The Future Fix Podcast: Covid and Critical Data

We hear a lot about Open Data these days. Researchers demand it, governments continue to promise more of it, and everyday people use it to innovate and advocate for their communities. But what are we really talking about when we say “Open Data” and can it be harnessed to address urgent community needs like housing, public health, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic?

Tracey Lauriault, associate professor at Carleton University, specializes in critical media and big data. She’s been studying the theoretical framework around data and says Open Data without critical data thinking does not go deep enough.

In Winnipeg, a number of community-based organizations partnered to produce “Peg” a simple, searchable resource that allows people to cross reference different community health indicators like basic needs, the natural environment, and education. Jodene Baker is the director of impact innovation and evaluation at United Way Winnipeg.