Links We Like Turns 40!

Technically, Links We Like (LWL) has been around for seven years, and in that time we have produced 40 editions, all of which are compiled here in a downloadable PDF form. LWL began in 2015 as a way for us to take stock of the debates and conversations around the data landscape, as well as to share interesting and noteworthy links related to our scope, which at the time was focused largely on “Data Ethics and Literacy”, “Climate Change and Resilience”, and “Politics and Governance”. This was a more general approach, which is evident as editions 1 through 13 do not have a specific title. As our organization (and scope of work) grew, so did LWL. In its current form, each edition covers one topic (e.g., agriculture, crime, medicine) and explores how various frontier technologies (e.g., AI, ML) and data are impacting the field. Occasionally, we will also address especially newsworthy topics, such as the Facebook whistleblower or algorithmic justice. We do this by offering an introduction that covers key debates, followed by a series of curated links and descriptions (articles, projects, books, podcasts, and much more) selected by our team to fully explore the topic at hand in an interesting and accessible manner.

Today, the goal behind producing LWL is two-fold. The first is to create a useful resource for researchers, practitioners, or anyone interested in how data and technology are impacting our world, as well as to identify knowledge gaps and challenges ahead. The second, more overarching goal is part of our mission to “change the world with data”, one facet of which is synthesizing the vast ocean of data that exists into something resembling a short “story” that will resonate with our readers.

Ultimately, we produce these pieces for you, our reader. Therefore, we would love to hear from you about a topic you’d like to see covered or suggestions to help us improve this valuable resource (contact@datapopalliance.org).

Thanks for reading and enjoy our first 40 editions of Links We Like!