Art of the Possible: Showcasing Data Science Solutions for a Better World

DataKind is a nonprofit organization on a mission to harness the power of data science in the service of humanity. Walking through several real-world examples of successful projects, I will share challenges and innovative approaches we’ve developed and the learnings we’ve identified as the six components of high impact, successful data for good programs. Building on these individual projects, I’ll examine what it takes to shift our work from individual interventions to systemic change that positively impacts sectors. As we collectively consider social justice in data science, I’ll discuss principles of civic engagement, best practices for ethical AI, and how co-designing inclusive projects allows diverse inputs to return equitable outcomes. The time is ripe for data scientists to tackle systemic challenges across humanitarian and environmental sectors. What can you do to advance Data for Good? Afua Bruce is Chief Program Officer for DataKind. She joined DataKind from New America, where she was the Director of Engineering for the Public Interest Technology program. At New America, Afua oversaw projects in technology and policy to improve outcomes in criminal justice reform, foster care, immigration, the opioid epidemic, and more. She also supervised the Public Interest Technology University Network. Previously, she spent several years leading science and technology strategy and program management in the Federal government—as the Executive Director of the White House’s National Science and Technology Council and in a variety of positions at the FBI. Prior to joining the Federal government, Afua started her career as a software engineer at IBM. Afua holds a degree in Computer Engineering from Purdue University, and an MBA from the University of Michigan.