In this week's episode, host Daniel Raimi talks with Danielle Wood, assistant professor and director of the Space Enabled research group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab. Wood uses her expertise in aerospace engineering, aeronautics and astronautics, and technology policy to enhance societal development, bringing together tools not just from space and engineering, but also from economics and other social sciences. Wood discusses her recent research in Brazil and collaborations with policymakers around the world, who use space-based technologies to improve life here on Earth.

References and recommendations:

VALUABLES Consortium; https://www.rff.org/valuables/

"Combining Social, Environmental and Design Models to Support the Sustainable Development Goals" by Jack Reid, Cynthia Zeng, and Danielle Wood; https://www.media.mit.edu/publications/combining-social-environmental-and-design-models-to-support-the-sustainable-development-goals/

"Interactive Model for Assessing Mangrove Health, Ecosystem Services, Policy Consequences, and Satellite Design Using Earth Observation Data" by Jack Reid and Danielle Wood; https://www.media.mit.edu/publications/interactive-model-for-assessing-mangrove-health-ecosystem-services-policy-consequences-and-satellite-design-in-rio-de-janeiro-using-earth/

"Decision Support Model and Visualization for Assessing Environmental Phenomena, Ecosystem Services, Policy Consequences, and Satellite Design" by Jack Reid and Danielle Wood; https://www.media.mit.edu/publications/decision-support-model-and-visualization-for-assessing-environmental-phenomena-ecosystem-services-policy-consequences-and-satellite-desig/

Zora Neale Hurston’s books; https://www.zoranealehurston.com/books/

"Barracoon: The Story of the Last 'Black Cargo'" by Zora Neale Hurston; https://www.harpercollins.com/products/barracoon-zora-neale-hurston

"Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America" by Ibram X. Kendi; https://www.nationalbook.org/books/stamped-from-the-beginning-the-definitive-history-of-racist-ideas-in-america/

"In & Of Itself" movie; https://www.inandofitselfshow.com/