Love Data Week at TXST: Open Datathon Registration

Innovate for Impact: Open Data Solutions for the Bobcat Community

What: The Bobcats Community is growing as we are gaming at running into R1 institutions. Of course, growth brings changes and creates opportunities and challenges. In celebration of Love Data Week, University Libraries is proud to be hosting our inaugural TXST Open Datathon challenges for our Texas State students to immerse themselves in the world of open data resources and data science. The theme of this Datathon activity encompasses the commitment of TXST to innovation, community engagement, and leveraging open data for meaningful impact. Participants will work collaboratively to make a meaningful impact on real-world issues through open data and share final digital artifacts to support TXST university communities aligned with the university's mission.

Who can join?

• Teams of up to 4 undergraduate and/or graduate students from all academic disciplines are invited to participate. 
• Teams may form in advance, or we will organize teams after registration closes. 
• No expertise in data science is required; we will guide you through the resources and processes you need to explore the open data
• Please consider attending an event orientation and all other scheduled hours on Friday, February 16th, 2024, and staying through the awards notifications.

When: Feb. 12-16, 2024.

Participants will gather on Monday, Feb. 12 for the open talk and kickoff event and will work independently with their teams during the week. Final submissions will be due by 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16, and in-person team presentations will begin at that time. (See full event schedule below). 

Registration:

The first 30 students who register to participate via the official event registration form will be able to participate. Each participant must register, even if they have already formed a team. A waitlist will be maintained to fill out the competition in the event of cancellations or no-shows.  

Register Here

Why participate?  

• Hands-on experience and skill development -- Datathons provide a unique chance to get your hands dirty with real-world open access datasets. Instead of just learning theories in a classroom, you’ll have the chance to apply your knowledge in a practical setting. Participating in a Datathon allows you to enhance your skill set, from data cleaning and preprocessing to advanced data analytics and data science. This hands-on experience will not only provide a sense of purpose but also allow you to see the direct impact of your analytical skills on solving pressing problems. 

• Network opportunities, prizes, and recognitions -- Connect with like-minded peers and potential mentors during the Datathon. Each team project will be judged by a panel of experts based on a pre-distributed rubric. Prizes will be offered to participants who successfully complete the project. We will have awards for the top three teams with the highest overall scores. This is not just about winning; it’s an opportunity to showcase your talents and boost your resume. 

Schedule of Events: 

Stay tuned for more details!