DataFest @ NC State

• 5:00 PM: Registration, Talley Student Union, Room 4280
• 5:30 PM: Welcome & Introduction to the Dataset, Talley Student Union Room, 4280
• 6:30 PM – 7:10 PM: You-Pick Workshops
  • Workshop: How to get started 1,2,3 (Room 4140)
    • This workshop will begin with an overview of data science, providing options for getting started as you work with this year’s dataset.
  • Workshop: Introduction to R/Python (Room 4280)
    • This workshop will start at the beginning of “how to get started” as you are working and already have a basic understanding of R or Python.
• 7:10 PM -8:10 PM: Dinner, Room 4280
• 8:15 PM-10:00 PM: Focused Worktime, Rooms 4280 and 4140

• 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Breakfast, Room 4140
• 9:15 AM – 9:45 AM: You-Pick Workshops
  • Workshop: Data Communication (Room 4140)
    • The Data Communication Workshop will raise your awareness of your jargon-infused everyday conversation, introduce concepts for connecting with your audience, and help them where they are. It will offer tips for clear writing and accessible design of graphs and presentation slides.
  • Workshop: Data Visualization/Communication (Room 4280)
    • This workshop blends data communication and visualization techniques to empower participants to effectively convey complex data insights to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Group Work Time, Room 5101
• 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM: Lunch, Makus Empanadas
• 12:30 PM- 1:15 PM: You-Pick Workshops (Concurrent sessions in rooms 5101 and 2180)
  • Workshop: Data Visualization (Room 5101)
    • The Data Visualization workshop aims to produce simple, compelling data visualization that makes your results accessible and easily understood. We will practice creating visualizations using this year’s dataset.
  • Workshop: Data Visualization (Room 2108)
    • The Data Visualization workshop aims to produce simple, compelling data visualization that makes your results accessible and easily understood. We will practice creating visualizations using this year’s dataset.
• 1:45 PM – 3:45 PM: Group Work Time, Rooms: 5101, 4140, 2108, 3220
• 3:45 PM- 4:00 PM: Break, Activity Group (Room 4140)
• 5:00 PM- 6:00 PM: Group Work Time
• 6:00 PM- 6:30 PM: Dinner, Lunch Cards, Talley Student Union
• 6:40 PM- 10:00 PM: Individual or Group Work Time, Rooms 2108A, 4132, 4245 (8 people per room) and Rooms 4265 and 5260 (12 people per room)

• 8:15 AM- 9:15 AM: Breakfast, Talley Student Union, Room 4280
• 9:20 AM – 11:59 AM: Final Work Time, Rooms 2108A, 4132, 4245 (8 people per room) and Rooms 4265 and 5260 (12 people per room)
• 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Turn in Presentations to RaleighDatafest@ncsu.edu
  • Only submissions turned in before 12:01 PM will be presented.
• 12:00 PM -12:10 PM: Group Photo
  • Wear your DataFest T-shirt!
• 12:15 PM- 12:45 PM: Lunch Cards, Talley Student Union
  • At this time, we will draw numbers to determine the presentation order.
• 1:00 PM – 2:10 PM: Presentations and Judge Deliberation, Room 4140, Governance Chamber
• 3:40 PM – 4:00 PM: Awards and Closing Discussion, Room 4140, Governance Chamber

Data and Visualization workshops are offered through the NC State University Libraries. They offer many good examples of data visualization, data wrangling, and R. If you want more information, go to Data and Visualization Workshops. They are free. These workshops fill up fast. If you cannot sign up this year, check out future workshops. Subscribe to the DSA Newsletter to stay up to date on upcoming opportunities.

Mentors will be available throughout the weekend to help you as you work through the data. Follow @NCStateDSA on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn for live updates. 

Note that you need to be present for the majority of the weekend to participate. You are permitted to leave for important prior obligations such as jobs, courses, or performances. Please let the organizers know if you need to be absent during the weekend.

• Before downloading the dataset, you must sign the Non-Disclosure Agreement by agreeing to the terms of use and entering your name and email address. At the end of the DataFest, delete all data from thumb drives, hard drives, etc. The data are sensitive.
• Should members of your team drop out at the last minute, you may be merged with another team that is also missing members.
• There will be friendly Mentors present. Feel free to ask anything. This is not an exam but a collaborative competition. Do not expect the Mentors to write code for you, do data management, etc. They are there to help point you in the right direction, but you’re responsible for getting there on your own.

Each team must give a 5-minute presentation summarizing their findings to a panel of judges comprised of faculty and professionals from different fields. Presentations are judged based on overall success in a specific area. Feedback will be given to each team, including one reason why they were selected for that award, one outstanding comment, and one area of consideration for improvement. Presentations are judged based on:

• Data Communication Award
• Data Visualization Award
• Interdisciplinary Award
• Connections Award
• Ethical Issues Award
• Data Storytelling Award
• Data Science Analytics Award
• Uncertainty Quantification Award
• Judges Award

Judging will begin on Sunday at 1:05 pm. The presentation and judging schedule is as follows: 

• Noon deadline for all submissions
• 12:05 pm – 1:05 pm: Lunch 
• 1:15 pm – 2:15 pm: Presentations (3-minute pause between each presentation, so judges have time to record their thoughts)
• 2:25 pm – 3:50 pm: Judges deliberations 
• 4:00 pm: Awards 
• 4:15 pm: Closing remarks

Teams will have 5 minutes and 3 slides to make their case. You will be provided a rubric to take notes on to help keep teams organized. It’s strongly recommended that you take note of teams that are especially strong as you watch the presentations so that the deliberation conversation can be as efficient as possible.