Kansas Data Science Consortium Impacts

Student presents data science poster

Linking Learners & Employers

Got data? Of course you do! Digital information flows freely across every segment of the economy. But harnessing the power of data takes specialized skills in math, statistics, coding, and more.

The Kansas Data Science Consortium (KDSC) launched in 2022 to build those skills statewide. This educational pillar of the ARISE project is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NSF EPSCoR).

At its core, the KDSC links learners and employers to advance both workforce and economic development.

Here’s how.

Businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations partner with the KDSC, sharing data for class projects. College students then work on those projects as part of a course at Kansas State University, the University of Kansas, Wichita State University, and other colleges across the state. As they learn to wrangle and analyze data, students glean insights for their partner organization, creating reports, dashboards, slide decks, and code.

Resources

Impacts

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Partners sharing data for class projects, spanning businesses, non-profits, government agencies, and more.
Partners
208
College students trained in how to analyze data, revealing insights from real-world class projects.
Apprenticeship project
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Colleges creating and adopting data science curriculum

What partners are saying about KDSC

“Working with the KDSC has been fantastic,” said Derek Kwan, executive director of the Lied Center of Kansas. “Most arts organizations and nonprofits in general do not have the bandwidth to rigorously analyze their customer relationship management databases. The insight provided by KDSC student Nikita Kuzin has been invaluable in helping the Lied Center refine our approaches to both fundraising and attracting ticket buyers. We look forward to a continued relationship.”

About the team

Co-leads

  • Michael Branicky, professor of electrical engineering and computer science, University of Kansas
  • William Duncan, assistant research professor at the University of Kansas
  • Jeffrey Girard, assistant professor of psychology, University of Kansas

Contributors

  • Janice Akao, professor of accounting, Butler Community College
  • Edina Harsay, graduate research assistant, University of Kansas
  • Emma Howard, project manager, University of Kansas
  • Safia Malallah, research associate, Kansas State University
  • Ana Maradiaga, assistant professor of chemistry, Donnelly College
  • Jiji Osiobe, assistant professor in business and economics, Baker University
  • Sergio Salinas, assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science, Wichita State University
  • Lior Shamir, professor of computer science, Kansas State University
  • Suzanne Smith, associate professor of math, Johnson County Community College
  • Judy Smrha, chair and professor of business and economics, Baker University
  • Fujian Yan, assistant educator, Wichita State University