Abstract: 

We will present two different dimensions of the practice of data science, specifically data storytelling (including data visualization) and data literacy. There will be short presentations, integrated with interactive sessions, group activities, and brief moments of brain and body exercise. The combination of these various activities is aimed at demonstrating and practicing the concepts being presented. The Data Literacy theme component will include a section on "data profiling - having a first date with your data", focusing on getting acquainted with all the facets, characteristics, features (good and bad), and types of your data. This theme will also include a section on matching models to algorithms to data types to the questions being asked. The Data Storytelling theme component will include sections on the neuroscience of visual displays of evidence (visual analytics) for decision-making and include a component on user-centered design in data science. Design thinking, empathy, consultative practice, and the BI Dashboard Formula (BIDF) methodology will be emphasized. The combination of the two themes (data literacy and data storytelling) will be made more concrete through exercises in small breakout groups. Each group will be given a sample problem, then asked to take a data science approach (modeling, visualization, storytelling) to address the three fundamental questions that we should always consider in our projects: What? So what? Now what? The workshop participant will come away with design tips, tricks, and tools for better human-centered data science. The goal is for your next data science project and presentation to be your best ever. As Maya Angelou said so eloquently, “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Make your data science matter by demonstrating why and how it matters.

Bio: 

Dr. Kirk Borne is the Principal Data Scientist and an Executive Advisor at global technology and consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton. In those roles, he focuses on applications of data science, data management, machine learning, A.I., and modeling across a wide variety of disciplines. He also provides training and mentoring to executives and data scientists within numerous external organizations, industries, agencies, and partners in the use of large data repositories and machine learning for discovery, decision support, and innovation. Previously, he was Professor of Astrophysics and Computational Science at George Mason University for 12 years where he did research, taught, and advised students in data science. Prior to that, Kirk spent nearly 20 years supporting data systems activities on NASA space science programs, which included a period as NASA's Data Archive Project Scientist for the Hubble Space Telescope. Dr. Borne has a B.S. degree in Physics from LSU, and a Ph.D. in Astronomy from Caltech. In 2016 he was elected Fellow of the International Astrostatistics Association for his lifelong contributions to big data research in astronomy. As a global speaker, he has given hundreds of invited talks worldwide, including conference keynote presentations at many dozens of data science, A.I. and big data analytics events globally. He is an active contributor on social media, where he has been named consistently among the top worldwide influencers in big data and data science since 2013. He was recently identified as the #1 digital influencer worldwide for 2018-2019. You can follow him on Twitter at @KirkDBorne.