Bits, Bots & Biomarkers

With the 2020 Election coming to a close, each side is throwing accusations of improper techniques to sway the outcome. With no full confirmation yet on who will be the President come January, discussions of weaponized narrative and the role it plays in politics have started to rise. Brad Allenby, co-chair of the Weaponized Narrative Initiative of the Center for the Future of War, at Arizona State University, sat down to discuss some aspects of weaponized narrative and the danger it poses to those unaware of its impact.    Allenby cites the high emotions weaponized narrative targets as a reason to why it is so effective, most of the topics used in those specific narratives are either highly controversial or emotional. This leaves people vulnerable to the manipulation of those pulling the strings behind the scenes.    This current election isn’t the first election to have allegations of weaponized narrative,

Diana Bowman and her team have worked to help prevent childhood drownings and injury by teaming up with Phoenix Children’s Hospital to produce a webinar to help parents and caregivers. With the Arizona heat, pools are a common way to cool down while enjoying the sunshine, but it can turn dangerous when parents don’t have the proper tools and information in the case of drownings. Bowman and her team have created a way for parents to learn about techniques that can save their child- and others in the case of an emergency. It is a common call that first responders get, drownings are the leading cause of injury-related death in children 1-4 in the U.S. The Webinar discussed various ways parents are misinformed, and the methods they will use to help spread awareness of child drownings and how to prevent them. The information they provide is crucial for parents to