is), which is used by the government in Taiwan. They wrote a nice paper about their approach (https://www.e-revistes.uji.es/index.php/recerca/article/view...). Maybe find ways to improve the idea? Or something completely different?

Re:Ask HN: How could a data scientist/engineer/analyst help ... by qubex on Tuesday May 10, 2022 @06:38AM (#31325480)
Allow me to be a Debbie Downer but the whole idea of statistics and data-driven decisions sort of falls apart if people are not able to interpret the output, distrust the input, or are just cynical.

If you’re OK with having a small, unmeasurable impact I’d recommend focussing on data literacy, or helping educate people to perform your trade in the organisations they are already in.

Re:Ask HN: How could a data scientist/engineer/analyst help ... by boredemployee on Tuesday May 10, 2022 @06:31AM (#31325443)
cool! will check it thanks
Re:Ask HN: How could a data scientist/engineer/analyst help ... by wrink on Tuesday May 10, 2022 @06:34PM (#31333553)
MRNA technology R&D is a data problem (to my limited understanding)
Re:Ask HN: How could a data scientist/engineer/analyst help ... by afarviral on Tuesday May 10, 2022 @08:50AM (#31326449)
Demonstrate the effectiveness of vaccines or other medical interventions that are difficult to understand and often shrouded in mystery. If your findings support their use it could save lives if it gives people the confidence to take those interventions.