Statistics commencement speakers emphasize community, identity and perseverance

The Statistics commencement on May 18 at Zellerbach Playhouse honored more than 100 students who earned bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees in 2022 and those who graduated in 2021 and returned to campus for an in-person commencement. The guest speaker was Peng Zhao, CEO of Citadel Securities, who reflected on his journey studying math and statistics, including his time as a doctoral student at UC...

Statistics-computer sciences team reflects on tackling COVID outbreaks

UC Berkeley Professor Bin Yu responded to a nonprofit organization’s urgent call for data science experts to help distribute personal protective equipment (PPE) most effectively. Yu quickly organized a team of statistics and computer sciences students to address the challenge. Though they began with no data in hand or plans on how to find it, the team’s COVID hot spot predictions ultimately helped inform the...

UC Berkeley launches Sky Computing Lab to revolutionize the cloud industry

UC Berkeley formally launched this week a research lab aimed at building a new backbone for interconnected cloud computing, a milestone that would revolutionize the industry.

Graduates reflect on histories, imagine futures and savor the moment at Data Science commencement

Graduates reflected on their journeys and heard advice from acclaimed author Neal Stephenson at the Data Science commencement on May 18. The last time Berkeley data science students lined up to receive diplomas at an in-person commencement, it was the very first time any students had graduated with that major from the university. At the 2019 ceremony in Wheeler Hall, 82 students graduated in data...

Student-advocate strives to improve mental health and public safety with help from Data Science Discovery

Kai Koerber is a Parkland shooting survivor and mental health advocate. He’s also a UC Berkeley undergraduate student who developed a model for identifying a user’s emotional state based on their tone of voice, and he plans to use this technology as a mental health and public safety intervention.

Faculty, lecturers applaud graduates’ resilience during this commencement season

Faculty and lecturers across the Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society are watching their students graduate in person this week for the first time in three years. Several said they were impressed by these pupils’ strength, inspired by their success at the university and excited to see them use their skills impactfully in the professional world.

I School commencement speakers champion community, connection, collective action

On May 16, 2022, the School of Information celebrated 147 graduates of I School programs, and welcomed students back to the first in-person commencement celebration since January 2020, just before the pandemic upended so many traditions and norms.

First-generation master’s student tells us how he found data and computer sciences

When Kevin Miao arrived at UC Berkeley from the Netherlands, he wanted to study biology. Taking Data 8, an introductory data science course, helped Miao find a different path.

Advisory board for Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society announced

UC Berkeley’s Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society (CDSS) announced its new advisory board, convening for the first time this week. Members of the CDSS Advisory Board represent a range of expertise and industries, including health care, finance and technology.

Data science student develops predictive model to count elephant and harbor seals using satellite images of Point Reyes National Seashore

Data science major Silas Gifford developed a predictive model to count elephant and harbor seals using satellite images of Point Reyes National Seashore. Last week, Gifford presented their Data Science Honors thesis at UC Berkeley, exploring how machine learning could assist with obtaining accurate seal counts.