Dinorah Cantú-Pedraza and Sam DeJohn at The GovLab: “….To serve the goal of more data-driven and evidence-based governing, The GovLab at NYU Tandon School of Engineering this week launched “Solving Public Problems with Data,” a new online course developed with support from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation.
This online lecture series helps those working for the public sector, or simply in the public interest, learn to use data to improve decision-making. Through real-world examples and case studies — captured in 10 video lectures from leading experts in the field — the new course outlines the fundamental principles of data science and explores ways practitioners can develop a data analytical mindset. Lectures in the series include:
- Introduction to evidence-based decision-making (Quentin Palfrey, formerly of MIT)
- Data analytical thinking and methods, Part I (Julia Lane, NYU)
- Machine learning (Gideon Mann, Bloomberg LP)
- Discovering and collecting data (Carter Hewgley, Johns Hopkins University)
- Platforms and where to store data (Arnaud Sahuguet, Cornell Tech)
- Data analytical thinking and methods, Part II (Daniel Goroff, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation)
- Barriers to building a data practice (Beth Blauer, Johns Hopkins University and GovEx)
- Data collaboratives (Stefaan G. Verhulst, The GovLab)
- Strengthening a data analytic culture (Amen Ra Mashariki, ESRI)
- Data governance and sharing (Beth Simone Noveck, NYU Tandon/The GovLab)
The goal of the lecture series is to enable participants to define and leverage the value of data to achieve improved outcomes and equities, reduced cost and increased efficiency in how public policies and services are created. No prior experience with computer science or statistics is necessary or assumed. In fact, the course is designed precisely to serve public professionals seeking an introduction to data science….(More)”.