UVA Data Points – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Data science is an incredibly diverse and global field of study and practice. In order to tackle some of our most challenging issues ranging from climate change to cognition, we need data and data scientists from all over the world to make advances in research, technology and innovation. To talk about their research interests and the importance of having diverse, global perspectives in the field of data science, this episode of UVA Data Points features a conversation by Javier Rasero, Assistant Professor of Data Science, and two University of Virginia data science students: Marco Gutiérrez Chavezis a first-year Ph.D. student from Peru and Mercedes Mora-Figueroa de Liñán is an M.S. in Data Science student from Spain.

To view the full digital exhibition visit:

https://story.datascience.virginia.edu/

The Story of Us is a digital brand showcase that chronicles the creation of a data science school at the University of Virginia. From an idea to an institute, and now to the first school of its kind in the nation, this bespoke, interactive website tells the story through written and spoken narrative supported by multimedia, archival documentation, and testimony from a diversity of voices. The result is a unique brand piece that combines technology with art, a retrospective of one school’s past and how it will inform its future. It was commissioned by the School of Data Science to mark the opening of its new building in April 2024.

The Story of Us website was built by John Baxton, senior web developer for the School of Data Science, who worked in close collaboration with Sue Haas, the School’s information technology director. The designs for the site were created by the Charlottesville-based Journey Group. Video interviews and the audio version of The Story of Us were recorded and edited by Cody Huff, multimedia producer for the School of Data Science, who also coordinated the curation of assets for the project. Monica Manney provided the narration.

Research and editorial content for the project were provided by the School of Data Science communications team of Huff, Cooper Allen, Alyssa Brown, Emma Candelier, and Kirsten Samuels.

The Story of Us would not have been possible without the cooperation and generous time provided by the key figures interviewed for this project. They are Cathy Anderson, Phil Bourne, Don Brown, Arlyn Burgess, Rick Horwitz, Reggie Leonard, Melissa Phillips, Jim Ryan, Teresa Sullivan, and Jaffray Woodriff.

And to all the students, faculty, and staff who contributed to this story over the years, the School of Data Science will forever be grateful.

In this episode we’re looking at the past, present, and future of artificial intelligence in higher education.

To explore this topics we’re featuring a conversation between Phil Bourne, the dean of the UVA School of Data Science, and Jeffrey Blume, the Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs, also at UVA Data Science.

Jeffrey and Phil discuss the recent trends in artificial intelligence and they look at how this will impact the student experience, the faculty and staff experience, and the research landscape in higher education.

This episode was recorded during the Miller Center’s 2023 William and Carol Stevenson Conference, U.S. China Tech Competiton: Has Democracy Met its Match? 

For more info on this conference, as well as to watch the video versions, follow this link: https://millercenter.org/news-events/events/us-china-tech-competition-has-democracy-met-its-match

This episode features the first panel discussion from the conference entitled:

How might apps and other technology platforms play a role in Chinese government data-gathering efforts? What are potential policy responses to the increasingly complex data flows between the United States and China? This panel addresses the long-term stability of U.S. technology infrastructure and related concerns for U.S. national security. 

Josh Chin, Kara Frederick, Shanthi Kalathil, Aynne Kokas (moderator)

In this episode, we're thrilled to have Dr. Aynne Kokas, a C.K. Yen Professor at the Miller Center and an associate professor of media studies at the University of Virginia. Kokas’ research examines Sino-U.S. media and technology relations. Dr. Kokas is also the author of the critically acclaimed book "Trafficking Data: How China Is Winning the Battle for Digital Sovereignty," which we will be referring to frequently throughout this conversation. We will also touch on a few topics that were discussed in her recent conference at the Miller Center titled "U.S.-China Tech Competition: Has Democracy Met Its Match?"

During the event, Dr. Kokas and other experts discussed a variety of issues related to the ongoing tech competition between the US and China. For example, they explored the ways in which apps and other technology platforms may be used by the Chinese government for data-gathering purposes, and examined potential policy responses to the increasingly complex data flows between the two countries. Additionally, they discussed the long-term stability of US technology infrastructure and its implications for national security. In addition, there were panels that discussed the digital economy, climate, tech infrastructure, and political influence between China and the US.

In this episode we'll be discussing data policy for US-China technology, a topic that has become increasingly relevant in recent years as the two countries continue to compete for dominance in the tech industry. We'll delve into the differences in approach to data policy between China and the United States, the implications of these differences, and how China's digital silk road initiative is expanding its influence over the global digital economy.

We'll also discuss the challenges of balancing economic benefits against concerns about national security and human rights, and the future of the technology industry in light of these trends.

Links:

U.S.–China tech competition: Has democracy met its match?

Aynne Kokas website: https://www.aynnekokas.com/

Trafficking Data: How China Is Winning the Battle for Digital Sovereignty

This episode explores the intersection of neuroscience and data science with three experts in the field, Drs. John Darrell van Horn, Tanya Evans, and Teague Henry. As we know, the brain is complicated. People have been charting paths through the brain for decades, making breakthroughs and discoveries that have changed the world. In recent years though, new methodologies in brain research have made significant impacts. Advances in computing power, as well as techniques like machine learning, neural networks, and computer vision, have allowed researchers to ask questions and make discoveries that were not possible even ten years ago. Given these new approaches to studying the world’s most complicated organ, one could say that brain science is data science. Our guests make a compelling case.

This episode features a conversation between Lane Rasberry, Wikimedia-in-Residence at the University of Virginia School of Data Science, and Virginia Eubanks, author, journalist, and associate professor of political science at the University at Albany. 

The conversation was recorded in 2019 but the topics are still relevant today. Eubanks looks toward the future, warning of the unintended—or at times intended—consequences of emerging technologies. The discussion focuses on the effects of algorithmic automation, as well as the practice, policies, and implementation of these algorithms. Although she critiques the tech world, Eubanks also provides many reasons for optimism.

Virginia Eubanks authored the 2018 book Automating Inequality, which is a detailed investigation into data-based discrimination. She is also the author of Digital Dead End: Fighting for Social Justice in the Information Age and the co-editor, with Alethia Jones, of Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around: Forty Years of Movement Building with Barbara Smith. She also writes for various outlets, including the Guardian, American Scientist, and the New York Times. Recently, Virginia began the PTSD Bookclub, an ongoing project that explores books about trauma and its aftermath. You can find this project and Virginia Eubank’s other projects at virginia-eubanks.com.

In this episode we’re bringing you a conversation on the future of academic data science recorded live at UVA Data Science’s Datapalooza 2022 event

Datapalooza is a flagship event for the School of Data Science. It’s typically held each year in November and features presentations by researchers here at UVA, as well as friends and collaborators of the School of Data Science.

In this episode we’re featuring a panel discussion between: 

• Doug Hague, the Executive Director at UNC-Charlotte’s School of Data Science
• H.V. Jagadish, Director of the Michigan Institute for Data Science at the University of Michigan
• Phil Bourne, Dean of the UVA School of Data Science
• And Micaela Parker, Founder and Executive Director of the Academic Data Science Alliance. Micaela also serves as the moderator for this panel discussion. 

Links:

Future of Academic Data Science video recording

Michigan Institue of Data Science 

UNC Charlottes School of Data Science

UVA School of Data Science

For our exploration of Analytics, we are diving into the world of sports. Because of advances in machine learning, wearable technology, and computer vision, the field of sport analytics is a whole new game. This episode gets into the details on what is new, the impact of analytics and technology on athletes and sports, as well as the ethics surrounding its implementation. Three experts from the University of Virginia School of Data Science met to discuss this exciting topic: Natalie Kupperman, Stephen Baek, and Don Brown.