UNH Today

The Josiah Bartlett: New Hampshire should welcome Afghan refugees

Within the last decade New Hampshire's population growth has decreased to the lowest in a century and immigration accounted for 89% of growth according to Census data analyzed by The Carsey School of Public Policy. The Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy noted this data in a recent blog article and recommended a solution of welcoming Afghan refugees to NH to accommodate the decrease in population and to provide a state of shelter for refugees in need. 

Concord Monitor: Barriers to civic engagement stand in way of good government, vibrant communities

The 2020 New Hampshire Civic Health Index published earlier this year by the Carsey School of Public Policy highlights civic areas where the state is excelling and where it's struggling. The Concord Monitor recently released an article that offers a rundown on the areas outlined within the Index and quoted NH Listens Director Michele Holt-Shannon regarding these issues and their possible solutions.

Sentinel Source: The pandemic has worsened NH's childcare problem

Prior to COVID-19, New Hampshire's childcare system struggled, offering coverage for only 60 percent of what was needed. Now, the pandemic has worsened circumstances and forced facilities to close or cut back. The Sentinel Source reported that experts believe that a federal plan making its way through Congress may help and researchers from the Carsey School and Federal Reserve Bank of Boston agree that the plan may help reduce family poverty, create high quality childcare, and mitigate the workforce shortage. 

Artificial Intelligence Disrupting Industries

Artificial intelligence (AI), now found in everyday products such as smart watches and cloud-based virtual assistants like Alexa and Siri, continues to transform the economy and our daily life. While advances in computer processing, algorithms, and access to technology have all allowed AI to disrupt a variety of industries, few have looked at the ethical implications of this recent transformation.

FOSTERing Success

A UNH program that helps New Hampshire small businesses grow by accessing federal grant funding has notched its first major success. Portsmouth-based Nearview, a participant in UNH’s FOSTER program, has received $150,000 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to develop an artificial intelligence model for its aerial drone environmental services.