We are a collaboration of community organizations and data science students and experts from multiple Chicago-area universities and colleges, and we are an NSF Data Science Corps in the metropolitan Chicago area.
We welcome inquiries and requests from all non-profit organizations in the Chicago area that are experiencing challenges or facing new opportunities related to the process of turning data into insights.
We also welcome students from participating universities to 1) complete one year of data science courses chosen from a wide range of courses that reflect multiple pathways, 2) register for a MCDC data science practicum, and 3) apply for an in-depth summer experience called Data-science Application for Undergraduates.
The MCDC focuses on the intersection of data science with three domain-science areas: health sciences, social sciences, and environmental sciences. This intersection is supported by fundamental science and connected through shared analytical and scalable methodologies, cross-fertilization, innovation, and a focus on equity.
MCDC is funded by the US National Science Foundation (NSF) from 2021 to 2024
The MCDC curriculum focuses on nine areas of data acumen that are interwoven in a Data Refinery model, depicted here. The data refining begins with the process of planning, generating, and collecting data, and ends with the delivery of insights and knowledge extracted from the data and of value to a community partner.
“What wonderful and talented young people they are! BIG is an apropos name…they have big potential, big imaginations, and big careers ahead.
From the very first meeting, they were professional, kind, and tremendously dedicated to the project. We never imagined the amazing work that they would do in one short semester! Our staff has been so impressed. I am sure each of these amazing young people has a very bright future ahead. “
-Anne Craig, Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI)