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Data Science for Everyone

Using data analytics to tackle fascinating societal questions

This course will provide students with an overview of the world of data science research.

Focusing on how the analysis of data from social media and other internet-based sites (I.e. Twitter, YouTube, images, Wikipedia, Google books, etc) can be used to tackle complex and fascinating societal questions and reveal insights on how happy we all are, who we are friends with, and how often we lie (as examples).

The course will survey several exciting research projects in the field and provide students with a general understanding about the research methods and analysis (I.e machine learning and social network analysis) in a non-technical manner that is accessible to students of all educational backgrounds.

Course content will be portrayed through a blend of lectures, multi-media, accessing online materials/articles, and assignments to enhance critical thinking and a discussion-based class structure.

Tentative list of topics

  • Data Science: What is data? What is science? A brief overview of research methodology
  • Culturomics: What can we learn from 5 million digitized books? (Examples from diverse disciplines like history, arts, linguistics & society
  • Social Network Analysis: We are all connected
  • Machine Learning: Would you survive the Titantic?
  • Deep Learning: Mimicking the human brain
  • Sentiment Analysis: How happy (or not) are people?
  • Hacking: How to protect your digital privacy
  • Eureka! Or not...Tackling enigmas, mysteries, and controversies

Class specifics

No prerequisites.
No textbook required.