February 17, 2025
Inaugural ASA DataFest provides applied-learning experience for students
Kansas State University will host its first American Statistical Association, or ASA, DataFest competition on April 25-27, in College of Business room 1092. Registration is limited to 50 students.
DataFest is an annual, applied learning competition in which teams of up to five undergraduate students work to reveal insights from a large and rich data set provided by an industry data sponsor. Prizes will be awarded to teams producing the most creative and technically sound results. Students from all fields of study — including engineering, math, computer science, statistics, biological sciences, physical sciences, social sciences and business — are welcome to participate.
K-State's ASA DataFest is a unique collaboration between academia, industry and students that takes data analysis beyond the constraints normally encountered in a typical statistics or data science course. Teams of students are able to apply skills learned in the classroom while working on large data sets to help answer real-world questions. Students will work on a data set of current interest to the industry data sponsor and will not be unveiled until the start of the competition.
ASA DataFest is sponsored on campus by the Institute of Digital Agriculture and Advanced Analytics.
“Long after ASA DataFest is completed, student-competitors who include the event on their resumes will find that potential employers are keenly interested in their experience. Employers will learn how students are applying data analysis lessons learned in the classroom to solve practical problems," said Shawn Hutchinson, professor in geography and geospatial sciences, director of geographic information systems spatial analysis laboratory, and co-director of education for the Institute for Digital Agriculture and Advanced Analytics.
Advanced registration is required for ASA DataFest by March 25.