Engineering Lessons for Pandemic Models
July 21, 2020
In a deep look at how the Trump administration has handled the coronavirus pandemic, the New York Times reports that the penchant of some officials to rely too heavily—and improperly—on modeling has led to poor policy decisions. But models can be useful, an influential practitioner argued in an Issues online exclusive, noting that the key will be to draw from engineering and build in several layers of accountability to ensure that models are designed properly, engage directly with the real world, and incorporate professional responsibility.