Date of Award
2023
Document Type
Open Access Master's Report
Degree Name
Master of Science in Environmental and Energy Policy (MS)
Administrative Home Department
Department of Social Sciences
Advisor 1
Adam Wellstead
Committee Member 1
Angie Carter
Committee Member 2
Anat Gofen
Abstract
Policy innovation labs (PILs) serve as centers of experimental innovation pursued by governmental, private, and non-profit entities that employ design-thinking methodology, scientific experimentation, and user-centric approaches (Wellstead et al., 2021). The multi-disciplinary expertise of policy innovation labs in social and economic topics equips them to offer policy recommendations addressing public issues, including environmental concerns. When designing innovative solutions, it is customary for policy innovation labs to provide substantial information and reports detailing their progress and methods. However, the wealth of information available becomes a challenge to fully divest in comprehending a lab's contribution to solving global issues. This report addresses this challenge by harnessing the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) to understand how environmental policy innovation labs contribute to solving global environmental issues. Specifically, it connects their alignment with a global framework of progress, the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Through this process, this report also sheds light on the advancements and capabilities of using artificial intelligence as a method in social science research.
Recommended Citation
Mechling, Sidney M., "USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO UNDERSTAND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY INNOVATION LABS' CONTRIBUTION TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS", Open Access Master's Report, Michigan Technological University, 2023.