Faculty Sponsor: Maryam Gooyabadi & Jennifer Tucker
Ethan Chu
Ethan Chu is a Mathematics, East Asian Studies, and Data Science student at Wesleyan University working at the Center for the Study of Guns and Society as an undergraduate research fellow. His field of research delves into network analysis, more specifically co-occurrence networks. Besides his work as a research fellow, he loves to bake and cook for his friends, visit new cafes around New York City, and read romance books in his free time.
Abstract: Innovation in firearm technology remains difficult to quantify due to the absence of clear metrics linking patent classifications over time. This study introduces the Linkage Coefficient, a novel coefficient designed to track interconnections among firearm patent technologies. By applying a time series–based analysis to this coefficient, we identify trends and shifts in technological development across key patent classes. Our framework offers a new lens for understanding how firearm technologies evolve and cluster, providing insights for both historical analysis and future forecasting.
Firearm_Innovation_Poster_Presentation-2