The Virtual Indigenous Data Science Academy  is a program hosted by the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences in partnership with area Tribal colleges to begin to address the growing demand for data science education.  A week-long training academy will introduce students to the foundations of data science and analytics. The Virtual Indigenous Data Science Program introduces students to data, computational approaches, access to resources, and career opportunities in data science, and address the under-representation of American Indians and Alaskan Natives in the biomedical research workforce.

The Initiative builds on the NIH-funded ND INBRE Health & the Environment program, which is housed at the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

The deadline to register for the 2024 Virtual Indigenous Data Science Academy is April 15, 2024. Click on the 'Register Here' button  to register for the Academy.

 

The theme for the Second Annual Virtual Indigenous Data Science Academy will be Mosquitoes, Climate, and Community Health. Using various data sources, students will have an opportunity to apply the concepts and statistical techniques of biomedical data science to understanding the effects of climate on mosquito populations, transmission of disease, and its consequences for human health.  The final product will consist of a group presentation that showcases student learnings.

Data science is a rapidly expanding interdisciplinary field of study that is gaining  momentum in many subject areas.  In healthcare, these technologies are leading the way to transformative change.   The VIDS Training Academy, a partnership between the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences and area Tribal Colleges and Universities, aims to begin to address the growing demand for data science education and mentorship within indigenous communities.

This unique online data science curriculum is designed to introduce Tribal College students to computational approaches and critical resources needed for advancing knowledge in biomedicine and public health.  The VIDS Training Academy will introduce students to the interdisciplinary field of data science.  Using a culturally-grounded approach, the VIDS Training Academy will provide participants with the background and essential data science skills for working with key data sources in biomedical research and public health.  The principles and practice of indigenous data sovereignty will be observed throughout the course. 

Learning Objectives

  1.  Describe the interdisciplinary field of data science

  2.  Discuss indigenous perspectives of health data ethics and implications for TCUs and Tribal communities

  3.  Review foundational concepts in algebra and probability for data analytics

  4.  Describe the role of statistics in data science

  5.  Differentiate between spreadsheets and database systems

  6.  Match a programming language to a data science application

  7.  Apply guidelines for scientific visualization using MS Excel to summarize different types of data

  8.  Gain programming experience using MS Excel to manage, explore, and visualize data

  9.  Describe types of studies for investigating research questions

10.  Distinguish between Big Data and little data

11.  Describe the role of analytics in the transformation of data to knowledge

12.  Weigh the advantages and disadvantages of cloud computing in biomedical research

13.  Outline the steps of an analytic process

14.  Recognize common applications of machine learning in healthcare

15.  Interpret results of a machine learning solution

16.  Demonstrate understanding of the potential and limitations of algorithmic knowledge