The Conversation

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy provides in-house science advice for the president

Written by Kenneth Evans, Scholar in Science and Technology Policy, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University

The president's science adviser has executive privilege and is also responsible to Congress.Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Presidents need science advice. From climate change and pandemics to the governance of AI and the country’s nuclear arsenal, science sits at the center of a range of foreign and domestic policy challenges that...

Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal: Why now and what next?

Written by Asher Kaufman, Professor of History and Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame

Demonstrators in Tel Aviv call on the Israeli government to secure the release of the hostages during a Jan. 15, 2025, protest.Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images)

A much-anticipated Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal is expected to take effect on Jan. 19, 2025 – subject to a delayed Israeli government vote on the package originally scheduled for...

Biden’s move to remove Cuba from terror list continues ‘yo-yo’ policy likely to be reversed by Trump

Written by Jason M. Blazakis, Professor of Practice and Director of Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism, Middlebury

Could removing Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism alleviate the plight of the impoverished nation?Yamil Lage/AFP via Getty Images

The Biden administration has signaled to Congress its intention to remove Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.

But here’s the twist: The move will only become legal upon the...

LA fires: Harm from long-term exposure to wildfire smoke is poorly understood − and it’s a growing risk

Written by Luke Montrose, Assistant Professor of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University

Residents watch as a home burns in Altadena, Calif., on Jan. 8, 2025.AP Photo/Ethan Swope

Millions of people across the Los Angeles area are being exposed to wildfire smoke as fires burn through homes and vehicles. The fires in January 2025 have burned thousands of structures, along with the building materials, furniture, paints, plastics and...

LA fires: Long-term exposure to wildfire smoke is a growing health risk, and not well understood

Written by Luke Montrose, Assistant Professor of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University

Residents watch as a home burns in Altadena, Calif., on Jan. 8, 2025.AP Photo/Ethan Swope

Universities are mapping where local news outlets are still thriving − and where gaps persist

Written by Corey Hutchins, Manager, Colorado College Journalism Institute, Colorado College

Across the country, academics, journalists and researchers are mapping their state’s news and information ecosystems.

Their methodologies differ, but such initiatives seek to make sense of the splintered reality of where people are getting their local news and information. Often, it’s not just from a legacy news organization such as a...

A national, nonpartisan study of the Los Angeles fires could improve planning for future disasters

Written by Najmedin Meshkati, Professor of Engineering and International Relations, University of Southern California

An aerial view shows homes destroyed by wildfire in Pacific Palisades, Calif., Jan. 13, 2025. Mario Tama/Getty Images

The Los Angeles fires are a national disaster of epic proportions. City officials, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and President-elect Donald Trump have traded accusations about what caused this crisis. But as an engineering professor...

Meta shift from fact-checking to crowdsourcing spotlights competing approaches in fight against misinformation and hate speech

Written by Anjana Susarla, Professor of Information Systems, Michigan State University

Meta stirred up controversy when it ditched fact-checking.Chesnot/Getty Images

Meta’s decision to change its content moderation policies by replacing centralized fact-checking teams with user-generated community labeling has stirred up a storm of reactions. But taken at face value, the changes raise the question of the effectiveness of...

Joe Biden’s record on science and tech: Investments and regulation for vaccines, broadband, microchips and AI

Written by Mark Zachary Taylor, Associate Professor of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology

Massive support for U.S. computer chip manufacturing will be part of Joe Biden's tech legacy.AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

In evaluating the outgoing Biden administration, much news has focused on inflation, immigration or Hunter’s laptop. But as an expert on national competitiveness in science and technology, I have a somewhat different...

Insurance for natural disasters is failing homeowners − I don’t have the answers, but I do know the right questions to ask

Written by Jay Feinman, Distinguished Professor of Law Emeritus, Rutgers University

The wildfires that have devastated large parts of Los Angeles County have drawn fresh attention to the struggles many Americans face insuring their homes.

Since 2022, seven of the 12 largest insurance companies have stopped issuing new policies to homeowners in California, citing increased risks due to climate change. California isn’t alone:...