Tips for New Backpackers

California resident Brian Richmond has applied his experience as a data scientist to creating machine learning models for various organizations, most recently Aura Health. Outside of his professional work, Brian Richmond enjoys exploring the outdoors as a backpacker.

For novice backpackers, the first trip can be overwhelming if they are unfamiliar with the conditioning needed for the experience. New backpackers can improve the chances of having a fun time by knowing what to wear and what equipment to bring. Use a checklist put together by experienced backpackers, like this checklist.

A well-constructed trekking wardrobe can mean the difference between an unpleasant trip and an enjoyable one. Seasoned backpackers build their travel wardrobes around layering and having insulation against the elements. Base layers consist of socks, underwear, and long underwear for cold temperatures. Merino wool and synthetic fabric blends are effective materials. Base layers should also be moisture-wicking to counteract the effects of sweat or rain. Popular top layer clothes include stretch-woven hiking pants and long-sleeved tee shirts, which can add insulation and protect against insect bites. A variety of outerwear provides protection in the event of fast-changing weather conditions, such as lightweight puffer or fleece jackets, hats and waterproof coats. Cotton is not a recommended fabric for backpackers as it absorbs moisture fast and takes time to dry.

When it comes to equipment, new backpackers should try to pack light; trekking with a heavy backpack can quickly become exhausting. It is a good idea to test various backpacks with weights, to get used to managing the load for extensive periods. It is also helpful to remember that even the basics for a trip can add up, starting from sleeping bags to food, water and first-aid supplies. And maybe a lightweight camera or backup charger for your phone to take photos of your adventure!

Moneyball in the Justice System - Data Analytics Fighting Crime

Data on a computer
Photo by Vitaly Vlasov from Pexels

Brian Richmond moved from a career in academics into one dedicated to exploring data science and statistics in various fields. An award-winning data scientist, Brian Richmond [link name to https://angel.co/brian-richmond-3] now works as a senior data scientist at Aura Health, a company that develops data-driven meditation and mindfulness applications to help people sleep well and feel great.

Even though the field of applied statistical analysis has been around for a long time, it gained public attention through events in baseball history that gave rise to the term Moneyball.

The approach of using statistics to improve management processes has since spread into many fields, including the justice system. Anne Milgram was appointed attorney general of New Jersey in 2007 and proceeded to roll out a Moneyball strategy of her own geared towards reducing crime.

Through the use of data and predictive analysis, she, along with law enforcement agencies across the state, was able to put into force better-policing practices that responded to actual stats rather than instincts and entrenched beliefs. The result was dramatic reductions in violent crimes in some of the most chronically criminal areas of cities in New Jersey.

Three Plants Indigenous to California

Prior to joining the technology firm Aura Health as a senior data scientist, Brian Richmond served as the creator and head of people analytics for the New York City-based company WeWork. Outside of his professional achievements, Brian Richmond is a self-described nature lover and has a strong interest in California’s indigenous plants.

California contains some of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the United States. It is home to more varieties of plant species than any other state. Some of the state’s most unique indigenous plants include:

Desert agave - The agave is well-adapted to the dry desert climates of Southern California. It produces yellow, funnel-shaped flowers only once over its 20-year lifespan. The plant was an important source of food and fiber for local Native American tribes. 

Sliverpuff - A member of the aster family, silverpuffs originated in the American southwest and are found across California. The yellow and white blossoms transform into wispy seed heads during May and June. 

Giant Sequoia - These incredible trees are only found at a specific elevation in the Sierra Nevada mountains. They can grow to more than 35 feet in diameter and up to 300 feet tall. With an average life span of 3,000 years, California’s giant sequoias are some of the oldest trees on Earth.

Machine Learning Algorithms Drive Health Care Transformation

With a doctorate in anthropological sciences, Brian Richmond, Ph.D. serves as a senior data scientist at Aura Health in San Francisco, California. Dr. Brian Richmond, who has built the company’s first data infrastructure and published articles and blogs, utilizes machine learning models to improve and optimize product offering and performance.

A recent analytical study published in the New England Journal of Medicine brought focus to the potential of machine learning in transforming the healthcare industry. Machine learning algorithms can distinguish chromatic complex patterns and anticipate responses to specific treatments. In cases of rare and puzzling ailments, all available knowledge resources are corralled, with the patient’s case adding vital information to an expanding database.

One significant contribution of machine learning involves curated data that informs patient-provider interactions and enables evaluations and recommendations backed by the latest evidence-based methodologies. Machine learning can aid physicians in identifying health conditions quicker and more accurately by developing models that can recommend tests and health inquiries based on the patient’s data collected over time. Machine learning models can also sort through patients and automatically identify subpopulations who are eligible for clinical trials or new treatment procedures.

At Aura Health, Brian Richmond and his team use Python and R to build machine learning models that drive Aura’s mobile app by learning people’s preferences and delivering meditations and other content to help people feel less stressed or anxious, sleep better, and be happier and more focused.