DataKind / Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation DataDive

Calling all Seattle socially conscious analysts, statisticians, data scientists, coders, hackers, designers, and eager-to-learn do-gooders - a DataDive is coming your way!

We’re thrilled to be hosting a DataDive August 26-28 and are looking for data do-gooders of all backgrounds to roll up their sleeves and work side by side with experts from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help use data to unravel tough questions and prototype new solutions.

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Sue Desmond-Hellmann and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.

Collaborate and engage with some of the brightest minds in data science, social change and technology as you work in teams to analyze, visualize, and mashup fascinating data sets to create real world change.

We believe data has the power to change the world, but only when we all work together. Join us for a data adventure like you've never seen and get ready to make friends, build skills and help unleash the power of data to serve humanity!

WHERE
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
500 5th Ave N Seattle, WA 98109
August 26-28

AGENDA
Friday 8/26 6pm-8pm: discuss goals for the DataDive and dive into the data!
Saturday 8/27 8am-8pm: choose a team and get to work!
Sunday 8/28 8am-1pm: final presentations
Note: You can attend one or all days.

On Friday, we’ll gather to learn more about the four projects and then we'll dive into the data! DataDivers will choose which projects they'd like to work on and form teams around their individual questions. Each team will have a Data Ambassador assigned to them who will help advise on and manage the projects throughout the day. 

We will be back for action Saturday morning to keep cranking on the work we started on Friday. Sunday morning, we’ll put together final presentations to show the world what you have done with data!

OTHER ITEMS OF NOTE FOR THE WEEKEND

• Unlike a hack-a-thon, the goal of the weekend is not (necessarily) to create an app. Instead, it is to work with teams of experts to understand a truly difficult problem through data. You could end up with a visualization, an analysis, some graphs, or even some new datasets by the end of the event.
• There is a Github repository setup to use for sharing code, data, and analyses during the event. This will be our primary resource for capturing everything developed at the DataDive, so please use it for sharing and collaboration.
• We do not assign you to a team. We want you to work with the problem and data you feel most passionate about, so come Friday with an open mind and be ready to learn.
• You do not have to stay the entire weekend to participate in the event. We hope that you will find a project you can dig into, but you are always welcome to come and go as you please.
• All skill levels welcome! Just come with your own laptop and get ready to make a difference.

CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU ALL THERE!