Do you want to

·      Utilize your analytical skills to make the world a better place?

·      Learn to be a better data scientist while becoming an asset to grassroots organizations working on vital challenges to democracy?

·      Develop analyses that empower and build equity?

Data Science for Democracy is a two-week workshop co-sponsored by the Johns Hopkins University SNF Agora Institute and the Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics.  Sessions will take place from June 6 to June 17, 2022, with the goal of engaging aspiring data scientists to gain skills while working on vital problems arising in the study of democracy. Travel and living expenses and accommodations will be provided to those selected to participate.

Who should apply?

The program is aimed to provide experience in data analysis in the context of the social and political sciences.  Graduate students in Mathematical Sciences and quantitative social sciences are invited to apply. Women, underrepresented minorities, persons with disabilities, first generation college attendees, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Program qualifications:

·      Interest in using data to gain insights on democracy around the world.

·      Basic knowledge of statistics, linear algebra, and optimization is desirable.

·      Coding proficiency in Python and/or R.    

Aside from coding experience, no specific data science background is required. The program will recruit up to 20 participants competitively.

Application process

To apply, use this website to submit a one-page cover letter explaining relevant qualifications, such as past experiences and course work (including online), and describing your interest in applying data science to pressing problems of civic engagement and democratic governance. Please also request a brief reference letter from a professor or supervisor/colleague speaking to your qualifications.

Workshop format

Participants from throughout the country will work in small teams on a variety of available data sets curated by scholars at the SNF Agora Institute.  Mentors from the Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics and SNF Agora will be present.

Participants can arrive and check in on the evening of Sunday, June 5.

Days 1 and 2: Data science boot camp.

Days 3: Introduction to projects, forming teams, planning.

Days 4-10: Work on projects.

Day 11: Prepare presentation/posters

Day 12: Presentations.

We plan to adjourn by Friday, June 17, noon.

Our aim is to prepare students to make contributions to vital democratic data-analytic projects.

Participants can expect:

·      To practice basic skills and acquire new insights in applied data analysis

·      To work with rich data sets and identify potentially fruitful patterns, with the potential for both scholarly and societal impact

·      To gain from the mentorship of experts on the Johns Hopkins faculty