Contact tracing and privacy

10 I People Contact Tracing and Privacy

BY SANJANA MISHRA, COMPUTER SCIENCE, 2023 DESIGN BY KATIE GREEN, BIOENGINEERING, 2022

If COVID-19 has improved one skill of the masses other officials and Apple were responsible for vetting the app than bread baking, it’s recognizing people without their before it was released for public use, but privacy software face. From six feet away with masks covering most of maker Jumbo discovered that Care19 was violating its own their faces, people have now become recognizable by their privacy policy by sharing citizen data location and other mannerisms, clothing choices and occasionally (if you can personal information with Foursquare, a data provider for hear them through their masks) their voices. Not being able marketers. While Foursquare alleges that the data was never to hug family members or friends, shake hands, or conduct used, companies could take advantage of future data. meetings in person has become a nuisance to our daily lives. Humans are social creatures, but it has been almost three To combat the very concerns that were exacerbated months since our definition of “social interaction” was flipped with Care19, Apple and Google are utilizing Bluetooth on its head. As we endure “pandemic-fatigue,” the nation, technology to ease security concerns. Bluetooth’s low-energy along with the rest of the world, is looking for a way to open specification for broadcasting short bursts of data allows up safely. We’ve flattened the curve, but how do we keep it smartphones to emit a random string of characters, which that way? Many have their eye on contact tracing apps. we refer to as a key, that acts as an alias to other devices. According to Crystal Watson, a senior scholar with the John connecting data to a specific individual is nearly impossible Hopkins Center for Health Security, contact tracing is “the best tool we have to manage [COVID-19] in an ongoing way and allow our economy to open “ Regardless of the rules, regulations, and laws in place, for third parties. While the key is being shared with other devices, the smartphone records other incoming keys as well. This system allows an up again.” Tech giants Apple people may not feel comfortable individual who tests positive and Google have partnered to make it easier for these apps to hit their respective app stores downloading an app meant to monitor them onto their devices.” for COVID-19 to anonymously alert those they have come in contact or interacted with. sooner rather than later. The plan is for the app to monitor Even with this updated system, our locations and interactions for 14 days. If we get tested for many Americans are put off by installing apps that can COVID-19 and the results are positive, the app will alert those monitor them and instruct them on how to live. A study who have come in contact with us and advise them to isolate of about 800 Americans conducted by Microsoft Research, as well. The noble goal behind these apps is unmistakable, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Zurich but citizens still question, “What about privacy?” Many showed that eagerness to install these contact tracing apps users fear their data will be leaked and feel uncomfortable was dependent on the app’s accuracy and ability to protect with the idea of carrying around a smartphone all day with personal information. Specifically, Americans cared about certain settings turned on to specifically track their locations how accurate the app was at detecting false positives. and interactions. Researchers found that people didn’t want to be told they Contact tracing apps bring the constant battle between and were only in the vicinity of an infected individual. Already convenience and privacy to the forefront. If we look to North uncomfortable with potential privacy loss, many Americans and South Dakota, we can get a better sense of just how are not looking to give up that information in complicated the tracking aspect of these apps can be. These exchange for threats of unlikely infection. two states released a contact tracing app, Care19, that was The key is changed every 10 to 20 minutes to ensure that should isolate for 14 days if they weren’t seriously exposed supposed to help with the reopening process. Both state TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE, VISIT NUSCIMAG.COM

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Coming out clean Renewables in a pandemic

BY LAUREN MACDONALD, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & CHEMISTRY, 2022 DESIGN BY LILLIE HOFFART, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, 2022

It’s undeniable that COVID-19 has completely

changed our way of living, but there is a silver lining: the coronavirus may be a catalyst for allowing renewable energy to surpass traditional modes of energy generation in the United States. For decades, coal has been responsible for half of the energy in the U.S., but it is now severely declining in the face of renewable energy sources.

With energy demand and natural gas prices falling as a result of consumers driving less and businesses temporarily closed, the energy sector must cut the slack somewhere. Coal, in addition to releasing the highest amount of CO2 per gigawatt of energy, is also one of the most expensive sources of energy. Because of this, coal plants are being shut down before wind, solar, or petroleum plants.

Some coal plants operated at less than 50 percent of their intended capacity in 2019, and that percentage has only decreased in the face of COVID-19. The fraction of U.S. energy sourced from coal is expected to fall to around 18 percent from last year’s 24 percent, and coal production will decrease by one-quarter, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Many coal plants are outdated and are even more expensive to run when they are only running at a fraction of capacity. As a result, they are being closed entirely in favor of cheaper, cleaner alternatives such as wind and solar energy. Once a coal plant is decommissioned, it’s much more expensive to get it back up and running, which makes it less likely that coal could fully come back to its previous prevalence.

In addition, the cost of wind energy has decreased by 40 percent since 2010, and solar has fallen 80 percent. Both are now cheaper than coal and are not expected to take as drastic of a hit as a result of the economic downturn caused by COVID-19. In 2019, 40 percent of new energy generation capacity in the U.S. was solar power, and a decreasing coal market in the coming months opens a path for solar and wind to fill the gap.

However, the renewable energy industry is not without its coronavirus woes. Industry leaders fear that the pandemic may cause the solar industry to have to take a step back. Already, 17 percent of employees in the renewables sector have lost their jobs. Across the clean energy sector, 27,000 workers have lost their jobs in May 2020, for a total of 620,000 jobs lost as a result of the pandemic. New solar installations are also expected to fall to one-third of what was previously projected. Because of the drop in workforce, it will now be more difficult to meet project deadlines that allow companies to reap tax benefits for building renewable energy capacity. Consumer use is particularly at risk since homeowners may not have the money to install solar panels at the moment, and installation in homes requires close contact.

“Coal is unlikely to be able to fully recover from the hit it has taken because of the coronavirus.”

Despite the dangers, there is still hope. Some tax credit deadlines and requirements have already been loosened or extended to account for delays as a result of COVID-19. This year is still on track to be a record one in terms of wind farm construction, as of May. This means 15 gigawatts of capacity installed, or enough energy to power nearly two million homes. Coal is unlikely to be able to fully recover from the hit it has taken because of the coronavirus and will likely suffer worse than renewables in the long term as a result. The percentage that renewables contribute to U.S. energy will likely rise and remain above coal, which is a win for the environment. There will likely be a 14 percent decrease in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, compared to 2.8 percent in 2019, partly because of a reduction in coal usage.

So, even in the midst of a global pandemic we are starting to see positive changes for the environment. The coronavirus has sped up the decline of the coal industry and created more space for the clean energy solutions that we need to combat climate change. All that is left is for us to recognize this, take advantage of the space that has been created, and continue to make the environment a priority.

PHOTO BY SERGE LE STRAT VIA UNSPLASH