[Air-L] Aspen Tech Policy Hub Launches Projects on Disaster Technology

[Betsy Cooper]

Dear AoIR Listserv,

It is my pleasure to introduce the fifth set of projects from our 2020
Fellowship class.

The projects, focused on [1]Disaster Technology: Preparing for
Unprecedented Crisis, provide exciting innovations in disaster response
communications and solutions for reducing software's carbon footprint. We
released the projects at our webinar today; you can watch a video of the
event [2]here.

I invite you to read more about the projects below, and to check them out
on our website: [3]Aspen Tech Policy Hub Projects. Please stay tuned for
our announcement next week about webinars to release the results of our
COVID-19 Challenge Grants.

Warm Regards,

Betsy Cooper

Director, Aspen Tech Policy Hub

Projects on Disaster Technology:

Preparing for Unprecedented Crisis

[4]Helpful Alternative Link Protocol

When disaster strikes, reliable and easy-to-use communications become
absolutely critical. Dependable communications are needed to pair those in
distress with those able to provide assistance. However, recent fires,
earthquakes and hurricanes have shown us that sometimes the cell networks
that our society has come to rely on fail in disasters. Having both
resilient cell networks and a backup option if cell carrier networks fail
is critical to the safety and security of the United States. The Helpful
Alternative Link Protocol (HALP) aims to improve the networks we currently
have, and provides a fallback network if primary carriers fail. HALP uses
LTE cellular bands for citizen-powered last mile mesh communications, so
that citizens can communicate with those around them if existing cell
services fail.

[5]Tech Companies Combating Climate Change

To avoid the worst effects of climate change, scientific consensus states
that CO₂ emissions must decline 40 to 60 percent by 2030 to keep our planet
from warming more than 1.5°C. To achieve these goals, the software
industry, whose climate impact from cloud computing is often
underestimated, must significantly change. Large companies like Google and
Microsoft are taking action to reduce their carbon footprint. Yet most
startups lack the resources to understand and factor climate impact into
business decisions. This project recommends that investors engage with
portfolio companies to help them understand their climate impact and make
changes. It supplies startups with tools to understand the impact of cloud
providers, measure their carbon footprint, and take action to clean up
their software supply chains.

[6]Learn More

CONTACT US
[7]Twitter [8]Website [9]Email Address

References

1. https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/aspen-tech-policy-hub-demo-day-disaster-tech-preparing-for-unprecedented-crisis/
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb23wB-sygs&feature=youtu.be
3. https://www.aspentechpolicyhub.org/projects/
4. https://www.aspentechpolicyhub.org/project/helpful-alternative-link-protocol/
5. https://www.aspentechpolicyhub.org/project/climate-change/
6. https://www.aspentechpolicyhub.org/projects
7. https://www.twitter.com/AspenPolicyHub
8. https://www.aspentechpolicyhub.org/#/
9. mailto:aspentechpolicyhub at aspeninstitute.org
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This message was sent to air-l at listserv.aoir.org from betsy.cooper at aspeninstitute.org

Betsy Cooper
The Aspen Institute
2300 N Street, NW
Suite 700
Washington, DC 20037