Jacopo Margutti is a Data Scientist at 510, the Data branch of the Netherlands Red Cross which uses remote sensing, ground measured data and insights from social media to understand & react to humanitarian crisis. During this conversation, we touch on the the work the Red Cross does around impact forecasting of typhoons, how they have helped covid vaccine distribution, but also how to work on a tight budget to provide the maximum amount of help. Jacopo talks about the desire to move towards digital aid - sending money digitally - over physical goods and what the undesired consequences of humanitarian aid might be. ---Sponsor of this episode: Element84Ep16: Conversation with Dan Pilone, CEO & co-founder of Element84Element84 website---Jacopo MarguttiLinkedIn Time-stamps:03:07 - Conversation begins, Jacopo presents himself05:30 - Being in the Netherlands Red Cross Offices07:55 - 510: The Data Team of the Netherlands Red Cross09:50 - Example of applications: Natural Disaster Impact Forecasting13:09 - Timeline of work on a Typhoon event17:00 - The 4 Disaster Phases19:15 - Working with satellite imagery providers23:19 - Understanding what people need, not only where24:45 - Insights from the ground compared to remote sensing31:30 - Effective Altruism: Trying to do the most “good”32:45 - Leveraging Social Media data38:35 - Measuring the impact of the Red Cross interventions40:05 - Challenges of working with data in help of far away locations43:08 - Longer Term Impact Work: Delivering Digital Aid50:20 - Financial aspect of Humanitarian Aid53:30 - Deciding what to work on, who to help and who not to58:15 - The Importance and Need of Volunteers1:01:20 - Impact of Covid on the Red Cross1:04:19 - Jacopo’s journey, from Particle Physics to the Red Cross1:12:12 - Rounding off, Books & Podcasts Recommendations Shownotes:510: Data Branch of the Netherlands Red CrossBooks & Podcast Recommendations:Good Economics for Hard Times: Better Answers to Our Biggest Problems by Abhijit V. Banerjee & Esther DufloHidden Brain by NPRVolunteer to 510:Through their websiteReach out directly to Jacopo Please feel free to reach out!My TwitterFor news about the podcastWebsite