How Data Science Exposes Injustice: Chad Topaz on Unlocking Justice

What happens when the evidence of injustice is buried in messy, redacted, or inaccessible data? Mathematician and data scientist Chad Topaz joins Breaking Math to discuss his book Unlocking Justice. Together, we explore policing, sentencing, public records, Rikers Island, algorithmic risk, and the limits of quantifying human lives. This is a conversation about math, power, transparency, and the small acts of hope that can change systems.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Context of the Conversation
01:11 Chad's Journey from Mathematics to Social Justice
03:50 The Personal Nature of Chad's Book
04:40 Challenges in Data Collection and Access
08:03 The Impact of Data on Policing and Surveillance
09:51 Humorous Yet Tragic Data Collection Experiences
12:55 The Importance of Data Preparation and Cleaning
14:40 Navigating Imperfect Data and Its Consequences
17:48 The Balance Between Quantification and Human Stories
22:25 Incarceration and Public Health: The Rikers Island Case Study
31:36 Mathematics and Social Justice: Secrets of the Elite
39:03 Hope and Action: A Personal Journey in Data for Justice

Follow Chad Topaz on
Bluesky(bsky.app/profile/chadtopaz.bsky.social) Book (amzn.to/3S21pKb)
Follow Breaking Math on
Substack (breakingmath.substack.com)
X (x.com/breakingmathpod)
Instagram (instagram.com/breakingmathmedia)
Bluesky (bsky.app/profile/breakingmath.bsky.social)
Website (breakingmath.io)
YouTube (youtube.com/@BreakingMathPod)
Follow Noah on
Instagram (instagram.com/profnoahgian)
X (x.com/ProfNoahGian)
Bluesky (bsky.app/profile/profnoahgian.bsky.social)
Follow Autumn on
X (x.com/1autumn_leaf)
Bluesky (bsky.app/profile/1autumnleaf.bsky.social)
Instagram (instagram.com/1autumnleaf)
Substack (substack.com/@1autumnleaf)
email: breakingmathpodcast@gmail.com