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JPAL Session

From research to practice in public policies with J-PAL and EJUCIAM: including emerging indigenous scientists’ voices and engaging with local partners #

Project 1: JPAL / MD4SG WG / Summer of Science Panel + Community Leader #

Goal: Connect researchers in development economics, algorithms for social good, and public policymakers with emerging researchers from indigenous communities.


Title of the Conference Panel: #

From Research to Practice in Public Policies

  • Date and Time: 31 October, 9:00 a.m.
  • Location: San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Building Auditorio Rafael Nieto.
  • Moderator(s): Dr. Salvador Ruíz Correa, Dr. Francisco Marmolejo Cossío, Dra. Michelle González Amador

Panelists #

  1. Vianney Fernández
    Policy Manager for J-PAL Latin America and the Caribbean. She is Government Partnerships Manager, working directly with governments to foster evidence use and data-driven policymaking.

  2. Dr. Francisco Marmolejo Cossío
    Incoming Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Boston College; Fellow at Harvard University and the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society. Works on applied modeling, algorithms, and AI, focusing on societal challenges, public health, and access to financial services to improve resource accessibility for underserved communities.

  3. Dra. Michelle González Amador
    Recent PhD graduate from the United Nations University program on Innovation Economics, and Governance for Development. Incoming Postdoctoral researcher in Economics at Wageningen University. Her research focuses on complex socioeconomic systems and human capital investment. Currently, she is a visiting researcher at Stanford University’s Impact Lab on Equitable Access to Education.

  4. Flor Ángel Pérez Sánchez
    Representative and co-organizer of the EAAMO Working Group “Equity and Justice for Indigenous Communities of the Americas.” Graduate student of Tropical Ecology, with a focus on preserving ecosystems native to Mexico.

  5. Leticia Tituaña
    Founder and Director of Warmi STEM, co-founder of the Kichwa Institute of Science, Technology and Humanities (KISTH). Focuses on achieving SDG 2030 targets, particularly Quality Education and Gender Equality, by increasing the percentage of indigenous women in STEM careers.


Description #

The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) and the Equity and Access in Algorithms and Optimization (EAAMO) are two organizations focused on improving the lives of underserved and underrepresented communities. Their shared principles of incorporating local voices and bridging research and practice in policymaking underpin this panel discussion. Members from both organizations will explore how J-PAL’s randomized interventions and EAAMO’s algorithmic designs can create synergies to enhance impact.


Agenda (1h 35min) #

1. Introduction to the Panel (5 min) #

Brief introduction of the panelists and the format of the session.
By Dra. Michelle González Amador


2. J-PAL Evidence-Based Policymaking and Government Partnerships in Mexico (20 min) #

  • Overview of randomized trials and their importance in evidence-based policymaking (5 min)
    By Vianney Fernández
  • Presentation: “Creating a Culture of Evidence Use in Latin America” (15 min)
    By Vianney Fernández

3. EAAMO’s Approach to Equity and Inclusion in Algorithms (20 min) #

  • Presentation by the EJUCIAM Working Group:
    How does belonging to a community change a researcher’s perspective when conducting impact research? (10 + 10 min)
    By Flor Ángel and Leticia Tutuaña

4. Future Directions and Opportunities (30 min) #

Topic: “Algorithms, Optimization, and Randomized Evaluations”
Discussion of untapped opportunities to leverage synergies.
By Vianney Fernández, Dra. Michelle González Amador, Dr. Francisco Marmolejo, Flor Ángel, and Leticia Tutuaña

  • Guiding Questions:
    • Challenges to partnering with local community leaders and governments:
      What are the main challenges to partnering with local community leaders and governments? Are lived experiences part of the “culture of evidence”?
    • Opportunities for social innovation:
      What opportunities do these collaborations present for policymaking processes?

5. Audience Q&A (10 min) #

Opportunity for audience members to pose questions to the panelists and engage in discussion on topics of interest.


6. Closing Remarks (5 min) #

Summary of key takeaways and call to action to explore synergies further.
By Salvador Ruíz Correa