Welcoming new faces and new learning spaces.

As many of us know, the Fall of 2020 has looked like no other in our recent history. It is hard to believe that almost nine months ago, we closed our office doors due to the global pandemic entering our daily lives. Much has changed in our personal and our professional day to day. It was something we never dreamed of, and certainly never prepared for.

Despite COVID-19 wreaking havoc all over the world, we have transitioned into this new hybrid world of living, working, and learning. Our days from March until now have come with no shortage of challenges, but as we continue to move forward and adapt to policy changes, physical distancing habits, and zoom fatigue, we’ll continue to find positives buried in the uncertainties.

As our title suggests, we have certainly welcomed new faces this semester, as the Data Science Master’s program ushered in a new group of 33 students. In just our second year operating, we have achieved a cohort of 52% female students, an achievement worth celebrating. Additionally, over half of our students are learning remotely all over the world. Our new hybrid learning model has pushed our resilient faculty to rethink and redesign their courses to deliver content not only over various platforms, but now at a multitude of times. Students and faculty alike have far exceeded expectations for a successful semester.

And if transitioning to a new teaching and learning platform wasn’t enough for the Data Science Institute, we are thrilled to announce that our offices and classrooms have relocated to the second floor of the Sony Building. And while most of our operations are still being conducted remotely, we plan to welcome you to our new space once we are cleared to gather in larger groups on campus.

As we all continue to straddle the upside down world that is COVID-19 we hope to continue our work that focuses on harnessing the power of data to do cutting edge research. Please reach out to us with any questions, comments, ideas, or ways to collaborate… we’d love to hear from you!

NEWS

• Harvard Economist Raj Chetty highlights some of the economic and social inequalities exacerbated by COVID-19 during virtual lecture
• New Faculty Engage in Data Science for the Social Good
  
• Bell siblings reflect Vanderbilt’s culture of innovation
  
• Second year student, Alfred Prah, is seizing the opportunity to accomplish lifelong goals

In Memory of Ben Lane

Friends and Colleagues remember Teammate and Data Scientist

On Wednesday, August 12, the Data Science Institute learned of the horrific news that our teammate, Ben Lane, had been shot and killed outside of his home the night before. Shock and grief rippled through every single one of us, as this is news you’re never prepared to deal with.

Ben joined the DSI in 2019 and had just recently graduated with his Master’s in Biostatistics from Vanderbilt. He will be remembered as a friend and valued teammate by all. The MS program in Data Science plans to create a scholarship in his memory to carry on his adventurous spirit and inquisitive intellect.

Read more about Ben’s passing, and more importantly his life and contribution to Vanderbilt, and our Data Science Institute from his colleagues in this piece written by Vanderbilt Undergraduate Student, Avery Muir.

Friends and colleagues remember Vanderbilt data scientist Ben Lane.