Data Science for the Public Good Young Scholars Program team, including Professor and Professor-In-Charge of Data Science Heike Hofmann, has been selected to receive the 2021 ISU Extension and Outreach Excellence in Research-Based Programming Award.
According to Dr. John Lawrence, Vice President for Extension & Outreach, in his letter to the program team, he stated "as extension professionals, we use research-based programming and educational resources to better understand the needs of all Iowans. I appreciate how you have engaged students, community leaders, and extension professionals in real-world projects that benefit communities while increasing data awareness, literacy, and technical capacity. I commend you for adapting your efforts to the pandemic, as students worked virtually with Iowa clients to identify and prioritize data related to economic mobility, alcohol prevention efforts, substance use and systems of care infrastructure, and extension community helpline services."
The award was handed out at the ISU Extension and Outreach Awards Ceremony on March 9.
The Data Science for the Public Good (DSPG) Young Scholars program is an immersive summer program that engages students from across Iowa to work together on projects that address local and state government challenges around critical social issues relevant in the world today. DSPG resident scholars conduct research at the intersection of statistics, computation, and the social sciences to determine how information generated within every community can be leveraged to improve quality of life and inform public policy. This program provides an excellent opportunity to develop a professional portfolio, expand your networks, and learn about the application of data science.