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Scientific Self-Determination (SSD) Project FAQ

Mission of the Organization

The Scientific Self-Determination project is a non-profit effort focused on educating and empowering local communities to engage in political decision-making. Our mission is to simulate, educate, and act — providing citizens with clear, visual tools to better understand governance systems and increase their consent in government processes.

End Deliverables of the Project

For the Version 2 capstone project, the final outputs will include:

  1. A hosted Flask web application on PythonAnywhere.
  2. At least three core visualizations (MVP):
    • Collaborative Veto
    • Multi-choice Voting
    • Supreme Court Veto (26 states threshold)
  3. Documentation explaining:
    • Voting models and concepts
    • How to run and contribute to the project
    • Updated definitions and contextual information for public understanding
  4. Stretch Goal (Phase 2):
    • Minimum Amount of Space Allocation visualization (D3.js)

Who is This Project For?

  • Primary audience: The general public, especially citizens who want to understand alternative governance systems.
  • Secondary audience: Non-profit staff and volunteers who will use this site to educate communities.
  • Academic audience: Our university peers and faculty evaluating the capstone project.

Project Hosting and Costs

  • Hosted on PythonAnywhere, which natively supports Flask.
  • A domain name will be purchased, but only after the planning and MVP phases are completed.
  • Costs for hosting and domain will be covered by the institute (non-profit).

Company Culture

The project team is currently in a start-up/seeding phase:

  • High power distance (roles and leadership are recognized)
  • Flexible tolerance for change
  • Masculine and individualistic orientation
  • Restrictive in scope (we aim to focus on achievable goals)

This culture may shift as the project grows beyond the initial academic phase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is this project solving?
A: We’re not selling a product — we’re building a civic education platform. The site is a public resource to inform and simulate governance models, helping citizens think critically and act in their communities.

Q: What are the deliverables for the capstone?
A: A live Flask web app with three MVP visualizations, clear documentation, and a pathway for stretch goals.

Q: Where can I find technical details?
A:

  • README.md in the repository: project overview.
  • /docs folder: expanded documentation and definitions.
  • Dev Materials folder (GitHub): technical notes, references, and datasets.

Q: Who is maintaining this project?
A: Currently the capstone team (“Team JAST”), with Thom Mondeaux as the non-profit liaison. Post-capstone, the non-profit will maintain the repository.

Q: What technologies are we using?
A: Flask (Python), Plotly (for MVP visualizations), D3.js (stretch goal), Git/GitHub (version control), and PythonAnywhere (hosting).

Q: What if I have a question not answered here?
A: First check the README.md and docs folder. If still unclear, raise the question in our Teams chat or GitHub Issues — most questions will be answered within 24 hours

The End Result of the Project

  • A publicly accessible, hosted Flask site.
  • Clear, accessible explanations of voting and governance concepts.
  • Interactive (or static) visualizations that illustrate Collaborative Veto, Multi-choice Voting, and Supreme Court Veto.
  • Documentation that allows the public, the non-profit, and future developers to use and extend the project.

Where to Look for Answers

  • Repository README.md → quick overview and instructions.
  • Docs folder → extended documentation for concepts, governance definitions, and technical setup.
  • GitHub Issues / Teams chat → live discussions, blockers, and clarifications.