DSPG Symposium 2021 Program

Data Science for the Public Good Virtual Symposium 2021

 

We hope you will join us for our annual Data Science for the Public Good Symposium on August 6! The Symposium is a signature event of the DSPG Forum, established by the University of Virginia Biocomplexity Institute. The Forum brings together a community of scientists, scholars, researchers, and policy-makers hoping to gain insight on using data science to positively transform the areas in which we live, work, and play.

At the annual Symposium, Data Science for the Public Good Young Scholars present their research findings from the 11-week summer program. This year, the Symposium features a nationally-recognized keynote speaker, and more than 35 students from DSPG Young Scholars Programs at four universities across two U.S. states.

We have planned an engaging and thought-provoking afternoon that provides opportunities to sit back and listen, or if you choose, interact with our keynote speaker in the plenary session and young scholars during research poster sessions.

Instructions for navigating your way to "zoom rooms" for the poster sessions will be shared with registered attendees on the day of the symposium.

Please note that all times are in Eastern Time Zone and you will want to plan your afternoon accordingly.

Symposium Agenda

Register here.

Plenary Session

1 p.m. Welcome and Keynote
2 p.m. Young Scholars Program: Overview and Highlights

2:15 p.m. Break

Poster Sessions

2:30-4:30 p.m. Young Scholars Present Research Projects

 

Symposium Program

 

Plenary Session

The Symposium opens with a plenary session, which is followed by poster sessions with this year’s Data Science for the Public Good Young Scholars. You are welcome to join us for a portion or all of the Symposium. We do hope you stay for all of it!

1 p.m. Welcome and Keynote

 

 

Sallie Keller will open the Symposium and deliver the welcome address.

Sallie is the Director of the Social and Decision Analytics Division at the University of Virginia’s Biocomplexity Institute; a Distinguished Professor in Biocomplexity, and Professor of Public Health Sciences, UVA School of Medicine.
See bio for more details.

 

 

Jeri Mulrow is this year’s keynote speaker and we’re excited to hear more about this topic: Enabling Data Science to Do Public Good: Are We Making an Impact?

Jeri Metzger Mulrow is Vice President and Director of Statistics and Evaluation Sciences at Westat.
See bio for more details.

Abstract: In a first keynote presentation of its kind, Jeri Mulrow will speak openly and candidly about the state of using data science to do public good in the world. She will tackle questions such as: “Where are we headed? Are we there yet? What do we still need to do?” Ms. Mulrow will highlight key elements, including critical laws and guidance, people skills, technology and tools, and funding that are woven together to provide the essential foundation and building blocks that enable the use of data science to make positive change in society. Our speaker will touch on how the work she has done and contributions she has made over her 30-year career in the federal government have dovetailed with these initiatives, and have helped to achieve progress and positive impact. Still, using data science to serve a public good is unfinished business, and a host of challenges remain, which Ms. Mulrow will discuss in the final portion of her keynote discussion. Audience Q&A will follow this dynamic presentation.

 

2 p.m. DSPG Young Scholars Program: Overview and Highlights

This year, more than 35 undergraduate and graduate students from four partner universities were involved virtually with postdoctoral fellows and faculty mentors in summer research projects that addressed critical social issues relevant in the world today.

In addition, the Young Scholars program ran in Istanbul and Ankara, Turkey where students gained practical research experience and skills to provide them with more career opportunities.

DSPG Young Scholars program leaders will share highlights from their programs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poster Sessions

We hope you will join one or more of the 20 poster sessions taking place between 2:30 pm and 4:30pm. You will hear from student interns and fellows about their impactful research that they conducted as part of DSPG Young Scholars programs in Virginia and Iowa.

Find out more about these exciting research projects on the poster session page!

Partners and Sponsors

Find out more details about our Symposium Partners and Sponsors.