Statistics and Human Rights Research: Interesting Problems, Exciting Locations, and Positive Impacts

Megan Price, Ph.D.

Benetech

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Refreshments 4:30 – 5:00pm, Presentation 5:00 – 6:00pm, Q&A 6:00 – 6:30pm

Stanford University, Medical School Office Building MSOB, Room 303

251 Campus Drive West, Stanford, CA 94305

Abstract

Benetech’s Human Rights Data Analysis Group (HRDAG) has used statistical analyses to bolster evidence against police officers accused of forced disappearance, to confirm allegations of genocide, and to indicate leadership knowledge of human rights violations. This talk will present examples from Guatemala, Kosovo, and Chad. These projects rely on complex sampling techniques and multiple systems estimation (capture recapture). Challenges posed by data collection, record matching (or linkage), and presenting complicated analytical results in a courtroom will be discussed.

About Speaker

Megan Price is a Benetech statistician with the Human Rights Data Analysis Group (HRDAG), which designs and builds information management solutions and conducts statistical analysis on behalf of human rights projects. Dr. Price recently earned her Ph.D. in Biostatistics and a Certificate in Human Rights from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. Dr. Price also has a M.S. and B.S. in Statistics from Case Western Reserve University. Prior to joining HRDAG, Dr. Price co-authored A First Attempt at a Health and Human Rights Report Card, published in Health and Human Rights.

Directions from US 101: Take the University Avenue exit West (toward Palo Alto / Stanford). As you enter the gates to Stanford, University Avenue changes names to Palm Drive. Continue on Palm Drive to Arboretum Road, at the traffic light. Turn RIGHT on Arboretum. At the next light, turn LEFT on Quarry Road. Turn RIGHT from Quarry Road onto Campus Drive.

Medical School Office Building (MSOB) of Stanford University is on Campus Drive West between Panama Street and Welch Road. The street address is 251 Campus Drive West. The MSOB is a three story white building with redwood window framing and stone fountain outside the back entrance. Stanford map can be found at the following link:

http://med.stanford.edu/maps/som_directions_map.pdf

CalTrain: Take CalTrain to Palo Alto (Stanford) and the Marguerite Shuttle bus Line B counter clockwise to MSOB. Information about Marguerite Shuttle can be found at:

http://transportation.stanford.edu/marguerite/

Parking: Entrance to the parking lot is on Welch Road. There is metered parking immediately to the left after you enter the parking lot. Parking after 4pm in Stanford campus is free.

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