The National Consortium for Data Science

DataBytes: The Risks of Facial Recognition Technology: Dismantling the First Amendment Defense
2023-10-11 15:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
In a lawsuit challenging its surveillance activities, Clearview AI used the First Amendment as a defense. The facial recognition technology company argued that the creation and use of its surveillance product was First Amendment protected speech. Join Talya Whyte, third-year law student at New York University, as she presents a case study on the parties’ basic arguments, Clearview AI’s characterization of its activities as “speech,” and the implications of this argument. Attendees will understand how facial recognition technology works and the risks and harms inherent in its building and implementation, and gain the knowledge to make more informed legal, policy, and technical choices about the implementation of AI-based surveillance technology.
Talya Whyte is a third year law student at New York University. Her research interests lie at the intersection of new technology, society, public trust, and digital rights. She is a 2023 Google Legal Scholar, a Student Fellow at the Engelberg Center on Innovation Law & Policy, and NYU Cyber Scholar. Whyte hopes for a thoughtful and humanitarian integration of technology into existing legal and societal frameworks.
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Scaling Up: Exploring Articulation Agreements Between Two-Year and Four-Year Institutions: Wake Tech and Shaw University
2023-10-05 15:00 - 16:00
Articulation agreements between two year and four year institutions aren’t crafted overnight. Join this conversation between leaders at Shaw University and Wake Tech as they walk our audience through the essential components of an articulation agreement between a two year institution and a four year institution. Topics that they will address include but are not limited to the following: Community college bridge programs, pitfalls to avoid, and mapping certifications into the agreement.
Speakers:
James Brown, Shaw University – Department Head of Computer Science at Shaw University
Kathy Frederick, Wake Tech – Director of Student Work Experience Employer/University/Advisory Partnerships
Register Here

DataBytes: AI in Target Identification and Drug Discovery: Transforming the Future of Medicine
2023-08-22 12:00 - 13:00 | via Zoom
The National Consortium for Data Science looks forward to hosting Kimberly Robasky, Associate Director of Machine Learning/AI at Arrakis Therapeutics, on August 22 for our next DataBytes event as she discusses AI in Target Identification and Drug Discovery: Transforming the Future of Medicine.
Register Here
Artificial intelligence (AI) is taking a transformative role in target identification and drug discovery. Today, AI algorithms can analyze vast, multi-modal datasets to identify drug targets, accelerate lead compound discovery, and optimize drug design. AI is being used by biotechnology companies around the world to compress timelines and improving clinical trial outcomes. Join us to uncover the data-driven revolution in personalized medicine enabled by AI-driven drug development.

Data Matters 2023
2023-08-07 - 2023-08-11 | via Zoom
Data Matters™ is a week-long series of one and two-day courses aimed at students and professionals in business, research, and government. The short course series is sponsored by the Odum Institute for Research in Social Science at UNC-Chapel Hill, the National Consortium for Data Science, and RENCI.
Registration is now open for the traditional Data Matters series which will be held August 7 – 11, 2023. Register here.
Data Matters gives students the chance to learn about a wide range of topics in data science, analytics, visualization, curation, and more from expert instructors. Registration is now open; reserve your spot now!

DataBytes: AI Ethics Through the Lens of Causality: A Theory of Fairness
2023-06-20 16:00 - 17:00
The National Consortium for Data Science looks forward to hosting Christopher Lam, CEO of Epistamai on June 20 for our next DataBytes event as he discusses AI Ethics Through the Lens of Causality: A Theory of Fairness.
View a recording of the event here.
To understand fairness, one must unify central ideas from the social sciences and humanities to mathematics and computer science. Join Christopher Lam, CEO of Epistamai, as he shows how to model a principal cause of algorithmic bias and directly map it to the two fundamental laws of causal inference. Additionally, he will show how to bridge the field of causal inference to machine learning, providing us with a novel way to visualize the different ways that a supervised machine learning model can discriminate. These causal models may help policymakers on both sides of the aisle to modernize AI regulations so that they are aligned to society’s values.

DataBytes: Data Ethics
2023-04-20 11:00 - 12:00
The National Consortium for Data Science looks forward to hosting Anisha Nadkarni, Data Ethics Officer and Lead Data Analyst at Randstad, on April 20 for our next DataBytes event as she walks us through the practical challenges she faces in work and how she addresses these issues.

Data ethics is a growing concern in all industries, especially as issues such as algorithmic bias, informed consent, and privacy become more nuanced. Additionally, with artificial intelligence and machine learning tools gaining traction at a rapid speed, it is more imperative than ever that organizations establish strong ethical guidelines around the data collected from client projects, research endeavors, and business affairs. Join Anisha Nadkarni, Data Ethics Officer at Randstad Global, on Thursday, Apr. 20, from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. ET, as she walks us through a day in the life of a data ethicist. We’ll hold a Q&A session with Nadkarni at the end of the meeting.

Analyzing Data Science Careers | Spring Career Panel 2023
2023-04-13 16:00 - 17:00
You don’t want to miss these data science professionals who provide insight into what it takes to capture the attention of top recruiters in data science and data analytics. Our panelists represent a variety of career stages and they are ready to discuss what it takes to set yourself apart as you launch your career search.
Join us to learn more about:

What programming languages are in demand now,
Unexpected ways to promote your experience
What experiences you should gain early in your career

Register Here

Speakers include:

Bradley Doll | Data Science Manager at Spotify: Brad leads a data science team at Spotify working to develop data analysis products for advertisers. Trained as a cognitive neuroscientist, Brad transitioned from academia to industry to set up a data science practice at The Daily Beast prior to joining Spotify in 2019.
Alice Fortune-Britt, PhD | Manager, Medicare Stars at Blue Cross NC: Alice is a health services researcher by training (Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health). After working briefly in academia, she started at BlueCrossNC as a Data Scientist and transitioned to a Senior Strategic Advisor. In her current role as Manager of Medicare Stars, she is responsible for strategy, performance monitoring, and analytic insights to improve member experience and health outcomes.
Uthra Ramanujam | Sr Director, Data Science-Liberty Specialty Markets at Liberty Mutual Insurance: Uthra Ramanujam is the Senior Director of Data science and advanced analytics at Liberty Mutual and supports Liberty specialty markets globally where she leads a team of data scientists and product managers delivering innovative solutions across the insurance value chain. Prior to that she was the VP of Strategic tech research at StateAuto Insurance in Columbus,OH where she lead a similar team delivering business capabilities using ML/AI and Blockchain and other cutting edge tech . Before State auto she was an Executive Director at JPMorgan Chase & Co. leading the Machine Learning and Emerging Technology Group, which supports Consumer Operations. She has a passion for mentoring and teaching technology and teaches data mining and python programming part time at THE Ohio State University and UC Berkeley.
Michael Taffe | Data Reporter at FT Specialist: Michael Taffe is a D.C.-based data reporter for two of the Financial Times’ industry publications, FundFire and Financial Advisor IQ, covering institutional investors and asset managers. In this role, he reports on the growing role that large money managers play in affecting public policy and the financial services industry as a whole. He studied statistics and economics at UNC-Chapel Hill and has previously reported on campaign finance and higher education in North Carolina.

Data Matters: Spring Ahead 2023
2023-03-13 - 2023-03-16
Registration is now open for our first-ever Data Matters spring event. Data Matters: Spring Ahead will take place online from March 13 – 16, 2023 and is aimed at students and professionals in business, research, and government. The short course series is sponsored by the Odum Institute for Research in Social Science at UNC-Chapel Hill, the National Consortium for Data Science, and RENCI.
Our first-ever springtime series, Data Matters: Spring Ahead, will feature a selection of our most popular two-day courses. The traditional Data Matters series will return in August 2023.
Data Matters gives students the chance to learn about a wide range of topics in data science, analytics, visualization, curation, and more from expert instructors. Registration is now open; reserve your spot now at Data Matters.

DataBytes: Five ways that data visualizations can mislead (and how to fix them)
2023-02-14 12:00 - 13:00
Visualizations allow people to readily analyze and communicate data. However, many common visualization designs lead to engaging imagery but false conclusions. By understanding what people see when they look at a visualization, we can design visualizations that support more accurate data analysis and avoid unnecessary biases.
Join UNC Computer Science Assistant Professor Danielle Szafir on Tuesday, Feb. 14, from 12-1 p.m. ET, as she walks us through best practices in data visualization and analysis. We’ll hold a Q&A session with Dr. Szafir at the end of the meeting.
View a recording of the event here.

If you would like to review content from the previous webinars in the series, please click here to watch the recordings.

The Data Shows Government Website Accessibility and Usability Go Hand-in-Hand
2023-02-08 12:00 - 13:00
The National Consortium for Data Science (NCDS), in partnership with Interpersonal Frequency, will host a free webinar, “The Data Shows Government Website Accessibility and Usability Go Hand-in-Hand,” on Wednesday, February 8 at 12 PM ET.
Register Here

Digital accessibility—whether it’s billed as “Section 508 compliance,” “ADA compliance,” or “WCAG compliance”—is top-of-mind for government organizations, and rightly so. In the same way that their physical buildings must welcome everyone in the community, their online spaces should be open, easily accessible, and useful to all. But fulfilling these standards can seem daunting, highly technical, or even out of reach.
Here’s the good news: Accessible online experiences are attainable, and Interpersonal Frequency can provide a blueprint. With data from over 17 million government website users across the country, gathered using our Voice of Citizen® and Voice of Patron® analytics platform, Interpersonal Frequency can look beyond the common accessibility grading tools. It has confirmed that accessibility goes hand-in-hand with usability, which measures the ease and effectiveness of digital experiences. Considering them together is key to elevating digital government. In this webinar, we’ll give an overview of why accessibility and usability matter so deeply for municipal organizations, share the data that drives our pursuit, and show how connecting the dots between the data and the real people it reflects can take a website from being a static information repository to working as a tool for genuine community engagement.
About the Speakers
Kirsti Kenneth, UX Strategy Manager
Known for her dynamic presentations and infectious enthusiasm, Kirsti is passionate about creating innovative solutions that elevate the user experience. She has worked in journalism, museum education, training, and content strategy, developing interdisciplinary ways to educate and engage. At I.F., Kirsti leads the User Experience team as they tackle large-scale website redesign projects for states, cities, counties, public libraries, and utilities.
Carrianne Tuckley, Information Architect
Carrianne is an Information Architect with over 12 years of experience in Information Architecture and User Experience roles. She is active in her local UX community, having organized World Information Architecture Day in Northeast Ohio since 2015, and serving on the board of UX Akron. At I.F., Carrianne works to ensure that the sites we redesign have the best structure, interaction, and vocabulary to make them as user-friendly as possible.
Melanie Bozzelli, Content Strategist
Melanie is a Content Strategist with over 20 years of experience in digital marketing, managing complex websites, and championing customer experience and accessibility for all. She is active in local user experience and accessibility communities, serving as Chair of UX Akron. At I.F., Melanie works with clients to ensure their websites communicate effectively and are accessible and inclusive for visitors.
Read more here

The Data Shows Your Government Website Content Matters
2023-01-11 12:00 - 13:00
The National Consortium for Data Science (NCDS), in partnership with Interpersonal Frequency, will host a free webinar, on “The Data Shows Your Government Website Content Matters” on Wednesday, January 11 at 12 PM ET.
With data from over 17 million government website users across the country, Interpersonal Frequency has been able to uncover some unexpected trends in the world on online government content. One trend we can’t ignore: content matters. The most beautiful, high-tech site in the world can fail its visitors if the content it presents is poor quality. UX Manager Kirsti Kenneth has seen too many government sites pin all their hopes on a technical fix or wait too long to address their content needs, with sometimes disastrous results. In response, she developed a data-driven, “content-forward” approach to website improvement and redesign, built to minimize process bottlenecks and maximize the impact for end users. We’ll share the biggest lessons data has taught us about the impact of good quality content, where clients are falling short, and what’s being frequently overlooked. Then, we’ll walk you through the tactics we’ve developed to help counter these trends and show you how we turn content from a frustrating burden into an opportunity to create high-impact, affordable, data-backed improvements.
View a recording of the event here.

Improving Digital Inclusivity on Local Government Websites using the “Hidden Cues” in Data
2022-11-02 12:00 - 13:00
The National Consortium for Data Science (NCDS), in partnership with Interpersonal Frequency, will host a free webinar, on “Improving Digital Inclusivity on Local Government Websites using the “Hidden Cues” in Data” on Wednesday, November 2 at 12 PM ET.
In theory, digital spaces can provide both services and better quality of life to more people than ever before. In practice, too many government websites are not serving diverse populations equally. You want your website to do better and attract historically underprivileged categories, but how do you begin? In this webinar, you’ll learn how civic analytics can give solid clues about how to build a more inclusive government website. Interpersonal Frequency founder Harish R. Rao will reveal our 2021 Government Benchmarking report with user success data with insight on how to attract those digitally left behind, and help you decide where to invest your next research funds. Plus, he’ll discuss unique insights learned from I.F.’s in-depth website discovery process with cities and counties. We will also cover “hidden” insights buried in the benchmarks, like the services that municipal government web users most want — but often fail to find or receive.
View a recording of the event here.

2022 NCDS Fall Career Panel: Analyzing Data Science Careers
2022-10-19 12:00 - 13:00
You don’t want to miss these data science professionals provide insight into what it takes to capture the attention of top recruiters in data science and data analytics. Our panelists represent a variety of career stages and they are ready to discuss what it takes to set yourself apart as you launch your career search. Join us to learn more about:

What programming languages are in demand now
Unexpected ways to promote your experience
What experiences you should gain early in your career

Register for this free, virtual career panel on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at 12pm-1pm, featuring Dr. Deborah Stroman (UNC Gillings School of Public Health), Justin Choy (Google), Gabriel Farkas (IQVIA), and Namrata Jumani (Bain and Co).
View a recording of the event here.

Building an Inclusive and Transformative Data Strategy in Research and Community Engagement
2022-10-13 11:00 - 12:00
The National Consortium for Data Science (NCDS), in partnership with the UNC Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, will host a conversation on Building an Inclusive and Transformative Data Strategy in Research and Community Engagement on Thursday, October 13 at 11 AM ET.
The COVID pandemic and racial justice protests across the country have sparked new conversations regarding race, racism, and social justice in nearly every aspect of American society. From housing, health care, employment, and wealth accumulation to education and policing, policies, practices, and institutions are being re-examined through the lens of anti-racism and equity. Data, and the systems that create and rely upon data, have been no exception.
In this online seminar, audiences will hear from interdisciplinary experts as they define data equity and discuss considerations of the ways in which data are collected, analyzed, interpreted, and distributed. This discussion will explore ways that data can reinforce stereotypes, exacerbate problems like racial bias, or otherwise undermine social justice. Finally, we will discuss how data equity can empower communities, yield informed decision making, and share best practices for inclusivity and improving data equity.
The event will be moderated by Dr. Essie Torres, Director of Strategy for Research Diversity Workforce and Community Partnerships at the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research. Our panelists include:

Dr. Kristin Black — ECU Department of Health Education and Promotion
Dr. Trenette Goings – UNC School of Social Work
Dr. Iheoma Iruka — UNC Department of Public Policy
Mr. Milton Suggs — UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute

View a recording of the event here.

Data Matters 2022
2022-08-08 - 2022-08-12
Data Matters™ is a week-long series of one and two-day courses aimed at students and professionals in business, research, and government. Sponsored by the Odum Institute for Research in Social Science at UNC-Chapel Hill, the National Consortium for Data Science, and RENCI, the short-course series gives students the chance to learn about a wide range of topics in data science, analytics, visualization, curation, and more from expert instructors.
Check out the Data Matters website to see more information about the first-ever springtime series, Data Matters: Spring Ahead, which will be held on March 13-16, 2023 and will feature a selection of their most popular two-day courses. The traditional Data Matters series will return in August 2023.

NCDS Lunch and Learn: How to Be An Antiracist Researcher
2022-04-07 12:00 - 13:00
Antiracist researchers combat inequality and racism by conceptualizing, implementing, and disseminating research that dismantles racism, oppression, discrimination, and structural inequalities. This presentation offers participants an opportunity to learn how to engage in antiracist research by presenting a counter-narrative to the traditional conceptualization and implementation of research with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). During our time together, the panelists will

define antiracist research
offer unique principles for conducting antiracist research
present challenges the antiracist researcher will encounter
offer practical recommendations

Panelists include:

Dr. Trenette Goings – UNC School of Social Work
Dr. Faye Belgrave – Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), main campus
Dr. Maghboobah Mosavel – Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), medical campus
