STAT March 31, 2021
Before becoming a public health researcher, I trained as a geologist. That may seem like an unusual career trajectory, but it taught me that you can’t really understand how something exists today without weaving in the stories of its past.
Covid-19 has shown public health researchers that they need to expand their vision at a time when maps showing raw data have emerged as a bible for this field and for policymakers. Well-intentioned plans supported by sophisticated data and models can quickly fall apart if there’s a lack of understanding about place and the history of the people affected.
Years ago, I volunteered as a field mapper for a project with an international humanitarian team, helping engineers decide where flush...
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