Educational Partners

A recent discussion at the National Workshop on Data Science Education illustrated the value of open conversation about the impact of AI on humanity.

Safiya Noble, an internet studies scholar, social scientist and UCLA professor, joined Jennifer Chayes, dean of the UC Berkeley College of Computing, Data Science, and Society (CDSS), during a June 24 afternoon session on the Berkeley campus. Their wide-ranging conversation considered the importance of critical thinking and interdisciplinary education, and the need for open systems to expand access to, and participation in, the development and use of AI technologies.

In a week filled with panels on pedagogy, curriculum design and emerging technologies in the classroom, the 2025 National Workshop on Data Science Education paused to ask a critical question: What comes next for the students we teach?

A panel of UC Berkeley alumni offered their perspectives, reflecting on how their undergraduate experience shaped their careers, what they wish they'd known earlier and how educators can better prepare students for a changing workforce. 

This summer, we partnered with the Puente MaS program to introduce CA community college students underrepresented in STEM to the field of data science. Through student narratives, a career professional's advice, and information from our Data Science Undergraduate Studies team, the students discovered pathways into a major many had never heard of. 

Dozens of California public educators walked into a sunlight streaked, first floor-room at the edge of UC Berkeley in late June. Hugging each other and snagging coffee or water, they navigated blue and gold star-shaped balloons to settle at tables facing a projector screen.

These scholars are part of a state effort to make California the nation’s leader in excellent, equitable and accessible undergraduate data science education. For the next two days, the assembled attendees would share how they’re building programming, community or pathways to do just that...