Research

Showing 1 - 25 of 45 results

Community Resource

Landscape of AI Legislation: Opportunities for Housing

April 30, 2025

Nia Knox, MPP

The number of artificial intelligence (AI)-related measures introduced in the legislatures of U.S. states and territories continues to grow. Measures regulating government use, elections, education and training, and effects on labor were the most...

Computer, two hands holding drawing with house with people in it

White Paper

Broadening Horizons: How STEM-in-Society Programs Train Socially Responsible Scientists, Engineers, and Policy Leaders

March 28, 2025

Erin Burkett

This research describes the current landscape of STEM-in-Society higher education programs across the United States and uses case studies—including interviews with program leaders, students, and alumni—to illustrate the current opportunities and...

Policy Brief

Algorithmic prioritization systems for homeless services must have human oversight

March 4, 2025

Cyrus Soonavala, BA Public Policy ‘25, Pelle Tracey, PhD candidate, School of Information

Homelessness is a significant and growing crisis in the United States. In an effort to more efficiently and fairly distribute limited housing resources, jurisdictions across the US have adopted algorithmic prioritization systems to help select which...

Policy Brief

A Call to Michigan Legislators: Pass Legislation to Create Overdose Prevention Centers

February 24, 2025

Molly Sherry, BA Public Policy '25

A Michigan resident dies every four hours due to an overdose, with opioids being involved in 80% of these cases. The financial burden is equally staggering, with the combined cost of opioid use disorder and fatal opioid overdose exceeding $41...

Two figures seated with just clasped hands showing like part of a support group

Policy Brief

Ensuring Educational Technology Access for Incarcerated Students

January 30, 2025

Molly Sherry, BA, Public Policy ‘25, Mandy Mitchell, Ph.D., Philosophy, Masters in Public Policy

Increased access to Pell college funding for incarcerated students has driven an educational technology (ed tech) gold rush. This memo identifies barriers to providing high quality education to incarcerated students, highlighting the lack of access...

Female inmates in classroom wearing tan and black

Policy Brief

Election Security Perspectives From Intelligence and Election Cybersecurity Experts

January 17, 2025

Intelligence and Cybersecurity Experts: Javed Ali and J. Alex Halderman, Student Research Assistants: Terry Nguyen, Molly Sherry, and Cyrus Soonavala

Deterring election interference remains an ongoing challenge for national security institutions and election administration agencies. The primary areas of concern are voter registration databases, voting machines, and outdated election...

Community Resource

You Deserve a Home! Applicant Screening Reports and Rights

December 18, 2024

Nation Outside believes that a person’s conviction history should never be a barrier to securing housing. This Zine for the members of Nation Outside describes what tenant screening tools are, why they are concerning, and the rights of those who are...

Policy Brief

Surveillance Technology in Public Housing Over-surveils but Under-protects

December 12, 2024

Gretchen Carr, BA Public Policy

This is a one page version of the white paper: "Surveillance Technology in Public Housing: Proliferation, Consequences, and Recommendations." Camera surveillance systems in affordable housing primarily refer to security cameras that may include...

White Paper

Educational Technologies for Incarcerated Students: Challenges and Recommendations

December 11, 2024

Mandy Mitchell

Two recent, historic developments make it crucial to zero in on how prisons integrate technology into their higher education programs that impact the quality of life for the 1.2 million persons incarcerated in the U.S. First, the coronavirus...

Policy Brief

Oral Fluid Drug Tests: Concerns and Recommendations

December 10, 2024

Nia Knox

Impaired driving is an issue affecting Americans every day. A 2021 report found that 56% of drivers involved in car crashes that resulted in a fatality or serious injury tested positive for at least one drug. Polysubstance impaired driving—operating...

Community Resource

How Tenant Screening Tools Impact the Formerly Incarcerated

November 4, 2024

Farah Pitcher

Nation Outside believes that a person’s conviction history should never be a barrier to securing housing. While several cities have implemented Fair Chance Housing policies, Nation Outside advocates for a comprehensive statewide initiative that...

Photo of windows from inside house with fall-colored tress outside.

Community Resource

Where Harris and Trump Stand on Science and Technology Policy Issues

October 14, 2024

Farah Pitcher , Txai Sibley, Xantal Colls-Xatart, Rebecca Coyne, Sabrina Chun Yan Wong, Will Dowdle, Amant Grewal, Riley Kelly, Terry Nguyen, Austin Shannon, Vaidehi Shastri

Across the United States, there are significant efforts to encourage university students to vote. University of Michigan, for example, has created UMICH Votes to increase student voter turnout. These efforts are succeeding—student voting rose from...

Community Resource

Artificial Intelligence Handbook for Local Government

September 18, 2024

Trevor Odelberg

As the closest form of government to the people, local authorities have the unique opportunity to address real issues that matter on the ground. Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers powerful tools that can improve government efficiency, expand...

Photo of people sitting outside Michigan Municipal League

Community Resource

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Hiring Technology and Disability Discrimination

August 28, 2024

Jared Katzman

Do you have a disability? Are you applying for a job? What challenges do people with disabilities face with AI technologies in the hiring process?Employers are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to make hiring decisions. These AI tools...

Woman sitting at PC with projection of face scan

Community Resource

Components of an Accessible & Reliable Transit System

August 26, 2024

STPP community partner Detroit Disability Power’s mission is to ensure the full inclusion of Metro Detroit’s disabled population in transportation, housing, employment, and many other areas of life. The 19.4% of Detroiters in the disability...

Community Resource

Air Quality 101

August 7, 2024

The eastside of Detroit is over-burdened with air pollution and residents are organizing for cleaner air. Through Project HEARD (Health Equity via Advocacy for Resources in Detroit), Eastside Community Network and STPP are working toward policies to...

Environmental justice artwork with group of people facing tsunami waves. The text reads: "Environmental justice is our cry of defiance against the onslaught of oppressive toxins and toxic oppressions that threaten to submerge our homes."

Policy Brief

Case Over the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency’s Faulty Automated System Finally Settled

August 7, 2024

Gretchen Carr

In late January 2024, Michigan’s Court of Claims approved a long-awaited settlement in Bauserman v. Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA), a case investigating the agency’s use of an automated system resulting in thousands of wrongful...

Photo of an unemployment application, keyboard, and pen

Policy Brief

Vehicle Scrappage Policies for Transportation Decarbonization

July 26, 2024

Maxwell Woody

The U.S. aims to reduce economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 50% (from 2005 levels) by 2030, and to net zero by 2050, in line with international climate agreements. Decarbonizing transportation—the highest emitting sector in the U.S. economy—is...

Policy Brief

Battery Energy Storage System Deployment: Local and State Policy Considerations

July 19, 2024

Ana Boyd

The deployment of battery energy storage systems (BESS) is growing throughout the United States, driven by falling prices and the rise in variable renewable resources on the power grid. Utility-scale BESS can enhance grid reliability and balance...

Policy Brief

Development of and Concerns Regarding Predictive Policing Practices

June 24, 2024

Madison Cutler

Predictive policing is the application of analytical software to identify likely targets for police intervention and prevent crime. The last 8–10 years has brought the application of analytical tools and artificial intelligence to enable such...

Photo of agent looking at security cameras on a screen

Policy Brief

Regulating Drone Surveillance in Michigan

June 24, 2024

Terry Nguyen

Law enforcement agencies in Michigan are increasingly using drones as a common tool for purposes including surveillance, crime prevention, and search and rescue operations. Privacy concerns loom large as drones capture images and videos of...

Photo of firefighting drones over a forest fire

Policy Brief

Robot Dogs for Surveillance and Policing: Overview and Policy Recommendations

June 24, 2024

Mara Pusic, Jonathan Garon

Long a focus of dystopian science fiction lore, the development, deployment, and utilization of robotic dogs has recently entered the mainstream, with a number of U.S. law enforcement agencies purchasing the technology and announcing early phase...

Photo of a Boston Dynamics robot dog standing

Research Report

Understanding the Future of Artificial Intelligence Governance: Comparing the EU AI Act and U.S. Executive Order on Safe AI

June 12, 2024

Trevor Odelberg

As artificial intelligence technologies proliferate in industries across the globe, governments around the world are working to regulate how and when these technologies are used.In October 2023, President Joe Biden signed the Executive Order on Safe...

Illustration of US and EU flags combined

Policy Brief

Air Quality and Truck Traffic

May 1, 2024

Eastside Community Network

The eastside of Detroit is over-burdened with multiple sources of air pollution which has a negative impact on our community's health. Through Project HEARD (Health Equity via Advocacy for Resources in Detroit), the Eastside Community Network's...

Policy Brief

An Advocate's Guide to Influencing Detroit City Council

March 25, 2024

Mandy Mitchell

This two page guide informs citizens on how to advocate for a cause before the Detroit City Council. It explains the Council's structure; its schedule; how items get on the agenda and move forward through the decision-making process; and how public...

Wide angle photo of Detroit City Council chambers

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