Collaborative Research: HDR DSC: The Metropolitan Chicago Data Science Corps (MCDC): Learning from Data to Support Communities

来自芝加哥地区或在芝加哥地区有业务的五所大学的不同专家正在作为芝加哥大都会数据科学团队进行合作，以1)帮助当地非营利组织利用日益增长的数据量和数据复杂性，2)培训数据科学学生如何有效地将他们的学术知识应用于非营利部门的实际数据挑战，3)在这些大学之间和与当地社区学院交流数据科学课程和专业知识。组织可以提交数据服务(RDS)请求并获得开发它的帮助。MCDC特别欢迎与环境、健康和我们的社会福利有关的领域的研究和发展。每个RDS都被分配给一组学生。具有数据科学基础的学生团队是在实习课程中或作为暑期实习的一部分组成的。MCDC将开发实践课程，每个团队都有一名或多名专家导师，并与提出请求的组织建立伙伴关系。在学期结束时，每个团队将向每个提出请求的组织提供一个解决方案。MCDC是大学、无数社区组织和两个扩展学院之间的跨学科合作伙伴关系，旨在通过将社区需求与学术学习相结合来加强国家数据科学队伍。通过支持基础设施以团结不同机构和学科的不同学生和教师，通过优先考虑社区参与，并将基于真实世界团队的数据科学项目嵌入课程，MCDC将成为一种独特的强大教育体验，将支持社会进步。为了实现这一目标，现有课程被分成多个途径，以使不同范围的学生为参加MCDC做准备。MCDC学生获得数据敏锐性和社会知识，旨在培养一支准备充分、积极参与的劳动力队伍。MCDC项目主任结合了广泛、成熟、资助和多样化的专业知识，包括课程开发、包容性学习实践、将真实世界数据整合到课程、学习系统、数据科学以及健康、社会和环境科学。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Diverse experts from five universities in, or with a presence in, the Chicago area are collaborating as the Metropolitan Chicago Data-science Corps to 1) help local non-profit organizations take advantage of increasing data volume and data complexity, 2) train data science students in how to effectively apply their academic knowledge to real data challenges in the non-profit sector, 3) exchange data science curriculum and expertise among these universities and with local community colleges. An organization can submit a Request for Data Services (RDS) and receive help to develop it. MCDC particularly welcomes RDS in areas related to environment, health, and our social well-being. Each RDS is assigned to a team of students. Teams of students with a foundation in data science are formed within a practicum course or as part of a summer internship. MCDC will develop the practicum course, where each team has one or more expert mentors and forms a partnership with the requesting organization. At the end of the term, each team will deliver a solution to each of the requesting organizations.MCDC is an interdisciplinary partnership between universities, myriad community organizations, and two expansion colleges and aims to strengthen the national data science workforce by integrating community needs with academic learning. By supporting infrastructure to unite diverse students and faculty across institutions and disciplines, by prioritizing the engagement of community, and embedding real-world team-based data science projects into the curriculum, the MCDC will be a uniquely powerful educational experience which will support societal progress. To realize this goal, existing curricula are grouped into multiple pathways to prepare a diverse range of students for participation in MCDC. MCDC students acquire both data acumen and societal knowledge that is intended to lead to a well-prepared and engaged workforce. The MCDC project directors combine extensive, proven, funded, and diverse expertise in curriculum development, inclusive learning practices, integrating real-world data into courses, learning systems, data science, as well as in health, social, and environmental sciences.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.