This month’s issue of Nature includes a spotlight on Translational Data Science, co-authored by the Division of Data Sciences Interim Dean David Culler, West Big Data Innovation Hub Executive Director Meredith Lee, and colleagues. Highlighting the value of interdisciplinary, use-inspired collaboration, the article links to the workshop held last year at the Berkeley Institute of Data Science, where representatives from industry, academia, nonprofits, and government convened to share lessons learned, reflect on the challenges and opportunities in translational research, and spark new lines of effort.
In the months following the workshop, the Division of Data Sciences partnered with the West Big Data Innovation Hub to develop translational data science projects through the Discovery Research Program. Teams of undergraduate students, with mentors from the City of San Francisco, City of Santa Rosa, California state government agencies, and nonprofit aid organizations, are working on disaster recovery and safe drinking water as part of a newly-launched Data Collaboratives initiative. “These translational data science projects have the potential to generate practical solutions and demonstrate the art of the possible, all while strengthening students’ connections to the impacted community and new collaborators,” notes Lee.
Thethird workshop in the Translational Data Science series is being hosted this week at New York University’s Center for Urban Science and Progress (CUSP). To join the conversation on social media, follow #BDHubs, @westbigdatahub and @berkeleydatasci.