Public Engagement

As a scholar at the intersection of political science and public policy, I write reports and op-ed to inform policymakers and the general public. In addition, I frequently communicate my research with the media.

Technical Reports and Policy Writing

  1. “Building Robust and Ethical Vaccination Verification Systems.’’ (Baobao Zhang, Laurin Weissinger, Johannes Himmelreich, Nina McMurry, Tiffany Li, Naomi Schinerman, and Sarah Kreps), 2021, Brookings Institution.

  2. “The Immigration Preferences of Top AI Researchers: New Survey Evidence.’’ (Remco Zwetsloot, Baobao Zhang, Markus Anderljung, Michael C. Horowitz, and Allan Dafoe), 2021, Perry World House.

  3. “In Defense of Pollsters.’’ (Baobao Zhang), 2020, Fortune.

  4. “Contact-tracing Apps Face Serious Adoption Obstacles.” (Sarah Kreps, Baobao Zhang, and Nina McMurry), 2020, Brookings Institution. Cited by the U.S. Senate.

  5. “Americans Don’t Trust Contact Tracing Apps. Here’s How We Can Fix That.” (Sarah Kreps, Nina McMurry, and Baobao Zhang), 2020, Fortune.

  6. “Contribution to a European Agenda for AI.” (Adrien Abecassis, Justin B. Bullock, Johannes Himmelreich, Valerie M. Hudson, Jack Loveridge, and Baobao Zhang), 2020, Berkman Center for Internet & Society.

  7. “Artificial Intelligence: American Attitudes and Trends.” (Baobao Zhang and Allan Dafoe), 2019, Centre for the Governance of AI, Future of Humanity Institute, University of Oxford. Coverage by Vox, MIT Technology Review, and Bloomberg News.

  8. “Public Opinion Lessons for AI Regulation.” (Baobao Zhang), 2019, Brookings Institution.

  9. “It’s 2043. We Need a New American Dream for the A.I. Revolution,” (Baobao Zhang), August 12, 2019, New York Times.

  10. “Challenges to Democracy at Home and Abroad.” (Baobao Zhang), 2019, Kerry Initiative, Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, Yale University.

Interviews and Public Talks

  1. “The Opportunities & Challenges of COVID-19 Tracking Apps as Pandemic Control Mechanisms.” 2021, University of Wisconsin. (Panelist)
  1. “How Social Science Research Can Inform AI Governance.” 2020, EAGxVirtual. (Public talk)
  1. “Artificial Intelligence: The Global Race for the New Frontier.” 2020, PBS Great Decisions in Foreign Policy. (TV documentary interview)
  1. “Lessons of History, Law, and Public Opinion for AI Development.” 2019, Brookings Institution. (Panelist)
  1. “Artificial Intelligence: American Attitudes and Trends with Baobao Zhang.” 2019, Future of Life Institute. (Podcast interview)

Webinars That I Organized

  1. “Virtual Teach-in: Responding to the Attack on the US Capitol.” 2021.
  1. “Career Advice Webinar: How to Apply to Postdocs in Political Science, Public Policy, and Law.” 2020.