Applications of Systemic Equity in Controlled and Uncontrolled Socioecological Systems
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Aggarwal, Ayushi
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Abstract
The present research proposed a broad classification of two types of social and ecological (socioecological) systems – i.e., uncontrolled and controlled systems - that were investigated and analyzed for their implications using the Systemic Equity framework and the Wells-Du Bois Protocol. This framework, definitions of inequities, and the tools to help tackle such inequities are explained in Chapter 1, followed by two case studies in Chapters 2 and 3. The first case study showcases an uncontrolled system and its inequities. Agriculture was chosen as the focal point here to demonstrate the application of the Systemic Equity framework concerning historical environmental exposures by the Monsanto Company. Following this, a case study on the food expenditure patterns across sociodemographic subgroups (i.e., race and ethnicity) in the United States are analyzed for its inherent biases. Specifically, a machine learning (ML) tool – i.e., clustering - was used to model and test the presence of in-built biases followed by the application of the Wells-Du Bois Protocol to demonstrate a use case in mitigating socioecological biases in ML systems. The use of these tools and the Systemic Equity framework are discussed as a means to promote equity-centered decision making moving forward.
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2023-05-02
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