Inspiration and Connection at WiDS Datathon Collaboration Day

More than 75 students, mentors, industry, and community members came together at Wozniak Lounge in Soda Hall to kick off this year's Women in Data Science (WiDS) Datathon, which continues through this month. Watch video highlights (link is external) and learn more about the Datathon here (link is external). "I never would have had the drive and confidence to work on such a project myself...

Special Guests Welcome Data Scholars

The newest class of Data Scholars bonded over brigadieros, Berkeley, and a common love for data at the Spring 2019 Data Scholars Kickoff last Friday. Joining them were numerous special guests, including Google’s VP of Engineering Luiz André Barroso, Google Earth Engine Co-founder Matt Hancher, a former Data Science Scholars leader, and members of the Division of Data Sciences leadership team. [[{"fid":"882","view_mode":"width_300","fields":{"format":"width_300","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"data scholars kickoff","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"data scholars...

Data 8 Thrives - On and Off Campus

More than 1,600 students signed up for Data 8: Foundations of Data Science this semester, making this innovative introductory course the largest on campus. The growing enrollment is just one indication of the continuing enthusiasm for Data 8, which launched as a pilot in 2015 with fewer than 100 students. Universities and colleges around the country, and even internationally, are creating their own versions of...

Feedback Opportunities for Data Science Associate Provost Search

Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost Paul Alivisatos sent the following message today: Dear Faculty, At the end of last semester, I announced the launch of the search for the position of Associate Provost of Data Science and Information and Dean of the School of Information and invited you to provide input to the search committee. We have received robust feedback and many nominations through the...

Women in Data Science: Take the Challenge, Make a Difference

[[{"fid":"817","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"2":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false}},"attributes":{"class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"2"}}]] Did you know that palm oil can be found in everything from the chocolate in your desk at work, to the shampoo that you use at home? Timed with the March 4, 2019 Global WiDS@Stanford Conference, the 2nd Annual Women in Data Science (WiDS) 2019 Datathon challenge is to create a model that can detect oil palm plantations in high-resolution satellite imagery, building...

Dig into Data Science Across Disciplines!

This semester's Connector courses offer Data 8 students the opportunity to explore data science in a variety of disciplines, from physics to literature to child nutrition in the developing world. Learn more about some of the offerings below, click here to find out more about Connectors, and go here for a listing of all Spring 2019 options. Connectors with availability for Spring 2019 Data Science...

Campus Announces Search for Associate Provost of the Division of Data Science & Information & Dean of the School of Information

The Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost made the following announcement today: The University of California, Berkeley, invites nominations, inquiries, and applications for the inaugural position of Associate Provost of the Division of Data Science and Information and Dean of the School of Information. Data science is rapidly transforming society and the academy. In response, Berkeley has established programs in data science that...

Join Berkeley’s Booming Data Science Discovery Program!

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Data Collaboratives: A conversation with Tom Kalil of Schmidt Futures

[[{"fid":"762","view_mode":"width_200","fields":{"format":"width_200","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"t kalil","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"t kalil"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"2":{"format":"width_200","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"t kalil","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"t kalil"}},"attributes":{"alt":"t kalil","title":"t kalil","style":"float: left;","class":"media-element file-width-200","data-delta":"2"}}]]Last fall, Schmidt Futures provided a grant to UC Berkeley’s Division of Data Sciences, with the goal of identifying specific opportunities for new and expanded data collaboratives by engaging our students, faculty, and external partners. Recently, we caught up with Tom Kalil, Chief Innovation Officer at Schmidt Futures, to learn more about the motivation for this grant...

Celebrating Berkeley's First Data Science Majors

Berkeley’s first data science majors graduate this weekend, breaking ground in a field that was just beginning to take shape when they initially arrived on campus. In 2014, the University pulled together a task force to respond to surging interest in data science education. Over the next four years, faculty and students from across campus stepped up to create a thriving data science education program...