Guest Speaker Stresses the Importance of Controlling Data and Information

In October, Sajda Qureshi, director, Information Technology for Development, University of Nebraska Omaha, Nebraska, spent time with the chapter, sharing her findings from research performed relating to the pandemic. Qureshi referred to a friend working at UNHCR (United Nations Refugee Agency) as an attaché that encouraged her to travel to Syria to perform research on the collected refugee data due to the bombings in Syria. Qureshi went on a three-month trip to collect data in Syria. This research taught her the importance of understanding the impact of data in our lives. Qureshi pointed out global reference data is used all over the world. She commented on a global problem with the harvesting of data, which she tied to datafying global forces, in turn leading to datafication. This is where each one of us is reduced to a data point. Qureshi discussed how socioeconomic inequities create pockets of data inefficiencies. It creates health inequity when folks don't have access to pertinent information. The concern with socioeconomic inequities was made apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. We saw a lot of sickness follow those who had to work for a living and did not have the option to stay home. One of the keys to controlling socioeconomic status, with regard to health, is that it's important to stop the downward spiral of information. Governments need to work together to control information. Qureshi mentioned activities can be undertaken to help counter the effects of data-possibly using check boxes that determine what socioeconomic resources are available to people to help counter over information. The result will be ensuring the type of resources people are using to take care of themselves are useful and the most relevant. Qureshii concluded by pointing out all is not lost if we're careful to ensure useful data is shared with those who are less fortunate.�

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