Plastic waste is a growing problem for West Virginia and the world; global plastic
waste is on track to
triple by 2030. Plastics can take
thousands of years to degrade, and release toxic chemicals that enter the
water,
soil and ultimately, the food supply (PDF). Conventional plastic recycling
(mechanical recycling) shreds high-quality used plastics and reforms them into
new plastic products. In part because only the highest quality plastics can be
mechanically recycled, approximately
9% of plastic waste is recycled annually.
The electrical grid is the combination of electricity generation, transmission and
control and distribution systems (see figure). Electrical power outages can
cause significant disruptions to economic activity, state functions, and public
health.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is an umbrella term for technologies which complete
“human-like” tasks. This Science and Technology Note considers opportunities and
challenges associated with the potential economic impacts of AI on West Virginia’s
economic development and workforce. Generative AI (gen-AI) is a newer class of
AI algorithms that can generate highly non-trivial content (text, videos, images,
computer code, etc.) in response to user requests. Advances in generative AI’s
capabilities could contribute to significant economic development and disruption,
both through specific organizational applications and enhanced labor productivity.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic chemicals that
have been used to make coatings that resist heat, oil, stains, and water since
the 1940s. PFAS take hundreds of years to break down in the environment and can
build up in the bodies of animals and humans, leading to concerns about potential
health impacts. This Science and Technology Note discusses the known health risks
of PFAS exposure, recent PFAS regulations in West Virginia, and policy options
to address potential PFAS exposure in West Virginians.
In the context of incarceration, mental hygiene most frequently refers to the involuntary
commitment of incarcerated individuals to mental health facilities for treatment,
but may also refer to general mental healthcare accessibility.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is technology that can “simulate human intelligence
and problem-solving capabilities.”
Generative AI uses newer algorithms that generate complex output in response
to user input. This Science and Technology Note considers opportunities and risks
of using AI in West Virginia state government operations and services.
This Science & Technology Note deals with economic costs and opportunities associated
with orphaned oil and natural gas wells in West Virginia and considers possible
policy options.
School suspensions increase the number of instructional days lost, which has
disproportionately impacted underrepresented groups, foster care, or low-income
students and led to higher suspension rates in these groups than for the majority
population. Loss of instructional time due to these suspensions can
heighten disparities in school attendance, academic achievement, and timely
graduation. This Science and Technology Note reviews the state's school behavioral
health services and considers policy options for West Virginia schools.
"The Cloud"
refers to computing and data storage services accessed over the internet and
managed by a third party, in contrast to in-house ownership and management. This
Science and Technology note discusses challenges and opportunities associated with
the West Virginia government’s adoption of cloud-based information technologies.
