Data Science for Social Justice Workshop

Applications have closed for DSSJ 2023.

Applications for DSSJ 2024 will open in Spring 2024.

Check back here for more details or email dssj@berkeley.edu with questions.

This 8-week workshop will give you the opportunity to learn the essential tools and methods for data science analysis and be introduced to critical frameworks that will enable you to create a project of your own design and to tell stories that can counter the market-first mentality of data science. This workshop has a heavy emphasis on collaboration and peer-to-peer learning, with a significant group work component.

In this workshop, you will learn how to use the Python programming language to conduct data analyses, create visualizations, apply natural language processing techniques, and analyze social media data. At the same time, you will explore a variety of readings rooted in critical approaches of data feminism, data activism, ethics, indigenous technologies, critical race theory. The workshop will culminate in using Python to conduct your own data intensive research project, focusing on discovering and visualizing language biases in social media data, to be carried out collaboratively in a small group.

Overall, this engaging, cohort-based workshop focuses on inherent prejudice in data sets and analysis, and teaches you to deploy solutions to create social impact with data science. Activities include:

• Learning how to use the Python programming language to conduct data analyses
• Exploring your own positionality as a scholar in the context of data science
• Critically analyzing social media data using state-of-the-art Natural Language Processing techniques in Python
• Collaboratively annotating critical texts on data science
• Working with a group to discover and visualize language biases in Machine Learning systems

No prerequisites are required: instruction will begin from the very basics of programming and Python. Substantial hands-on support will be provided, particularly if you are new to programming, in order to support the development of your computational skills.

Developed in partnership between the D-Lab and the Graduate Division, with a common goal to reach marginalized students, this workshop will provide the tools, insights, and mentorship needed to get started in your critical data science journey.

Who:

The workshop is offered to currently enrolled UC Berkeley graduate students, or UC Berkeley graduate students who will graduate in spring.

When:

The workshop will be delivered from June 12 – August 4. There will be 2-3 live sessions per week (for a total of 4-5 hours), Tuesday and Thursday from 2-4 pm PDT and Friday from 12-1 PDT. You will also have to devote time outside our live sessions, which will be heavily weighted toward developing your programming skills. If this is your first time programming, immersing yourself in a new language may require a substantial time commitment (particularly in the first two weeks). Other activities outside the live sessions include weekly readings, individual assignments, and the final group project. You should plan to commit approximately 15 hours a week to this workshop.

What you receive:

UC Berkeley graduate student participants will receive a certificate upon successful completion and a $3,000 stipend. There are no costs required to attend this workshop. Hear what last year’s participants got from this workshop.

Where:

You can join online from wherever is convenient for you, with your computer and a good internet connection.

How:

You will participate using online collaboration and instructional tools that you already have access to as a Berkeley student – specifically, Zoom, bCourses (Canvas), and Google Suite, as well as other cloud-based online course tools that will be provided. We will use Slack for day-to-day communication in the course.

Prerequisites:

No prerequisites are required: instruction will begin from the very basics of programming and Python. Substantial hands-on support will be provided, particularly if you are new to programming, in order to support the development of your computational skills.

Questions:

Email your questions to dssj@berkeley.edu.

Applications for DSSJ 2023 will be accepted between March 1 and April 15, 2023

Decisions released May 15, 2023

[If you get a login error after starting your application, you may not be in our system. Please email gradsys@berkeley.edu with your name, email address, and UID if you know it (it will be part of the login error message).]

Are you not currently eligible for this workshop, but want to know when we offer this workshop again? Sign up to be notified by clicking the link below.