All Articles

“Harnessing Data Science for Public Good during COVID-19” is the North Central Region winner in the Innovation and Creativity category of the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP) 2021 awards.

The team includes Todd Abraham, assistant director of data and analytics for the Iowa Integrated Data System housed in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies; Cassandra Dorius, associate professor of human development and family studies; Shawn Dorius, associate professor of sociology; Heike Hofmann, professor of statistics and professor in charge of data science; Jim Reecy, associate vice president for research; Chris Seeger, professor of landscape architecture and extension landscape architect; Adisak Sukul, associate teaching professor in computer science; Gary Taylor, professor of community and regional planning and director of ISU Extension and Outreach Community and Economic Development; and Kelsey Van Selous, graduate student in human development and family studies.

Building on the Community Learning through Data-Driven Discovery (CLD3) framework, this interdisciplinary team of extension professionals, faculty and research staff has identified new approaches to working with local and state government to infuse data insights into decision-making to promote resiliency, support health and well-being and strengthen economic mobility. In addition to work at the national level, in Iowa, they partner with state, county and local governments to identify pressing needs, uncover and process underutilized data and share insights that can be used to develop strategies that support resilience among the state’s 99 counties. The regional award specifically recognizes efforts to create and implement the inaugural Data Science for the Public Good (DSPG) Young Scholars summer program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Iowa State team will be honored during the 2021 NACDEP Virtual Conference May 17–19.