February 2025 — The Innovative Statistics and Data Research Center (ISDRC) has officially launched its 2025 national workshop series, “Applied Data Science for Public Good,” bringing hands-on training and real-world problem-solving to cities across the United States. The first session, hosted in Sacramento in February, welcomed over 150 participants from academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies.
Designed to bridge the gap between theoretical statistics and practical application, the workshop series focuses on equipping participants with the tools and methods needed to drive change through data. Topics include machine learning for social impact, ethical data collection, public policy modeling, and communication of complex statistical findings to non-technical audiences.
“We believe data science should be accessible and actionable,” said Dr. Rachel Lin, Director of Strategic Initiatives at ISDRC. “Our workshops are designed to empower professionals and students to apply statistical methods to urgent societal issues—from housing insecurity to healthcare equity.”
Each workshop includes live coding sessions, project-based group work, and interactive panels with experts in data science, government, and nonprofit leadership. Attendees gain hands-on experience with open-source tools like R, Python, and Tableau, as well as ISDRC’s in-house predictive analytics platform.
The 2025 tour includes stops in Atlanta, Denver, Seattle, and Washington, D.C., with registration already open for spring and summer sessions.
Participants receive a certificate of completion and the opportunity to join ISDRC’s growing community of civic data innovators. Select attendees will also be invited to contribute to ongoing ISDRC research projects or apply for summer research fellowships.
For more information or to register for upcoming events, visit www.isdrc.org/events.
