University
of
Michigan
researchers have released an
app that helps Flint residents
assess
lead
contamination
levels by utilizing functions
related to water testing and
providing
infrastructure-
related information. The team
also worked with Flint Mayor
Karen Weaver on data analytics
for lead pipe removal.
The app, released in early
December,
gives
residents
information about distribution
centers for water and water
filters, locations where lead has
been found in drinking water,
areas where infrastructure is
being replaced within Flint,
the likelihood that water in a
home or particular location is
contaminated and instructions
for water testing.
Jacob Abernethy, professor
of electrical engineering and
computer science, was one of the
faculty members approached
by Google to create an app that
would assist those affected by
the Flint water crisis, which
led to the creation of MyWater-
Flint app.
“What came about was an
idea for an app that would be
useful for (Flint’s) citizens to
Last
month,
a
100-page
report detailing measures that
needed to be taken to ensure
the safety of public drinking
water in Flint was delivered
to President Barack Obama.
The report, written by the
President’s Council of Advisors
on Science and Technology,
included the collaboration of
Rosina Bierbaum, a University
of
Michigan
professor
of
Natural
Resources
and
Environment.
President Obama mandated
the creation of the report in the
wake of the Flint water crisis
and wavering public trust in safe
drinking water. The aim was to
help eradicate all remaining
water quality issues and it
called for short- and long-term
measures to be taken in order to
guarantee safe drinking water
for all Americans.
As a member of PCAST,
Bierbaum
co-chaired
the
group of PCAST members and
experts addressing drinking
water safety. This working
group spearheaded the report,
which concluded that, although
largely safe, American drinking
water quality could be further
improved by a few measures,
such
as
more
succinct
communication across agencies
and real-time water quality
monitoring.
At the last PCAST meeting in
Washington, D.C. on November
18,
Bierbaum
presentedthe
goals of the report.
“Our
real
focus
is
on
advancing
science
and
technology,” she said. “Not to
micromanage how it gets done.”
In addition to presenting
the
research
findings
Bierbaum included her policy
recommendations.
“The
federal
government
must lead but must clearly
involve
state,
cities
and
drinking
water
experts
to
improve
methodologies
that can do comparative risk
assessments of contaminant
mixtures
and
across
the
complete water system,” she
said last November.
Bierbaum added that the
recommendations
should
supplement
the
ongoing
measures
under
the
Safe
Over
1,000
law
school
professors
from
institutions
in 49 states — including seven
professors and five assistant
professors at the University
of Michigan Law School —
signed a letter in opposition
to
President-elect
Donald
Trump’s nomination of Sen.
Jeff
Sessions
(R–Ala.)
as
U.S. Attorney General. The
letter, addressed to the U.S.
Senate Judiciary Committee,
presented
arguments
about
why the Committee should
reject the nomination at the
confirmation
hearings
next
week on Jan. 10 and 11.
The letter listed areas of
concern in regards to Sessions’
politics, which include support
for a wall along the country’s
southern
border,
regressive
drug and incarceration policies
and
a
questioning
of
the
relationship
between
fossil
fuels and climate change.
michigandaily.com
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Friday, January 6, 2017
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INDEX
Vol. CXXVII, No. 3
©2016 The Michigan Daily
N E WS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
O PI N I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
A R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
S U D O K U . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
CL A S S I F I E DS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
S P O R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Google, ‘U’
launch app
to measure
water safety
Military health insurance pilot
program devised at UM Center
See WATER, Page 3
DESIGN BY: MICHELLE PHILLIPS
FLINT
Aiming to assist Flint residents, the risk
assessment tool also evaluates lead levels
RHEA CHEETI
Daily Staff Reporter
Cost-cutting health care included in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act
President
Barack
Obama
approved a insurance design
developed
by
University
of
Michigan
researchers
as
a
provision of the 2017 National
Defense Authorization Act on
Dec. 23. The defense bill, which
authorized a $619 billion defense
budget, also approved the testing
of
Value-Based
Insurance
Design — a health care reform
plan that reduces the financial
barriers to essential, high-value
clinical services — for a pilot
in TRICARE, a health care
program for active and retired
military members and their
dependents.
Originally created by faculty
at the UM Center for V-BID
in 2005, V-BID prioritizes the
medications and services that
are of highest priority to the
consumer. V-BID represents an
effort to shift the health care
system from a fee-for-service
system with high co-pays and
deductibles to one with clinical
nuance
that
considers
the
needs and health conditions of
individuals.
The
University’s
V-BID
MADELEINE GERSON
Daily Staff Reporter
‘U’ faculty
sign letter
opposing
Sessions
GOVERNMENT
Law professors join in
against Trump’s pick
for attorney general
HEATHER COLLEY
Daily Staff Reporter
University professor pens water safety
report to Obama following Flint crisis
The report details necessary public safety measures for drinking water quality
AARON DALAL
For the Daily
A lasting bond
The Michigan hockey team
is hosting an alumni game
Saturday at 7:30 to support
former player Scott Matzka,
who is in the middle of a fight
against ALS. » Page 7
michigandaily.com
For more stories and coverage, visit
See HEALTH CARE, Page 3
In the wake of President-elect
Donald Trump’s election, Ann
Arbor entrepreneurs Kate Lind
and Nate Stevens started a new
project, Pincause, that designs
and sells pins intended to raise
awareness of social justice issues.
Pincause recently released its
first pin — a multicolored hand
design — in support of women’s
rights and the women’s rights
marches that will take place
across the United States on and
before January 21, the days
surrounding Donald Trump’s
inauguration.
“At first we had it as a closed
fist that was many different
bright colors, and then we
decided to open it up and make it
into the American Sign Language
for love, which I think is perfect
because our message is about love
and inclusion,” said Penelope
Dullaghan, the artist behind the
multicolored hand design.
Stevens,
a
University
of
A2 residents
design pins
for social
awareness
BUSINESS
Michigan alums seek
to raise funds prior to
Trump’s inauguration
DAVID DORSKY
For the Daily
Battle of unbeatens
The Michigan women’s
basketball team is hosting
Ohio State at Crisler Center
on Saturday, as both teams
look to remain undefeated in
Big Ten play. » Page 7
KEVIN ZHENG/Daily
Civil rights activms group BAMN draws support for their group at Angell Hall on Thursday.
BAMN
See PINS, Page 3
See FLINT, Page 2
See SESSIONS, Page 3