David Roodman

#41 - David Roodman on incarceration, geomagnetic storms, & becoming a world-class researcher

David Roodman, Holden Karnofsky, Keiran Harris, Rob Wiblin

David Rude, a former theoretical mathematician turned independent researcher, specializes in replicating and reconstructing empirical studies on high-impact causes such as criminal justice, deworming, and geomagnetic storm risks. His methodology often challenges established conclusions, finding zero deterrence effect in harsh incarceration laws, identifying data artifacts in American deworming studies, and downplaying the probability of catastrophic solar events compared to public perception. Currently based at Open Philanthropy, Rude leverages his independence from academic incentives to scrutinize methodological robustness and advocate for policy shifts, such as prioritizing savings over microcredit loans.