Social Justice and Equity
Because STEM refers to such a diverse array of fields and focuses, it's difficult to recognize similarities between its many disciplines. For one person, STEM might look like a biologist in a white lab coat peering through a microscope. To another, STEM may resemble a physicist or mathematician proving theories of quantum mechanics. Although these scientists vary greatly in their studies, a common purpose unites them: problem-solving for the greater good. Since the beginning of time, scientists and engineers have developed solutions for societal issues. Here, we explore the advances made in the realms of social justice and equity by our own problem-solvers here at the University of Utah.
Social Justice
Brittany Coats and her team tackle the uncertainty in infantile brain injury diagnoses
"So these are infants that can't talk. You have no idea what happened to them. They have no way of communicating."
When a parent brings a crying infant into the hospital, the most typical alibi given by the parent is that the child fell. While accidental falls are quite common in infants and toddlers, it is important to analyze all the potential sources of infantile traumatic brain injury. Brittany Coats and her research team focus on developing computational models using skull fracture imaging data to deduce whether or not infant brain injury can be attributed to accidental falls or child abuse. Coats' computational model can take this real-life data and run simulations to confirm or deny alibis given by parents in as few as a couple hours. Not surprisingly, Coats' research has received grants from the Department of Justice for its continued devotion to improving the diagnoses of infant brain injuries. Coats continues to develop her computational model and improve its ability to accurately determine the source of these skull fractures and hopes that one day, it can develop into a broader model for more injuries.
"... hopefully we can expand it to other injury types too, looking for different patterns and why they may or may not be indicative of abuse."