Researching is hard, and coming up with interesting research questions can be even harder. It is often difficult to find the motivation to develop this skill, as the rewards for bad research questions are low. This can be compounded by the impostor syndrome, where even when we have the knowledge to ask good questions, we don’t believe we are good enough. But, with practice, we can make this research question asking a skill that we develop and become comfortable with. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here