Fix This: Recent Episodes
Fix This
This is Fix This. A bi-weekly podcast of bites-sized stories from Amazon Web Services (AWS). We talk to leaders from around the globe about how they use technology to fix some of the world’s most pressing issues.
The New York Philharmonic is the oldest symphony orchestra in the United States, and it has over a century’s worth of archives including artifacts from performance history to images. To keep pace with online demand and to better serve the public, the New York Philharmonic turned to Amazon Web Services (AWS) to modernize its digital archives. To understand how the New York Philharmonic began its journey with AWS, the Fix This team sat down with Gabryel Smith, director of archives and exhibitions, and his colleague, Bill Levay, digital archivist at the New York Philharmonic. Gabryel and Bill share how the organization uses the cloud to preserve history, further engage with visitors, and more. Dive into the archives at: archives.nyphil.org, and listen to the opening music—a New York Philharmonic performance of Beethoven 9 with Kurt Masur, former music director, conducting.
Buildings are one of the leading generators of annual global greenhouse gas emissions. But using new technologies, organizations can reduce a new building’s carbon footprint and build for a sustainable future. To learn more about how the cloud is being used to help pave the way for a greener world, the Fix This team chatted with Brad Vickers, senior director of engineering digital technologies at CarbonCure. Brad shares how CarbonCure aims to reimagine the way corporations around the world create and source concrete, a necessary building material. By using Amazon Web Services (AWS), CarbonCure helps customers use data analytics to discover insights to build more sustainably. CarbonCure is a signatory of The Climate Pledge and has been invested in by Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund. It is also involved in the buildout of Amazon HQ2 in Arlington, Virginia.
Sharks play a critical role in maintaining the delicate ecosystem in the ocean and on land. Discover the importance of these apex predators—from biomedical research impacting humans to ensuring the food chain remains in balance. OCEARCH, a global nonprofit organization, is on a mission to help scientists collect previously unattainable data in the ocean and educate the public with its Shark Tracker app. By using Amazon Web Services (AWS) and data, OCEARCH connects experts, fisheries, and academics from around the world. To learn more, the Fix This team chatted with Chris Fischer, founder and expedition leader and Dr. Robert Hueter, chief scientist at OCEARCH. OCEARCH is part of the Amazon Sustainability Data Initiative.
As more and more species become endangered, researchers are finding ways to protect and conserve animals and their habitats. The Elephant Listening Project from Cornell University in New York captures audio data from across the rainforest in northern Republic of Congo to track the sounds of the elusive African elephants. These recordings help researchers dive deep into the patterns and habits of the largest animals on Earth. The dataset, Sounds of Central African Landscapes, is made available in the cloud via the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Open Data Sponsorship Program. By gathering millions of on-the-ground recordings and data, the team hopes to discover insights leading to the safety and preservation of the species and the land they inhabit. To learn more, the Fix This team sat down with Dr. Daniela Hedwig, a behavioral conversation biologist and research associate at the Center for Conservation Bioacoustics and lead for The Elephant Listening Project at Cornell University.
Adverse drug reactions are one of the leading causes of death in the US. While healthcare costs and medication-related mistakes rise, pharmacogenomics—a field of research that studies how an individual’s genes affect how he or she responds to specific medications—is becoming more accessible. Coriell Life Sciences, a precision medicine company, uses genetic science and research to improve lives, reduce healthcare costs, and speed the time to clinical decisions with its tool, GeneDose LIVE powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS). The Fix This team chatted with Scott Megill, president and chief executive officer at Coriell Life Sciences. Scott explains how GenDose LIVE impacts healthcare providers and patients.
Founded in 2015 amid the Chennai water crisis, WEGoT Utility Solutions aims to help people optimize their water consumption habits to live more sustainably. Today, the company has over 200 customers and has saved more than three billion liters of water. To understand how WEGoT built its water management platform on Amazon Web Services (AWS), the Fix This team sat down with Abilash Haridass, cofounder and chief executive officer of WeGOT, and VijayRam Harinathan, head of product at WEGoT. Abilash and VijayRam describe their internet of things (IoT) solution, the WEGoT Smart Water Meter, and discuss how it turns data into insights that can help users understand and optimize their water consumption. Download the episode to hear how the solution achieves 98 percent accuracy on a drop-by-drop level.
As the world faces a shortage of pilots, the need for cost-effective training and upskilling tools increases. To learn more, the Fix This team chatted with Mikhail Klassen, chief technology officer of Paladin AI. Paladin AI is a technology startup focused on training the next generation of pilots with data, machine learning, and human expertise with its training tool, InstructIQ. Listen in to discover how Paladin AI builds on Amazon Web Services (AWS), how machine learning and data can be used to deliver personalized, adaptable trainings, and why the cloud is an integral piece of the puzzle.
Welcome to season three of Fix This. Hear how Amazon Web Services (AWS) customers are innovating to solve some of today’s most pressing challenges to create a more sustainable and inclusive world. Subscribe to be the first to hear.
Join the Fix This team to reflect on another year of conversations with customers working to solve some of today’s largest challenges using Amazon Web Services (AWS).
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the US government created the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide financial assistance to Americans in need. With small businesses struggling and families facing housing insecurity or homelessness, decision makers across the country needed a fast solution to streamline the distribution of these funds. To better understand the situation, the Fix This team checked in with Kelly Cimino, director of the Department of Housing and Community Development of Howard County, Maryland. Kelly shares how the county leveraged Amazon Web Services (AWS) to deploy a cloud-based portal that provides a single front door for citizens to access multiple assistance programs.
Founded in 1867, Howard University is committed to preparing diverse, talented, and ambitious students to learn and lead across industries. In May 2021, Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced a collaboration with Howard University to develop courses and a Master’s in Data Science & Analytics. Shortly after, in October 2021, Howard University and Amazon Studios announced the launch of the Howard Entertainment Program for the third consecutive year. To better understand how these initiatives are taking shape, the Fix This team sat down with Dr. Anthony K. Wutoh, provost and chief academic officer of Howard University, and Dr. John Anderson, dean of the College of Engineering and Architecture at Howard University.
In honor of November’s National Native American Heritage month in the United States, the Fix This team chatted with Lisa Minthorn, Sahaptian language technology specialist for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). Building on Amazon Web Services (AWS), CTUIR created the Umatilla Language Online Dictionary to preserve the Sahaptian language for generations to come. The language is currently registered as severely endangered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The Amazon Sustainability Data Initiative (ASDI) is collaborating with SilverLining and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) to run the first full-production climate-model simulations in the cloud. Using cloud-based technology and hosting the resulting datasets in the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Open Data Sponsorship Program will open a powerful new avenue to accelerate climate research and democratize access to tools and information that will help protect our planet. The Fix This team sat down with Kelly Wanser, executive director at SilverLining; Jean-Francois Lamarque, Climate & Global Dynamics Laboratory director at NCAR; and Chris Lennard, research staff and climatologist at the Climate System Analysis Group at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.
From forgotten objects to illegally dumped waste, Swindon Borough Council (Swindon) in the United Kingdom noticed an uptick in city-wide litter. To understand how Swindon fast-tracks cleanup and engages with residents to report illegal waste, the Fix This team chatted with Sarah Talbot, emerging technologies lead for Swindon. Sarah explains how residents use the updated service powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) to help Swindon locate and prioritize litter removal. The solution uses artificial intelligence (AI) to estimate object sizes and streamline pickup.
The immediate impacts of climate change disproportionately affect socially vulnerable populations across the United States. The Environmental Justice of Urban Flood Risk and Green Infrastructure Solutions research project from the Urban Systems Lab at the New School explores solutions to this issue using flood risk mapping, analysis, and visualizations. The research project is supported by the Amazon Sustainability Data Initiative (ASDI) and through Amazon Web Services (AWS) promotional credit in addition to the Kresge Foundation’s CREWS initiative. To learn how proper planning can help protect at-risk neighborhoods, the Fix This team chatted with two team members from the Urban Systems Lab at the New School—Christopher Kennedy, assistant director, and Pablo Herreros Cantis, research fellow.
The Smithsonian’s Arts and Industries Building (AIB) is temporarily reopening to celebrate the Smithsonian’s 175th anniversary with a special, 9-month exhibition. The FUTURES exhibit will feature the artificial intelligence (AI) and light sculpture by artist Suchi Reddy. The sculpture, me + you, was commissioned by Amazon Web Services (AWS). The Fix This team sat down with Suchi Reddy, artist, Rachel Goslins, director of the Smithsonian AIB, and Isolde Brielmaier, curator and cultural strategist. Visit the FUTURES exhibit in person from November 2021-July 2022 or experience the online version at www.meplusyoufuture.com.
The Fix This team sat down with Dr. Werner Vogels, Chief Technology Officer of Amazon and host of Now Go Build. 2021 marks the 15-year anniversary of Amazon Web Services (AWS). In this time, Dr. Vogels has traveled the world to meet with customers using AWS to solve hard, human problems. Tune in to hear Dr. Vogels discuss the customer stories that most inspire him, what they are creating, and what makes him optimistic for the future of entrepreneurs who are building with sustainability top of mind.
With over 500,000 children to serve, the US Children’s Bureau needed a solution that could quickly connect child welfare professionals to the right data and resources. ICF has managed the Child Welfare Information Gateway for 30 years. It is the nation’s largest library dedicated solely to child welfare and contains nearly 110,000 titles and receives over 3 million sessions annually. The Child Welfare Information Gateway is now powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS). To understand how the AWS Cloud is redefining how the US Children’s Bureau and ICF can meet social workers’ needs, the Fix This team chatted with Kary James, senior managing director of child welfare and education at ICF and Matthew McGuire, child welfare program specialist at the US Children's Bureau.
Lithium-ion batteries power vehicles, appliances, and plenty of items we rely on every day. In order to build a sustainable future, TWAICE, a software technology company, uses Amazon Web Services (AWS) to gain valuable insights about how to improve the lithium-ion battery lifecycle. To better understand the role these batteries play in creating a more sustainable world, and how AWS is supporting their mission, the Fix This team chatted with Dr. Stephan Rohr, founder and co-chief executive officer of TWAICE.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) launched the AWS Think Big for Small Business Program to support small or minority-owned AWS Partners in their cloud journeys. To learn about the program, the Fix This team sat down with Sandy Carter, vice president of worldwide public sector partners and programs at AWS, and Tia Dubuisson, co-founder and president of Belle Fleur Technologies. Sandy explains how minority-founded organizations can benefit from tailored resources to help them grow their technical expertise and develop go-to-market strategies necessary to build a small business, and how the AWS Think Big for Small Business Program supports these gaps. Tia shares insights on her experience with the program and how she successfully launched Belle Fleur Technologies.
There are more than 6,000 public safety answering points (PSAPs) across the US—many of which rely on aging infrastructure to respond to emergency calls. Cloud-powered solutions from NGA 911 can help provide PSAPs with the insights, reliability, and redundancy needed to continue to serve citizens. To understand how NGA 911 uses Amazon Web Services to help modernize emergency response services, the Fix This team chatted with Ed Vea, chief technology officer of NGA 911.
This week, the Fix This team chatted with Hello Sunday Morning (HSM), an Australian nonprofit organization. HSM uses Amazon Web Services (AWS) to help change people’s relationship with alcohol consumption by providing access to professional health support and a community of like-minded individuals looking to change their alcohol consumption habits. To better understand how the AWS Cloud helps scale the app by ten-fold, the team spoke to Andy Moore, chief executive officer of HSM. Andy discussed the mobile app, Daybreak, which offers 24/7 support to those in need.
May is Mental Health Awareness month. To explore the topic, the Fix This team sat down with Brooks Kenny, executive director of WomenAgainstAlzheimer’s and director of the Be Brain Powerful Campaign at UsAgainstAlzheimer’s. Brooks talks about the recently launched BrainGuide, made in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Biogen who provided in-kind and financial support. From an assessment to resources, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s aims to reduce the stigma associated with Alzheimer’s disease and deliver information that sparks conversation about brain health.
The Fix This team sat down with Dr. Bala Hota, vice president and chief analytics officer at Rush University Medical Center, to learn about the analytics hub the university created in collaboration with the City of Chicago’s Department of Public Health. The hub aggregates and analyzes multi-hospital data, which allows clinicians to monitor bed availability across the city and make data-driven decisions. The analytics hub is powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS).
This Earth Day, the Fix This team explores how Amazon Web Services (AWS) can help organizations create sustainable solutions and advance their sustainability goals. To learn more about sustainability of the cloud and in the cloud, the team chatted with Ken Haig, senior manager for public policy in the Asia Pacific region at AWS. Next, the team turned to Ana Pinheiro Privette, lead for the Amazon Sustainability Data Initiative (ASDI), to learn why data is key to creating scalable, sustainable solutions. Wrapping up the episode, Adam Lewis, managing director at Digital Earth Africa joined the discussion. Adam discusses how Digital Earth Africa works with ASDI to make Earth observation data accessible across Africa to help innovators on the ground.
Wrapping up the 2021 Mission Critical Cloud series, the Fix This team explored how Amazon Web Services (AWS) can help organizations support the physical wellbeing of communities. Jeff Kratz, director of AWS Worldwide Public Sector in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada, kicked off the episode to discuss how the region has transformed with the cloud—including working and learning remotely during the pandemic. Next, the team heard from Brian Hettler, senior manager of mapping and program support for the Amazon Conservation Team, and Matt Hallas, technical lead of sustainable development practice for Maxar Technologies. The two explained how satellite imagery is used to protect isolated, Indigenous tribes in South America. Last, we checked in with Bobby Cagle, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. Bobby shared how deploying Amazon Connect provided business continuity during physical distancing requirements so the department could deliver on its mission of protecting the wellbeing of over 36,000 children a year.
In part two of the Mission Critical Cloud series, the Fix This team is joined by Dave Levy, vice president of US government sales at Amazon Web Services (AWS). Dave shares how AWS remains customer obsessed by building diverse and inclusive teams. Dave also dives into how the cloud can power solutions that create opportunities for the public to learn, grow, and gain access to knowledge and resources. Next, the team chatted with Aedan McDonald, founder and program manager of Justice Through Code, and Kevin Harper, Justice Through Code graduate and teaching assistant. Justice Through Code is a no-charge, semester-long program teaching coding skills to formerly incarcerated populations. The program was developed by the Tamer Center for Social Enterprise at Columbia Business School and the Center for Justice at Columbia University. Aedan and Kevin discuss the importance of bridging the technical divide and upskilling underserved communities. Wrapping up the episode, Dr. Tarika Barrett joins the conversation. Tarika is the current chief operating officer and incoming chief executive officer of the international nonprofit Girls Who Code. Tarika emphasizes the significance of building and retaining diverse teams and empowering girls and women to pursue careers in technology. To hear more from Tarika and Girls Who Code, register for the virtual AWS Public Sector Summit Online on April 15.
Fix This is back with a second installment of the Mission Critical Cloud series. To kick things off, the team checked in with Max Peterson, vice president of worldwide public sector international sales at Amazon Web Services (AWS). Max recounts educational institutions who successfully transformed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and shares his thoughts on how education will continue to evolve in the months ahead. Next up, the team learned about the Oxford X-Reality Hub, where researchers are collaborating with the Oxfordshire County Council to apply virtual reality and machine learning to English literature. Dr. Mattia Montanari, postdoctoral researcher at the engineering department of the University of Oxford, shares how Oxford has brought English literature to life through virtual reality and gamification with the goal of bridging access to education and classic literature among children. Rounding out the episode is Charles Lavigne, cofounder and president of LlamaZOO, a Canadian-based tech company that specializes in 3D visualizations. Charles explains how their app, EasyAnatomy, was developed to create detailed, medically accurate 3D models of canine anatomy for virtual dissection to keep students learning anywhere they are.
Designed to help drive experimentation and accelerate innovation in the public sector, Amazon Web Services (AWS) launched the Cloud Innovation Centers (CIC) Program. To learn more, the Fix This team chatted with Ben Butler, senior manager of the global CIC program, and Jason Whittet, digital innovation business development manager of the Arizona State University (ASU) CIC. Ben and Jason explain how CICs work from challenge to solution. Collaborating directly with universities and students, the AWS CIC program can help students prepare for future jobs, foster public and private collaboration, and create replicable solutions. To better understand how students and cities benefit from the CIC program, the team spoke with current ASU student and CIC intern, Maria Fassinger. From chatbots to future goals, Maria explains how working at the CIC has helped her develop her skillset.
The Fix This team chatted with the nonprofit Childnet International and educational technology (EdTech) company 2Simple about Safer Internet Day. Kate Jones, deputy chief executive officer at Childnet, explains how the organization creates content to empower educators, parents, and youth to have conversations about online safety. Next, Jacob Doran, head of technology at 2Simple, shares how the organization uses Amazon Web Services (AWS) to scale and store their educational resources for their learning platform Purple Mash. With Purple Mash, students can play games and watch videos to learn how to remain safe while online.
The Fix This team chatted with Ashish Anand, founder and chief executive officer of India-based startup, Whrrl. Ashish shares how Whrrl uses blockchain and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to help farmers maximize profits on their crops. Next, the team is joined by Matthew Davie, chief strategy officer of Kiva, an AWS Imagine Grant program winner. By providing access to banks and microloans, Kiva hopes to create financial opportunities. With a cloud-powered platform, Kiva provides financial on-ramps people all around the world.
The team returns for season two of Fix This to explore how tech ideas and solutions are changing the world. Stay tuned for bi-weekly episodes on financial inclusion, bridging the digital divide, and more. Subscribe to hear the latest from Fix This.
From COVID-19 research to fighting climate change, the Fix This team spent the year chatting with inspirational Amazon Web Services (AWS) customers who use the cloud to solve some of today’s largest challenges. Tune in for a recap of 2020.
The Fix This team chatted with retired General Clint Crosier, the director of aerospace and satellite business at Amazon Web Services (AWS). Clint shares his thoughts on how the AWS Cloud will help customers approach challenges differently in order to deliver on their missions. From being customer obsessed to discovering more about life on Earth through space exploration, Clint discusses how AWS will help customers explore the new frontier. Next, the team talked to Payam Banazadeh, founder and chief executive officer of Capella Space. Payam explains how Capella’s Earth observation satellites use AWS Ground Station to speed up the process of downlinking data and delivering it to decision makers.
In honor of Giving Tuesday, the team sat down with an Amazon Web Services (AWS) subject matter expert and Copalana, a Switzerland-based startup, to learn how nonprofits can streamline fundraising efforts with the cloud. Mike George, an AWS senior solutions architect for nonprofits shares how organizations use AWS to reduce the burden associated with fundraising activities, so they can focus more on their mission. Next, the team chatted with Paul Ryatt, founder at Copalana. Paul discusses how Copalana uses AWS to deliver its online crowdfunding and volunteering platform.
From high school students to US Veterans, AWS Educate is a global initiative by Amazon to provide students and educators resources to learn about the cloud. In honor of Veterans Day, the Fix This team sat down with two Amazon Web Services (AWS) employees to learn how AWS Educate can help transitioning Veterans learn cloud-based skills. First, the team talked to Hannah Buffington, AWS Educate marketing manager, to learn about the basics of the program. Next, the team heard from Caleb Jarrett, a Veteran and current AWS lead development representative for the Department of Defense (DoD). Caleb shared how he used the program to jumpstart his career at AWS, and how it shaped his current role.
Organizations are building new ways to engage and reach underserved learners around the world with Amazon Web Services (AWS). In this episode of Fix This, the team sat down with two education technology (EdTech) organizations to hear how they use AWS to make learning more accessible. First, we chatted with Tariq Fancy, founder of the Rumie Initiative. Tariq shares how he envisioned a learning experience that could fit in the palm of anyone’s hand, virtually anywhere in the world. Rumie’s library of bite-sized lessons is geared toward learners from underserved communities and is designed to fit into anyone’s schedule. Next, the team talked to Pallavi Khandelwal, vice president, and Sriram Shankar, chief technology officer from EnglishHelper. EnglishHelper uses artificial intelligence and AWS to reach students across India and beyond. With their RightToRead initiative, the EdTech teaches students to read and write in English—a skill that can help close the educational gap.
In the quest to better understand and address climate change, machine learning (ML) can help researchers investigate massive Earth observation data sets, build predictive models, and better understand how the world around us is impacted by increasing temperatures. Clouds play an intricate role in Earth’s climate, and they are changing due to human behavior. To better understand these changes and their effects, the team chatted with Dr. Philip Stier, professor and head of atmospheric, oceanic, and planetary physics in the department of physics at the University of Oxford, and Dr. Duncan Watson-Parris, a postdoctoral researcher on Dr. Stier’s team. The duo shared how they use ML to track patterns in our clouds and scale their research using Amazon Web Services (AWS). Next, the team checked in with Dr. David John Gagne, an ML scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. David John discusses how ML can help researchers study extreme weather patterns to help decision makers predict and prepare for natural disasters.
Is your organization ready for anything? In this episode of Fix This, the team dives deep with Edgar Haren, Amazon Web Services (AWS) product marketing manager, and Shonte’ Eldridge, executive government advisor at AWS, to uncover the importance of business resiliency. From universities to local governments, our latest eBook, A Guide to Building Organizational Resilience, explains how public sector organizations can use the cloud to navigate emergencies and disruptions to maintain business continuity. Next, we checked in with Dan Beeston, ICT manager of Juniper. Dan shares his experiences helping Juniper, an Australian aged care nonprofit, digitally transform and prepare for the unpredictable future.
In honor of National Voter Registration Day, the team sat down with two nonprofit leaders to hear how they are using cloud technology to educate and encourage civic engagement. First, we checked in with chief education officer of iCivics, Dr. Emma Humphries. Emma explained how iCivics began and how they have used the AWS Cloud to create a platform dedicated to teaching K12 students what it means to be actively involved in our nation’s democratic process. Next, the team heard from #iVoted founder, Emily White. She shared how she turned her own music career into a mechanism to drive voter turnout with a data-driven, musical approach, all across the US.
Education institutions around the world are in a period of rapid digital transformation. Some students are returning to the classroom, some are learning remotely, and some now rely on a blend of in-person and remote options. To learn how the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud is helping to power this shift, the team chatted with two professors from the University of Notre Dame, Sharif Nijim and Chris Frederick. Sharif and Chris shared their lessons learned from teaching in a blended and an entirely remote environment, and how they use the cloud to meet students’ needs. Next up, the team talked to Dr. Amanda Broderick, vice chancellor and president of the University of East London, to learn how the university is offering synchronous blended learning to improve student and professor interactions, no matter where students may be physically.
Livestreaming powered by the cloud is a valuable tool to help us understand nature and protect it. The team sat down with Charlie Annenberg, founder of Explore.org, to discover all of the ways livestreaming natural scenes from around the globe—elephants in Africa, bears in Alaska, and more—can foster a deeper appreciation and knowledge of nature. Next up, we talked with Peter Girgis, chief technology officer of Bigmate about their livestreaming solution built for the Australian Capital Territory Emergency Services Agency, which helps the local government monitor bushfires in real-time. This livestreaming solution helps the government react quickly to bushfires and make data-driven decisions.
Cloud computing is changing the future of work. Dive into today’s episode to learn how Mount Sinai Health System in New York built a multilingual chatbot using Amazon Web Services (AWS) that has streamlined the patient experience and changed the way their staff works. The team sat down with Benjamin Maisano, chief technology officer and head of application engineering for consumer digital at Mount Sinai Health System to learn more. Next up, we chatted with Cas Holloway, head of public enterprise at Unqork, to explore how their public sector customers can benefit from incorporating modern tech solutions into their standard workflows.
The Amazon Web Services (AWS) Disaster Response team launched the AWS Diagnostic Development Initiative (DDI) to support organizations in diagnostic research in rapid and accurate patient testing for COVID-19. AWS DDI provides technical support and AWS Promotional Credit for organizations. Hear directly from Maggie Carter, head of the AWS Disaster Response team on the importance of funding diagnostic research. Next, listen to our conversation with Dr. Duncan Ferguson, a resident in the University of British Columbia radiology department, who works at Vancouver General Hospital in Canada. Dr. Ferguson shares how his team uses machine learning to speed the time to diagnosis. Last, we chatted with Dr. Marco Ali from Centro Diagnostico Italiano in Italy about the importance of global collaboration within the scientific community.
The team dives into how cloud-based solutions are helping students from grade school to higher education stay on track. First up, the team sat down with Patrick Craven, the director of The Center for Cyber Safety and Education, to learn about their global program to educate young children on internet etiquette and personal safety rules. Then, the team chatted with Dennis Gilbert, enterprise architect in the Office of Information Technology at Portland State University, to discuss their new machine learning-based tool that helps students find faster, efficient routes to graduation.
In the final episode of the Mission Critical Cloud series by Teresa Carlson, vice president of the worldwide public sector at Amazon Web Services (AWS), the team focuses on healthcare. The first interview features Dr. Christopher Longhurst, the chief information officer and associate chief medical officer at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Health. Dr. Longhurst talks about UCSD’s research using artificial intelligence to analyze lung images for signs of pneumonia—a common symptom related to COVID-19. Next, the team spoke to Adriana Dunn, senior brand marketing manager of Semantic Scholar from the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI2), about the CORD-19 project. Last, the team interviewed Dr. Ethan Booker, emergency physician and medical director of the MedStar Telehealth Innovation Center and MedStar eVisit, about how the cloud has helped the organization to scale up its telehealth solution and deliver integrated digital and in-person medical services for patients.
Part four of the Mission Critical Cloud series explores how federal government customers use the cloud to reduce costs, think big, and find new ways to deliver on their missions. Teresa Carlson, vice president of the worldwide public sector at Amazon Web Services (AWS) is joined by Dave Levy, vice president of the US government business at AWS, to guest host the episode. First up, the team chatted with Deron Burba, chief information officer at Smithsonian Institution and Effie Kapsalis, a senior digital program officer at Smithsonian Institution about the Smithsonian Open Access Initiative. Next, the team discussed how the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center has adopted the cloud at scale to reduce costs and experiment more with Joe Foster, cloud computing program manager at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
In part three of the Mission Critical Cloud mini-series by Teresa Carlson, vice president of the worldwide public sector at Amazon Web Services (AWS), the team explores how state and local government customers use the cloud to deliver services to citizens. Teresa is joined by Kim Majerus, a leader within the state and local government business at AWS. First up, an interview with Joshua Spence, chief technology officer of the State of West Virginia, and Robert Groat, executive vice president of technology and strategy of Smartronix. Joshua and Robert talk about the leadership and cultural changes that led to their one-weekend implementation of an Amazon Connect solution to better serve West Virginians. To learn more about taking workers remote with more than 30,000 remote desktops with Amazon AppStream 2.0, we chatted with Benny Chacko, deputy general manager at Los Angeles County Internal Services Department.
In part two of the Mission Critical Cloud mini-series by Teresa Carlson, vice president of the worldwide public sector at Amazon Web Services (AWS), the team explores remote education. Teresa is joined by Ann Merrihew, a director within the education business at AWS. This episode begins with an interview featuring Dr. David Baca, chief of schools of Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the second largest K12 district in the United States. Next, we talked to Jennifer Schaeffer, vice president of IT and chief information officer of Athabasca University, Canada’s only 100 percent open and online digital university. And we ended the episode with Andrew Gilfillan, vice president of product management at Pearson, a global learning company.
Teresa Carlson, vice president of the worldwide public sector, Amazon Web Services (AWS), guest hosts. Join Teresa for a deep dive discussion with other AWS leaders, including Sandy Carter, vice president of partners and programs; Maggie Carter, global lead for the disaster response team; Blair Anderson, director within AWS public policy; and John Dancy, director of professional services. Teresa and guests explore how technology helps public sector organizations continually deliver on their missions. This is the first episode in a special, five-part series leading up to the first AWS Public Sector Summit Online.
Explore how the AWS Cloud can increase an organization’s sustainability. Pierre Lussier, director of Jour de la Terre, a Canadian nonprofit, shares how Amazon Web Services (AWS) helps them deliver on their mission to make the world a “greener” place. Nat Sahlstrom, director of energy at Amazon, talks about a 2019 study that shows how migrating enterprise workloads to the AWS Cloud can reduce an organization’s IT carbon footprint by upwards of 88 percent.
Open data connects the world in unexpected ways—like tracking bird populations and migrations using weather data and machine learning. Listen to learn why birds are important “measuring sticks” for how our environment is changing, and why we should all care about how and why their numbers are dwindling. We sat down with Jed Sundwall, head of the Amazon Web Services (AWS) open data program to learn more about what open data is and what role it plays in research around the world. We also chatted with three researchers from the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology, including John Fitzpatrick, director of the lab, and Adriaan Dokter and Tom Auer, two researchers working on the lab’s BirdCast and eBird projects. They shared how they use weather data to track bird migrations, populations, and more with open data and machine learning.
Buckle up! We’re driving straight into the world of sustainable trucking. Ray Rogers of Amazon Web Services (AWS) chats with Aaron Terrazas, director of economic research at Convoy Inc. (Convoy). He discusses the impact of “empty miles” in terms of its environmental impact, worker impact, and industry impact and how machine learning on AWS is part of the solution. Next up, Ray caught up with Jennifer Wong, head of sustainability at Convoy, to take a deep dive into what zero waste actually means, how sustainability intersects with freight delivery, and how other companies can benefit from Convoy’s sustainable approach to trucking.
Elections are more than voters casting votes. From voter engagement to elections management, innovative use of the cloud like an Alexa Skill or an e-poll book solution can help make the election process more accessible. In this episode, the team chats with Deputy Secretary of State for the State of New Hampshire, David Scanlan. In 2020, New Hampshire celebrated its 100th first-in-the-nation primary. Deputy Secretary Scanlan discusses how New Hampshire’s new Alexa Skill makes information about how to vote more available. Trisha Bandstra, sales director of KNOWiNK, talks about how the organization’s e-poll books solution helps to make elections processes more efficient. Rob Rock, director of elections for Rhode Island, chats about how e-poll books have been introduced across the state.
In this episode, the team explores how the cloud and data interoperability can improve outcomes for people experiencing homelessness. Ray Rogers of Amazon Web Services (AWS) chats with homelessness subject matter expert, Jessie Metcalf, from AWS. Next up, Ray chats with Beth Sandor and Jake Maguire, principals at Community Solutions, about how communities are already reaching “functional zero” for veteran and chronic homeless populations.
From workforce development to preserving ancient artifacts—the cloud changes how we think about the future. Ray Rogers from Amazon Web Services (AWS) talks to Sameer Raina, president of Digital Divide Data (DDD), about the nonprofit’s project to digitize the National Museum of Kenya’s one-of-a-kind, ancient collections. During phase one of the project, DDD upskilled the museum’s existing staff with cloud training. Randi Larson from AWS talks to Tom Soderstrom, IT chief technology officer at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). He shares how NASA JPL continues to hire the brightest, most curious minds in technology.
The team continues the conversation on how technology can be leveraged to end human trafficking. Ray Rogers of AWS chats with Rani Hong, CEO of The Freedom Seal, about how corporate transparency and responsibility can help organizations stay true to their mission while also eliminating forced labor from their supply chains. Andrew Wallis, CEO of Unseen, shares how data is at the center of the solution to end modern slavery.
The team explores what human trafficking is and how technology like Amazon Rekognition can be leveraged to combat the global issue. Randi Larson of Amazon Web Services (AWS) chats with Sarah Gardner, director of development at Thorn, and Ray Rogers of AWS discusses the Tech Against Trafficking initiative with Hannah Darnton, program manager of ethics, technology, and human rights at BSR.
How can medical researchers use machine learning to speed the time to science? Dive in.
Ray Rogers, Brad Keppler, Julien Simon (machine learning tech evangelist, Amazon Web Services), Dr. P. Anandan (CEO, Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence). In this episode of Fix This, the team explores the world of artificial intelligence (AI). Ray Rogers sits down with Julien Simon, machine learning tech evangelist at Amazon Web Services (AWS), for a crash course in AI 101. The second guest is Dr. P. Anandan, chief executive officer of an India-based nonprofit, Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence. Ray chats with Dr. Anandan to learn how AI and machine learning can reach even the most rural parts of the world to help communities stay safe and healthy.
The Fix This team explores how cell phones are being used to preserve precious rainforest land and connecting smallholder farmers in Eastern Africa to the resources and answers they need.
How technology is changing disaster response and recovery. From restoring the internet to providing the infrastructure for call centers, technology plays a key role in responding to a disaster. What happens during a community’s long-term recovery after disaster strikes?
This is Fix This. A bi-weekly podcast from Amazon Web Services (AWS) of bite-sized stories about how tech is making the world a better place. We talk to leaders from around the globe about how they use technology to fix some of the world’s most pressing issues. (Ray Rogers, Brad Keppler)