Dean P. Foster's home page

Amazon.com in NYC

• I have several a page summarizing my research (recent: arXiv)
• rants and raves (which are mostly 10 years or older now)
• Mortality: Over the years, I have worked on several mortality calculators:
  • The newest one works for people over 50. It will tell you your optimal weight.
  • A phone friendly version of it was put together by Abaris.
• Eigenwords: Several of us have started creating a database of eigenwords.
• Refereeing: I'm a supporter of open access of science to everyone. Hence I will only referee for journals that are open access (OASPA)
• Photos: Some mostly old photos.
  • Seems like we post more on facebook these days.
  • My Dad shot a movie about India called The future for Ram, (youtube).
  • My grandfather "built a lake" in upstate NY (youtube drone footage).
• Teaching: Old teaching materials are still on line.
• Recent talks:
  • Calibeating (AMLC workshop version)
  • CMU talks: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
  • older Falsifiability, calibration (handout), linear (shorter), Covid App.
• COVID-19: A few years ago several of us interupted our research to help think about COVID.
  • In mid-March Lyle and I got excited about contact tracing. As a tech person, the natural way of taking on contact tracing is via technology:
    • A protocol we created.
    • A expository discussion of contact tracing using technology.
    • A letter to push Europe to not give up on privacy.
    • And an App to implement these ideas.
    • I have used these cartoons as a basis for a fun little talk.
  • But, it actually is more important to do tracing by hand with tracers talking to infected people instead of by using technology:
    • A position paper on general contact tracing to get us out of lock down.
    • A letter we wrote targeted to Washington State.
    • Requirements for opening. (And some more mathmatical background on How many tests will it take to open one city.)

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