DataFest Germany 2024 - Announcement

DataFest Germany 2024 Announcement

From April 5th to April 7th 2024, the University of Mannheim is set to become the hub for data enthusiasts as it hosts DataFest Germany 2024, a highly anticipated annual event where about 65 students from across the nation will dive into a mysterious dataset for an entire weekend. Following the resounding success of DataFest 2023, organized by our chair in Munich, this year's edition promises to be a thrilling challenge for participants.

DataFest, often likened to a "Hackathon," is a data-driven competition that alternates between the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München and the University of Mannheim. This year, the University of Mannheim is in the spotlight, coordinating the event in close partnership with LMU's Social Data Science and AI Lab, the Competence Center for Data Quality in the Social Sciences (KODAQS), BERD@NFDI, and the American Statistical Association (ASA).

During the 48-hour event, students will visualize, analyze, model, and extract valuable insights from an extensive and undisclosed dataset. The exact nature of the data remains a secret until the event kickoff, adding an element of surprise and excitement. The challenge culminates with participants presenting their findings to a panel of esteemed judges from academia and industry, competing for awards in categories such as "Best Insight", "Best Visualization," and "Best Use of Outside Data."

Throughout the competition, participants will have the support of a team of consultants from the University of Mannheim. Additionally, an internal CareerFair will offer students the opportunity to network with potential employers and explore career prospects.

DataFest has been a staple offering by the American Statistical Association in the United States for several years, with the inaugural event taking place at the University of California in 2011. Since then, the concept has spread globally, with universities around the world hosting their own DataFest events.

For more information on DataFest Germany 2024 and to get involved in this exciting exploration of data, visit the official website at http://datafest.de or learn more about the initiative at https://ww2.amstat.org/education/datafest/.

Interested parties can also reach out to Luis Mejía (l.mejia@lmu.de) for further details.