Dear DCS Students,

Are you curious about data science? Want to put your analytical skills to the test in friendly competition, in a collaborative and supportive setting? 

We’re excited to invite you to participate in the ASA DataFest Hackathon, a three-day data challenge hosted at Colby College on April 11-12. You’ll work in teams to tackle a real-world dataset, present your findings, and compete for prizes — all while building skills and making connections across the CBB consortium. Bates competed in this event last year, and had a fantastic showing, sweeping 3 out of 4 prize categories (Best Insight, Best Data Visualization, and Best Use of Modeling). In addition to just being plain old fun, this is a great chance to add a dash of spice to your resume, and make academic and industry connections (last year’s judges were from Duke, Goldman Sachs, the Davis Institute, and the Roux Institute)

No prior experience is required. Teams benefit from diverse perspectives — whether you’re a first-year exploring computing for the first time, a senior who’s done this sort of thing before, or just someone who’s good at asking the right questions, there’s a place for you here.

The Schedule:

• Friday 4/10 (Virtual, from Bates): Kickoff at 4:00 PM — introduction to the data and challenge rules, then intensive work time
• Saturday 4/11 (at Colby): 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM — intensive work time with mentor support
• Sunday 4/12 (at Colby): 8:00 AM – Noon work time, noon submission deadline, 1:00 PM presentations, 3:00 PM awards ceremony

Logistics — we’ve got you covered:

• Transportation to/from Colby is provided (van)
• Lodging at Colby Saturday night is provided
• Meals are provided
• All costs are covered! You just show up with enthusiasm and a positive attitude 😉 

You can form your own team in advance, or sign up individually and we’ll match you with a great group.

If you’re interested (even just tentatively), please sign up using this form:

This event is co-organized by me (Prof. Jason Castro; Neuroscience/DCS) and Prof. Laurie Baker (Mathematics). Please feel welcome to reach out to me (jcastro@bates.edu) with questions!