EVENTS

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, April 12nd, 2024

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative presents the Data Science Seminar Series (DS^3)

ABOUT: Le’Kiesha French is a serial entrepreneur and the CEO of The Future in Color, a global initiative.

This presentation will focus on how The Future in Color is leveraging data to develop strategies for closing the 228-year wealth gap for Black people in America – accelerating the Black GDP and increasing it by 50% by 2045.

– Apply today for our new job openings!

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative is hiring for four (4) new positions.

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative (DSI) invites applications for several new positions: 1) Program Coordinator for Student Development  2) Program Coordinator for Faculty and Staff Development 3) Assistant Director of Industry Engagement and 4) Assistant Director of Programs.

The AUC Data Science Initiative is located in Atlanta, GA, and was established in 2019 through a UnitedHealth Group grant, and will launch HBCU-wide programs in 2023 with a grant from Mastercard.  To learn more… download the job descriptions by clicking the job title above.

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, March 22nd, 2024

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative presents the Data Science Seminar Series (DS^3)

ABOUT: The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative is launching two programs for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The Microsoft-AUC Data Science Mini-Grant Program and the PreFreshman Experience virtual summer program. Come learn more about these innovative programs and how the HBCU community can participate!

Join this exclusive panel with key executives from Microsoft, Mastercard, and the AUC Data Science Initiatives.

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, March 8th, 2024

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative presents the Data Science Seminar Series (DS^3)

ABOUT: Semiconductor chips or “chips” can be found in much of modern-day technology. From autonomous vehicles to advanced telecommunications to biomedical devices, chip production, and development are vital to ensuring our economy and national security. The presenters will share how chips are used at scale, recent research development, and the nation’s investment of billions of dollars will advance chip technology. Opportunities to participate in the chips national ecosystem development will be shared.

– 11:00 am ET, Friday, February 23th, 2024

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative is in pursuit of developing cutting-edge data science research and scholarship. Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, a former professor at Atlanta University, pioneered data visualizations to unravel the social plight of Blacks in the 19th century. This one-day symposium invites faculty and staff from the AUC to share their data science work, including harnessing data science to address issues that face Black America.

The Symposium featured engaging keynote presentations, lightning talks, and networking opportunities. This year’s Symposium is now available to watch on demand!

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, February 9th, 2024

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative presents the Data Science Seminar Series (DS^3)

ABOUT: In this DS^3, we will present recent examples of quantum engineering research. First, we will show the adaptation of a black-box quantum algorithm (Deutsch-Josza) based on a metamaterial-based graded-index lens for operation in the THz regime [1]. Then, we present the temperature dependence and characterization of single-photon outputs from a fiber-based entangled photon source expected for applications in a quantum-enabled internet. In the third section, we will present a quantum state tomography framework where state reconstruction is directly obtained from a set of measurements (both from optical and near-term intermediate scale superconducting qubit-based quantum hardware) and features enhanced application performance from a suite of artificial intelligence tools

-12:30 pm until 4:00 pm ET, Wednesday, Wednesday 7th, 2024

Interested in using generative AI to make some art? Bring your laptop and charging wire to the upcoming workshop featuring the amazing  Dr. Nettrice Gaskins. Lunch will be provided so please register!!

Location: AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library, Lower Level Quiet Space

 -5:30 pm until 7:00 pm ET, Tuesday, January 30th, 2024

Join us for a FREE dinner…along for dinner, networking, resume review, and professional photos with the Coca-Cola Company and SAP.  We will connect you with industry representatives to discuss data science internship and job opportunities. You are encouraged to BRING YOUR RESUME and get a free headshot photo! The attire is business professional. Join us!

Location: AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library, Lower Level Quiet Space

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, January 26th, 2024

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative presents the Data Science Seminar Series (DS^3)

ABOUT: This DS^3 will present on UNCF’s Applied Research Institute for Mathematics and Computational Sciences and its work across HBCUs.  Dr. Chad Womack, Dr Idris Stovall, and Dr. Fay Cobb Payton have been instrumental in developing ARI and will speak directly to various aspects of ARI’s programs and initiatives.

– 11:30 am until 2:30 pm ET, Thursday, November 30th, 2023

After seven weeks of intense collaboration and innovation, our student teams are gearing up for the grand finale of the Morgan Stanley x AUC DSI Data Challenge. These talented minds have been hard at work, crafting cutting-edge presentations that showcase their dedication and expertise in the field.

Location: Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE), 504 Fair Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30313. Free parking is available in the lot directly behind the RICE building.

RSVP now, and secure your spot for an event that promises to be as thrilling as it is enlightening!

 -5:30 pm until 7:00 pm ET, Thursday, November 16th, 2023

Join us for a FREE dinner…along with networking, and engaging conversation with the UnitedHealth Group team.

Location: AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library, Exhibition Hall, 3rd floor

– 11:30 am until 1:00 pm ET, Wednesday, November 15th, 2023

We invite all Atlanta University Center (AUC) students, faculty and staff to join us for a special lunch and learn event featuring The Home Depot data science team. A GrubHub will be provided to all attendees.

Location: Virtual on Zoom

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, November 10th, 2023

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative presents the Data Science Seminar Series (DS^3)

ABOUT:  Data science education at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) can narrow this divide by engaging diverse student and faculty populations who have the knowledge and skills required to address issues of social and cultural relevance. MSIs have proven to be effective at recruiting, retaining, and preparing under-represented students for the STEM workforce.

This seminar will detail efforts to bring together representatives from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and professional organizations to build resource networks, identify barriers to data science education, and co-create a set of recommendations focusing specifically on environmental sciences, thus empowering and supporting equitable data science education and training opportunities that ameliorate the digital divide.

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, October 27th, 2023

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative presents the Data Science Seminar Series (DS^3)

ABOUT: Data is used to explore potential health challenges associated with space travel. As both NASA and commercial space companies push the boundaries of space travel, there is an urgent need to understand the impacts of space travel on health. This seminar will provide insights on how data and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology is augmenting healthy space exploration.

Panelists Include:

-Walter Groteke, Founder and CEO at MyMedicalHUB
-Dr. Yvonne Cagle, NASA Astronaut
-Dr. Michael Douglas, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology at Morehouse College

– 11:30 am ET, Wednesday, October 18th, 2023

Join the the Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative and Mastercard as we announce an exciting new partnership!  We will be joined by AUC presidents, Mastercard leadership, politicians and dignified guests!  All are invited to attend.

When: Lunch at 11:30am | Announcement Event at 12:00pm

Where: AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library  – 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW  Atlanta, GA 30314

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, October 13th, 2023

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative presents the Data Science Seminar Series (DS^3)

ABOUT: From policing, voting/elections, bias in AI, and privacy, our society has no shortage of problems. Computing can be an instrument to address many of society’s issues if only researchers could integrate technology with people, culture, policy, and more. Dr. Juan Gilbert will discuss how his Computing for Social Good research lab has developed innovative solutions that are transforming policies. Dr. Gilbert will give demonstrations of some technologies and will show how you, too, can leverage computing for social good.

– 10:00 am ET, Saturday, October 7th, 2023

This event is a unique opportunity for space enthusiasts of all ages to come together and celebrate the wonders of the universe. Whether you’re a seasoned astronomer or just curious about the cosmos, there’s something for everyone at Space Day Atlanta.

So mark your calendars and get ready for an unforgettable day of space exploration. Space Day Atlanta in the AUC 2023 promises to be an out-of-this-world experience that will leave you inspired and awe-struck. Don’t miss out on this incredible event!

– Registration Closes October 1st, 2023

The Morgan Stanley Data Challenge is an opportunity to discover and hone data science skills while solving a critical yet intriguing challenge. In interdisciplinary teams, students apply their problem-solving, data analytics, business strategy, teamwork, and presentation skills to address real-world business problems.

OPEN TO ALL AUC STUDENTS!

– 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm ET, Wednesday, September 13th, 2023

All attendees will network with industry representatives and re-tool their resume (on-site!) under the tutelage of the globally recognized leader and scholar Dr. DeQuan Smith-Murry.

Location: AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library, Exhibition Hall, 3^rd floor

Special Notes:

• ATTIRE: DRESS FOR SUCCESS, and please, no jeans, sneakers, flip flops, or athletic wear. Need to suit-up? AUC students can participate in the JC Penny suit-up event on September 10 (contact Caroyn Rhodes at crhodes@aucenter.edu).
• RESUME/CV: Bring your Resume/CV + laptop for an interactive exercise to make your Resume/CV pop! If you don’t have one already, no worries – we’ve got you!

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, September 8th, 2023

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative presents the Data Science Seminar Series (DS^3).

AI-related products and technologies are constructed and deployed in a societal context: that is, a dynamic and complex collection of social, cultural, historical, political and economic circumstances.

This seminar will explore the challenges it takes to translate these societal contexts into the quantitative representations, methods, and practices that dominate standard machine learning (ML) approaches and responsible AI product development practices.

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, August 25th, 2023

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative returns with our FIRST Data Science Seminar Series (DS^3) of the 2023 Fall Semester.

Learn how graduate school can make a huge impact on your data science career journey! We will be joined by a distinguished panel of data science academic experts.  Topics  will include:
-How does graduate school work
-How to get into graduate school: the application + funding + courses + etc.
-How to prepare for graduate school BEFORE the first semester

– 5:00PM until 7:00PM ET, August 23rd, 2023

Join us for our 2nd annual AUC Data Block Party!!  Open to the ENTIRE AUC family!   This party will be filled with fun, food, and technology – while exposing you to exciting data science opportunities!

SAVE THE DATE => August 23rd!

– June 8, 6:00 pm-9:00 pm | June 9, 9:30 am-4:30 pm ET; Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA

This symposium explores the Power of Data Behind Black Health and how to develop equitable solutions for healthier communities. Participants will engage in multidisciplinary discussions that explore how to advance AI/ML approaches that improve health outcomes and address health disparities, in particular, for those from Black communities. Topics include AI/ML approaches that address health disparities, the impact of cultural insensitivity in AI/ML algorithms and models, and methodologies that promote transparency and mitigate bias in AI/ML algorithms and models.

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, April 28th, 2023

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative returns with our FINAL Data Science Seminar Series (DS^3) of the semester.

This virtual panel seeks to inform the community and share key aspects of data and health equity.

– 6 pm ET, Wednesday, April 26th, 2023

This celebration is for our ENTIRE AUC Data Science Family.  We are looking forward to celebrating our students, faculty, staff in the presence of our generous alumni and generous corporate sponsors.  Together we recognizing the many successes over the past academic year! 

Join us for an evening of fun and fellowship! 

Highlights Include:
Food, Live DJ, Music, 360 Photo Booth, Awards, Networking

RSVP IS REQUIRED!

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, April 14th, 2023

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative returns with another Data Science Seminar Series (DS^3).

After losing his wife to cancer, software engineer Avery Smith is working to make machine learning tools used in dermatology more inclusive. With Melalogic, he is creating an app for Black skin health information, with a database to help research. We will learn about health solutions that address the effects of programmatic bias in technical architecture (AI and ML).   Join us!

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, March 24th, 2023

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative returns with another Data Science Seminar Series (DS^3).

What does it takes to be successful in data science? How can data science help issues such as Black maternal mortality? Join us for a special discussion and learn the answers to these questions from Application Engineering Senior Team Lead at MathWorks, Louvere Walker-Hannon.

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, March 10th, 2023

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative returns with another Data Science Seminar Series (DS^3).

Our March 10th seminar explores how the AIM AHEAD Infrastructure Core is advancing technological solutions for underrepresented communities.  Join us! 

– 11:00 am ET, Friday, February 24th, 2023

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative is in pursuit of developing cutting-edge data science research and scholarship. Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, a former professor at Atlanta University, pioneered data visualizations to unravel the social plight of Blacks in the 19th century. This one-day symposium invites faculty and staff from the AUC to share their data science work, including harnessing data science to address issues that face Black America.

The Symposium featured engaging keynote presentations, lightning talks, and networking opportunities. The Symposium is now available to watch on demand!

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, February 10th, 2023

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative returns with a Data Science Seminar Series (DS^3) just in time for Valentine’s Day!  Should we leave our love life to the stars, to fate…or just maybe can BIG DATA help our chances of finding that true love!?

We have an educational and entertaining seminar about Love, Data, and Algorithms on Friday, Feb. 10th!   Join us!

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, January 27th, 2023

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative returns with the debut of our Data Science Seminar Series DS^3 with a virtual panel seeking to inform the community and share key aspects of sports analytics.

– 12:00 pm until 2:00 pm ET, Tuesday, January 24th, 2023

The AUC Data Science Initiative will host this Lunch ‘n Learn to give an overview of the SCALES project by our nearby colleagues at Georgia State University, provide an overview of the “Using Data to Drive Reform Through Prosecutorial Performance” June 2022 workshop, and explore possible “next steps.”

Prosecutorial Performance Indicators: https://prosecutorialperformanceindicators.org/

SCALES (Systematic Content Analysis of Litigation EventS):
https://scales-okn.org/

SCALES’ NSF Award:
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2033604

Our Featured Speakers:
Elycia Daniel, Clark Atlanta University
Kat Albrecht, Georgia State University
Charlotte Alexander, Georgia State University
Adam Robert Pah, Northwestern University
Lauren Sudeall, Georgia State University
Bill Sabol, Georgia State University

For more information, contact Elycia Daniel at edaniel@cau.edu

– Monday, January 9, 2023, 8:30am until 1:30pm

• In-person
• $250 stipend
• Description: This half-day course will introduce you to programming and how to leverage MATLAB to easily integrate AI into your courses and research. New and experienced users of MATLAB are encouraged to attend and all disciplines are welcome. This is a hands-on workshop, so please bring your laptop.

– December 14th-15th 2022, 9am until 5pm

• In-person
• $500 stipend
• Application: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CarpentriesInstructor
• Prerequisites: For AUC faculty who have completed at least 1 Carpentries workshop.

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, November 11th 2022

Dr. Stephon H. Alexander explores interconnections between music, physics, mathematics, and technology through recordings, performances, teaching, and public lectures.

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, October 28th 2022

Since 2004, the President of the United States and Congress have declared October to be Cybersecurity Awareness Month, helping individuals protect themselves online as threats to technology and confidential data become more commonplace. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) lead a collaborative effort between government and industry to raise cybersecurity awareness nationally and internationally.

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, October 14th 2022

Dr. Desi Small-Rodriguez is a citizen of the Northern Cheyenne Nation and Chicana. She is an assistant professor of Sociology and American Indian Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. As a social demographer, her research explores the intersection of race, indigeneity, data, and inequality. Her teaching and advocacy center on disrupting settler colonial systems and rebuilding data for strong Indigenous futures. She has partnered with Indigenous communities in the U.S. and internationally as a researcher and data advocate for more than ten years. She directs the Data Warriors Lab, an Indigenous social science laboratory. She is the Co-Founder of the U.S. Indigenous Data Sovereignty Network and a founding member of the Global Indigenous Data Alliance.

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, September 9th 2022

Emerging AI technology has the potential to replicate some of the processes used by artists when creating their work. Dr. Nettrice Gaskins uses AI-driven software such as deep or machine learning to train machines to identify and process images. Dr. Gaskins will share how she uses natural language processing or NLPs, generative adversarial networks or GANs, and image style transfer to render new images using different images and styles. What emerges from her work is a techno-vernacular aesthetic that explores futuristic notions of identity.

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, August 26th 2022

This seminar will feature tips on the application process, how to find and secure funding, and highlight various graduate programs in data science.  Panelists Include:

– Dr. Joseph Hogan, Brown University, Professor and Chair, Department of Biostatistics Carole and Lawrence Sirovich Professor of Public Health

– Dr. Gianluca Iaccarino, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director, Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering, Stanford University

– Imani Maliti, Incoming M.S. Candidate in Data Science, Columbia University (CAU C’22)

– Wednesday, August 24th 2022

Join us on Wednesday, August 24th for a evening of food, fun, and data!  All students, faculty, and staff are welcomed to join us outdoors and see what data science has the most fun!

This workshop invites faculty, staff, and researchers from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to explore how to develop projects and partnerships that use data to drive reform through prosecutorial performance. 

The workshop focuses on developing multidisciplinary partnerships between HBCU researchers and local prosecutors to develop data-driven equitable solutions. The goal of the workshop is to (a) discuss political, logistical, and methodological aspects of the Prosecutorial Performance Indicators implementation, and (b) generate concrete ideas for forming local researcher-prosecutor partnerships.

– Monday, May 16th – Wednesday, May 18th, 2022

The three-day discovery workshop Enhancing Data Science Education by Leveraging Data Sets from the African Diaspora will virtually convene a cohort of 40 participants tasked with interacting to explore and discover key topics and questions that will inform future research and collaboration around how to better practice culturally relevant data science education at the undergraduate level. On each day, sessions will convene from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm ET with allowance for a 15-30 minute “early tech start” to troubleshoot technology and accessibility issues.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 2136382. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, April 22nd, 2022

The leadership of the National Data Mine Network – Dr. Mark D. Ward (Principal Investigator), Dr. Monica Jackson (Co-PI), Dr. Talitha Washington (Co-PI), Dr. Katherine Ensor (Co-PI), and Dr. Donna LaLonde (Co-PI) will speak on its establishment and intent.

The National Data Mine Network (NDMN) will directly fund 300 undergraduate students at Minority Serving Institutions with research stipends (100 stipends per year), administered directly to students by the American Statistical Association. The leadership team leverages collaborative strengths of the American Statistical Association, the Math Alliance, Purdue University, American University, and the Atlanta University Center Data Science Initiative. The students will use high-performance computing to solve data-driven challenges that arise in every sector of industry, including biomedical engineering, healthcare engineering, image processing, manufacturing, supply chain management, and transportation.

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, April 8th, 2022

Dr. Besiki Luka Kutateladze, Associate Director of Prosecution and Courts in the Center for the Administration of Justice along with George Jenkins, Executive Deputy District Attorney at Fulton County District Attorney’s Office – will speak on their use of innovative use of data to drive reform through prosecutorial performance.

– 10:30 am until 12:30 pm ET, Monday, March 28th, 2022

SAP’s Chief Technology Officer & Executive Board Member Dr. Juergen Mueller will discuss how to have an international career in data. This session will be moderated by Dr. Karina Edmonds, SAP Senior Vice President of Academies & Universities. Join the “Ask Me Anything” Session with Juergen Mueller to learn about what it takes to be an executive at a Global Fortune 500 company and what life is like as a Chief Technology Officer. A networking lunch with local SAP executives to learn about SAP job and internship opportunities will immediately follow the session.

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, March 25th, 2022

Clark Atlanta University students Victoria Grase and Woomy Michel present their innovative data science work on trafficking awareness, they are fresh off their recent speaking engagements at the ADSA conference in California.

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, March 11th, 2022

Dr. Kobi Abayomi speaks on his innovative work as the SVP of Data Science and Analytics at Warner Music Group (WMG).

– 11:30 am ET, Friday, February 25th, 2022

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative is in pursuit of developing cutting-edge data science research and scholarship. Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, a former professor at Atlanta University, pioneered data visualizations to unravel the social plight of Blacks in the 19th century. This one-day symposium invites faculty and staff from the AUC to share their data science work, including harnessing data science to address issues that face Black America.

The Symposium will feature engaging keynote presentations, lightning talks, and networking opportunities. The Symposium was free and open to the public.

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, February 11th, 2022

Dr. Kinnis Gosha of Morehouse College will be leading this DS^3 Seminar detailing how he paved a way for new tech opportunities for HBCU students through the Open Doors by Open Source summer program.

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, January 28th, 2022

Dr. Jelani Osei Nelson is a Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley. He won the 2014 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.  He will speak on his award-winning research and how he ties his passion into philanthropy across the world.

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, November 12th, 2021

Cultural competence originated in social work and counseling psychology, and it has expanded to areas such as healthcare. Yet it hasn’t traditionally been considered an important part of computing. This talk discusses what cultural competence is, why it matters in computing (including data science), and strategies for developing/improving it.

Speaker:

Dr. A. Nicki Washington, Professor of the Practice of Computer Science, Duke University

Every 2nd and 4th Friday

We invite all Affiliates of the AUC Data Science Initiative to attend informative lunches on various topics from setting up an ORCID to navigating NSF FastLane to grant writing tips. Come with your lunch (on us!) and laptop to develop these tools to kickstart your research. These topics are meant to support your research endeavors in data science!

Join our Information Session to:

• Learn key insights about SAP & The Coca Cola Company
• Meet & Network with Business Professionals
• Apply for paid internship opportunities!
• Discover Ways to Kickstart Your Career
• Optimize your resume
• Prepare for the Big Interview
• Understand the search & application process
• Explore entrepreneurship with SAP.iO

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, October 22nd, 2021

Data science has quickly become a primary tool in addressing information security. Cybersecurity attacks from data breaches impact personal data and privacy. This panel will share insights on how cybersecurity, data protection, and privacy laws impact every aspect of our lives and recent advancements to thwart malicious acts.

Panelists:

-Dr. Deborah Dent, Chief Information Officer, Jackson State University; PI of MSI Cyberinfrastructure Consortium

-Mr. Tim McKnight, Chief Security Officer, Global Security Unit, SAP

-Dr. William Christian, Former Deputy Chief for the National Security Agency’s Statistics and Machine Learning Research Office

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, October 8th, 2021

The evolution of technology has drastically impacted the imaging field, particularly in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Compared to other imaging technologies, MRI offers multiple contrasting mechanisms to distinguish tissues and fat, is radiation-free, and provides anatomical and molecular information about the tissue in question. However, data acquisition times to produce those images require a patient to lie still for a relatively long time. Consequently, it may lead to the voluntary or involuntary movement of the patient due to discomfort. Combined with the underlying issue of inherent noise, MRI is often blurry and contains artifacts. Dr. Johnson will present a new approach to speed up the MR data acquisition through sparse signal reconstruction and deconvolving the unwanted convolution simultaneously.

SPEAKER: Dr. Talon Johnson, Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Texas at Arlington and graduate of Morehouse College (BS ’16)

This one-day virtual symposium invites students from the AUC and those who participated in AUC Data Science Initiative programs to share their data science work, including harnessing data science to address issues that face Black America. We celebrate and highlight the data science work of AUC students and those that participated in AUC Data Science Initiative programs.

On April 23rd, the AUC DSI hosted the inaugural W.E.B. Du Bois Data Science Symposium

About: The Atlanta University Center (AUC) is in pursuit of developing cutting-edge data science research and scholarship. Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, a former professor at Atlanta University, pioneered data visualizations to unravel the social plight of Blacks in the 19th century. This one-day symposium invites faculty from the AUC to share their data science work, including harnessing data science to address issues that face Black America.

The Symposium featured engaging keynote presentations, lightning talks, and networking opportunities. The Symposium was free and open to the public. 

– [Morning Keynote] Friday, April 23rd, 2021

– [Afternoon Keynote] Friday, April 23rd, 2021

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, April 9th, 2021

New York City (NYC) was an epicenter of COVID-19. By July of 2020, there were 212,295 confirmed cases and 18,408 deaths related to COVID-19 in NYC. To investigate predictors of COVID-19 cases and death rates in NYC, Dr. Monica Jackson led a summer research project for undergraduate students. The data analysis included race, health, and environment characteristics for NYC zip codes, neighborhoods, and boroughs, along with NYC government’s reported case and death rates by zip code. Dr. Jackson will show how data science can reveal the impact of sociodemographic and environmental factors to predict COVID-19 cases in NYC and how to lead student research that results in a published, peer-reviewed article. 

SPEAKER: Dr. Monica Jackson, Interim Deputy Provost & Dean of Faculty and Professor of Statistics at American University and graduate of Clark Atlanta University (BS ’92 & MS ’94) 

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, March 26th, 2021

The seminar will share promising practices on building data science programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Bowie State University developed new courses and an undergraduate certificate in data science and analytics. Fisk University established the first undergraduate data science program in the state of Tennessee. Morehouse School of Medicine will launch a Master of Science in Health Informatics in the fall of 2021. Panelists will share key considerations in the preparatory stages of program design, stakeholder engagement, course and curriculum structures, and how their program addresses a national need. 

Panelists include: 

• Dr. LaTanya Brown, Professor of Economics and Lead of the Data Science & Analytics Initiative, Bowie State University 
• Dr. Angelita Howard, Assistant Dean for Online Education and Expanded Programs, Morehouse School of Medicine 
• Dr. Sajid Hussain, Associate Vice Provost for Innovation & Information Technology (CTO), Associate Professor of Computer Science, and Discipline Coordinator of Data Science, Fisk University
  

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, March 12, 2021

Dr. Dennis Dean will present insights on how developing data analysis frameworks, creating and using advanced analytical methods, and collaborating to develop data-infrastructure, we can identify new multi-agent cancer treatments. Precision medicine holds the promise of individualizing medical treatment in part by incorporating an individual’s genomic data within the treatment plan.

How do we ensure that large-scale data sets include the Black community?  What efforts need to be made to ensure that data-driven cancer treatments benefit us all? Dr. Dean will unravel national computational initiatives that advance large-scale genomic analysis and he aims to galvanize data science to bring treatment solutions to the Black community.

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, February 26, 2021

Panelists will include Robert Patillo, Executive Director at Rainbow PUSH Atlanta and Clark Atlanta University alum, Dr. Karen Saxe, Head of Governmental Relations at the American Mathematical Society; and Dr. Ron Wasserstein, Executive Director of the American Statistical Association.

– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, February 12, 2021

As the inaugural director of the Atlanta University Center Data Science Initiative, Dr. Talitha Washington, is leading efforts to advance data science research and teaching across a consortium of four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs): Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Spelman College. The initiative seeks to advance the creation of data-driven solutions to current and emerging societal problems, especially as it pertains to Black America.