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Ola Hall

Head of the Department of Human Geography, Lund University
I am a senior lecturer, reader and department head. My research bridges the gap between technical and social sciences, with time spent at institutions like MIT and the Royal Institute of Technology. My work primarily focuses on using satellite data, such as nighttime lights, to analyze economic development in areas with limited statistical data. This approach is particularly impactful in regions with underdeveloped public statistics or restrictive regimes.

I am is also the co-author of "Models for Non-Modelers," a guide for social scientists and researchers in understanding and applying data and statistical models. This work simplifies complex concepts in AI, epidemiology, and climate science, making them accessible to those without extensive mathematical backgrounds.

Recently, I have focused on the use of AI and satellite imagery in poverty analysis. Research in this field involves statistical analysis of welfare and poverty predictions, emphasizing the synergy of machine learning and deep learning in enhancing predictive accuracy. Recently, I combine high-resolution satellite imagery with expert analysis to estimate welfare levels, using the 2015 Tanzania DHS dataset for validation. This innovative approach highlights the potential of integrating human expertise with AI in socioeconomic research.
My mark is to merge technical and social science disciplines, making significant strides in GIS applications for socioeconomic studies and advancing the use of AI and satellite imagery in understanding complex global issues.

Economy

Beyond the spin, beyond the handouts, here’s how to get a handle on what’s really happening on budget night

Three weeks from now, some of us will be presented with a mountain of budget papers, and just about all of us will get to hear about them on radio, TV or news websites on budget night. The quickest way to find out what...

Johannesburg in a time of darkness: Ivan Vladislavić’s new memoir reminds us of the city’s fragility

Ivan Vladislavić is Johannesburgs literary linkman. He tells us, in the first pages of his new book, The Near North, that before cities were lit, first by gaslight and later electricity, people of means paid torchbearers...

Economist Chris Richardson on an ‘ugly’ inflation result and the coming budget

With Jim Chalmerss third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief beyond the tax cuts although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As this weeks consumer price...

Inflation is slowly falling, while student debt is climbing: 6 graphs that explain today’s CPI

Australias inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and its now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. The annual rate peaked at 7.8% in the December quarter of 2022 and is now just 3.6%, in...

Why is the London Stock Exchange losing out to the US

London Stock Exchange (LSE), which can trace its heritage to the coffee houses of the 17th century, is failing. The volume of shares traded is sharply declining, and some UK companies are swiftly moving to the US...

Politics

Labour can afford to be far more ambitious with its economic policies – voters are on board

To say that the Labour party is flying high in the polls is something of an understatement. But despite its consistent lead against the Tories, the opposition finds itself in a rather odd position: on the cusp of power but...

History for sale: what does South Africa’s struggle heritage mean after 30 years of democracy?

One of my favourite statues is the one of Nelson Mandela at the Sandton City shopping centre in Johannesburg. Larger than life, its oversized bronze shoes shimmer in the evening light, polished by the hands of many...

Sudan: civil war stretches into a second year with no end in sight

In the early hours of April 15 2023, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) a Sudanese paramilitary force attacked the military airstrip in the town of Merowe and deployed troops across strategic locations in Sudans capital,...

Military conscription is returning to Europe, but is it really a more equal way of mobilising? What history tells us

The idea that conscription, defined as the compulsory enlistment of citizens for military service, can increase equality and instil a sense of solidarity that transcends traditional societal divides has echoed throughout...

Joe Biden Proposes Record 44.6% Capital Gains Tax in Latest Budget Plan That May Favor Cryptocurrencies

President Joe Biden has proposed raising the capital gains tax to an unprecedented 44.6% in a bold fiscal move, targeting the wealthiest Americans. This hike is part of his 2025 budget proposal to reduce income...

Science

A Nasa rover has reached a promising place to search for fossilised life on Mars

While we go about our daily lives on Earth, a nuclear-powered robot the size of a small car is trundling around Mars looking for fossils. Unlike its predecessor Curiosity, Nasas Perseverance rover is explicitly intended to...

The rising flood of space junk is a risk to us on Earth – and governments are on the hook

A piece of space junk recently crashed through the roof and floor of a mans home in Florida. Nasa later confirmed that the object had come from unwanted hardware released from the international space station. The 700g,...

Peter Higgs was one of the greats of particle physics. He transformed what we know about the building blocks of the universe

Peter Higgs, who gave his name to the subatomic particle known as the Higgs boson, has died aged 94. He was always a modest man, especially when considering that he was one of the greats of particle physics the area of...

Could a telescope ever see the beginning of time? An astronomer explains

The James Webb Space Telescope, or JWST for short, is one of the most advanced telescopes ever built. Planning for JWST began over 25 years ago, and construction efforts spanned over a decade. It was launched into space on...

US media coverage of new science less likely to mention researchers with African and East Asian names

When one Chinese national recently petitioned the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to become a permanent resident, he thought his chances were pretty good. As an accomplished biologist, he figured that news...

Technology

Intel, Naver, and KAIST to Jointly Open an AI R&D in South Korea

Intel Corporation, Naver Corp., and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have partnered to open a new artificial intelligence center in South Korea. KAIST said on Tuesday, April 30, that they will...

Tesla Faces Stiff Competition in China’s Self-Driving Race

Teslas ambition to dominate Chinas self-driving market faces significant challenges as local rivals like BYD and Huawei rapidly advance in autonomous technology. During his recent visit to Beijing, Elon Musk discussed...

Shiba Inu Price Forecast: Historical Data Predicts May Movement

As April ends, the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency faces crucial market trends, with historical data indicating a possible continuation of its recent price declines into May. Past performance suggests a trend of downturns during...

Google Cuts Jobs in Key Programming Teams Before Developer Conference

Google LLC is laying off staff at its Dart, Flutter, and Python programming teams. Their termination was announced just weeks before the company developer conference, which will be held on May 15. Money Control reported...

MicroStrategy Acquires 122 More Bitcoins, Total Holdings Soar to 214,400 BTC

In a bold move underscoring its commitment to digital currency, MicroStrategy announced the acquisition of an additional 122 bitcoins this April, taking its total holdings to 214,400 BTC. This acquisition, valued at...