This Thursday at Change, Samuel Clark on Data Systems and Information Scientists in Africa. As always, we'll have sandwiches. "Throughout the developing world today health and welfare decisions are being made largely through guesswork. The primary reason for this is a lack of data describing populations of sufficient size over long enough periods of time. Coming from behavioral science and public health points of view, this presentation will motivate what kinds of data are needed and how important it is for computer scientists to be involved at a high level. I will briefly present a concept for a vital registration system replacement, and following that I will speak more specifically about the role of information scientists in long-live population laboratories in Africa. This will take a holistic approach that includes the institutional and social aspects of creating well functioning data systems that are capable of sharing and disseminating data in those settings. See http://www.demographic-research.org/Volumes/Vol15/7/default.htm for more." Samuel Clark is a Demographer and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Washington. He is trained in biology, computer science and demography, and his research focuses on issues that affect Africa. His recent work has pursued simulation-based studies of the impact of HIV on African populations, methods development to improve the value of estimated and modeled results, empirical investigation of migration and mortality in southern Africa, methods to improve the management and analysis of longitudinal population data, and capacity development for population and health research in Africa and Asia. What: Samuel Clark on Data Systems and Information Scientists in Africa When: Thursday, March 18 at Noon Where: UW, Paul Allen Center, Room 203