Knowledge Applied

Luis Bettencourt is a theoretical physicist by training, but rather than study black holes or string theory, he uses data to better understand cities in new and predictive ways.  Bettencourt has spent his career studying complex systems—first as a researcher at the prestigious Santa Fe Institute and now as the inaugural director of the Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation. Those systems encompass any linked group of things, from ant hills to financial systems, and Bettencourt said cities are some of the most interested complex systems of change, the likes of which have rarely been seen in nature.   “Cities are really the places where people come together and change is generated,” Bettencourt said. “Cities are really these nexus, these inventions by which humans can amplify their capabilities and create a lot of changes.” On this episode of Knowledge Applied, we talk with Bettencourt on how he’s combining science and policy and using data to capture “the magic of cities for the common good.”   Subscribe to

Imagine a Smarter City that measures the heart rate and daily steps of a city by tracking everything from air quality to vehicle traffic.   The idea may sound like science fiction, but it’s becoming a reality for cities like Chicago through the Array of Things project, a collaborative effort between scientists, universities, local government, and community members to collect real-time data on the city. On this episode of Knowledge Applied, we visit with Charlie Carlett, one of the directors of the Array of Things Project, at his lab at Argonne National Laboratory to see how the sensors are designed, learn more about their sophisticated measuring capabilities, and discuss the future of “smart cities.” Smarter City Show Notes: Read more about the Knowledge Applied's Episode 4: Making a Smarter City on News.UChicago.Edu/Podcast More about The Array of Things project More on Computer Scientist Charlie Carlett *** Knowledge Applied is a new series from the University of Chicago taking you inside the research res

Dr. Stacy Lindau, professor at Pritzker School of Medicine in the Departments of OB/GYN and Medicine-Geriatrics, leads a program to help combat hunger called “Feed First.” With six food pantries located throughout Comer Children’s Hospital, they are serving a profound solution in the fight against a condition known as “food insecurity.” On this episode of Knowledge Applied, Dr. Lindau shares how she decided to address what she called a “real humanitarian need,” the benefits of the food pantries both for families as well as hospital staff, and how the program is providing critical data for future medical study.  Subscribe to Knowledge Applied on iTunes, Stitcher, and Google Play, and learn more at news.uchicago.edu

It’s no surprise that a little nature can go a long way in making people feel better. But the research of environmental psychologist Marc Berman, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Chicago, shows that adding trees to a city can have a significant impact on a person’s health and happiness. On this episode of Knowledge Applied, Berman shares how he measured the effect that trees have on the residents of Toronto, talks about how his lab is mapping brains interacting with nature, and discusses a new app which will help people living in cities find their own urban nature experiences.   Subscribe to Knowledge Applied on iTunes, Stitcher, and wherever else you listen to podcasts, and learn more about Berman's research at news.uchicago.edu

Matt Epperson, associate professor in the School of Social Service Administration, has seen the failures of mass incarceration first hand. For more than two decades, Epperson worked with incarcerated individuals as a social worker, including six years in a county jail in Michigan. On this episode of Knowledge Applied, Epperson discusses the history of mass incarceration, the challenges facing Smart Decarceration, and the social and political changes that have occurred over the last decade that may make this the ideal time to begin shrinking the U.S. prison population. Learn more at news.uchicago.edu Subscribe to Knowledge Applied on iTunes, Stitcher, and wherever else you listen to podcasts.

A new podcast from the University of Chicago taking listeners inside the research reshaping everyday life. Coming this March.