This blog post is the first of nine in a follow-on to our “The future of computational social science is Black” series, about a Summer Institute in Computational Social Science organized by Howard University and Mathematica. It continues to bring the power of computational social science to the issues of systemic racism and inequality in America. This marks the third iteration of the successful SICSS model being hosted by a Historically Black College or University.

Daniel Lobo shares four learnings from his unforgettable experience at SICSS-Howard/Mathematica 2022. 

UDC Assistant Professor, Andrea Adams, talks about their experience during SICSS-Howard/Mathematica 2022.

Hear from the 2021 SICSS-Howard/Mathematica Excellence in Computational Social Science Research Fund awardees about how the funding helped their projects and their future plans. 

At SICSS-Howard/Mathematic 2022 two group projects and five individual projects received the Inaugural Excellence in Computational Social Science Research Award.

At SICSS-H/M 2022, Anthony Wutoh, Yahya Shaikh and Carter Clinton discussed how to bridge the diversity gap in biomedical research and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration.

Rashun Miles discusses his experience returning to SICSS-Howard/Mathematica as an alumni and the larger need for restorative spaces for Black students in every university.

LaVerne H. Council spoke at the Closing Plenary of SICSS/Howard-Mathematica 2022, emphasizing the importance of seeking wisdom and truth through data and fair & effective policymaking.

Paula Moreno, founder of Manos Visibles & first Afro-Colombian woman to serve as Minister of Culture of Colombia, delivered the first SICSS-Howard/Mathematica Motivational Address, focused on the technological challenges and solutions for Africans and people of African descent around the world.

Speakers at SICSS-Howard/Mathematica 2022 explore how change does not affect populations equally, and how the exclusion of underrepresented communities can perpetuate social injustice.

Bite-Sized Lunchtime Talks (BSLT) are a SICSS-Howard/Mathematica site-specific innovation that introduces participants to organizations doing cool things with data. 2022 offered a variety of organizations that proved interesting and inspiring to our participants.

Dr. Safiya Noble speaks about her journey as a critical race scholar, her research on the racist and sexist dynamics of search engines, and the importance of community.

At SICSS-Howard/Mathematica 2022, Shawndra B. Hill, Karen Levy, Brandeis Marshall, and Kyla McMullen emphasized themes of technological determinism, bias, and privacy, and discussed connections to inclusion, equity, and diversity.

The opening plenary of SICSS-Howard/Mathematica 2022 featured a fireside chat with Dr. Anthony K. Wutoh, the Provost of Howard University, and Dr. Amy Yeboah Quarkume, an Associate Professor of Africana Studies, to kick off the event.

The first Summer Institute in Computational Social Science held at a Historically Black College or University, returns to Howard University for its two-day pre-institute, Praxis to Power for graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and beginning faculty who needed more time to practice computational methods.

Summer Institute in Computational Social Science site sponsored by Howard University and Mathematica (SICSS-Howard/Mathematica) awards individuals and teams for the inaugural Excellence in Computational Social Science Research Fund as a unique and exclusive benefit offered to alumni of the site.

This blog post is the second of nine in a series called “The Future of Computational Social Science is Black” about SICSS-Howard/Mathematica 2021, the first Summer Institute in Computational Social Science held at a Historically Black College or University.

This blog post is the first of nine in a series called “The future of computational social science is Black” about SICSS-Howard/Mathematica 2021, the first Summer Institute in Computational Social Science held at a Historically Black College or University. As you go through this package of blogs you will experience the journey we took in 2021.

A new Summer Institute in Computational Social Science organized by Howard University and Mathematica promises to bring the power of computational social science to the issues of systemic racism and inequality in America. This marks the first time the successful SICSS model is being hosted by a Historically Black College or University.

And talking about gender equality in social data science means talking about the representation of women in tech and attitudes towards women in tech. It means confronting the stubborn prejudices and perceptions that women can’t code or can’t do stats. It means having a discussion about how as this new community of thought and practice is forming, we have a chance to make it look different than the communities that came before. And in particular, it seems vital to challenge ourselves to do so because of the questions social data scientists are asking and the methods they are using - because of the danger of biased algorithms, of reinforcing inequality through policies based on big but dirty data. 

Watch the panel discussion.