WiDS Posts | April 24, 2024

WiDS Ambassador Event Highlights: April

WiDS New York City @ Virtu

The WiDS New York @ Vitru series consisted of four sessions, each addressing different aspects of AI and data science. The first session aimed to demystify AI jargon and create a comfortable atmosphere for attendees. The second session focused on Ethical AI, featuring a keynote by Lynn Anderson Clark and a panel discussion on influencing AI usage. The third session delved into AI applications in finance, emphasizing data quality, privacy, and the importance of domain knowledge. The final session highlighted AI in healthcare and showcased personal journeys into data science, concluding with a TED talk on innovative language model techniques. The series concluded with an in-person networking event, providing attendees with an opportunity to connect and exchange insights in the field of data science.

WiDS Quito @ UDLA

WiDS Quito at UDLA 2024 showcased the sixth edition of the event, coinciding with Stanford University’s global conference. Featuring a hybrid format, the event boasted five speakers and six panelists, all prominent figures in the field of data science. With over 200 attendees both online and in-person, the event not only strengthened Ecuador’s data science community but also inspired young women to pursue STEM careers. UDLA’s Academic Vice Chancellor, Marlena León, emphasized the university’s commitment to gender equality and highlighted the significant representation of women in technological and scientific fields at UDLA. The event’s presentations and panels, including discussions on emerging fields like generative artificial intelligence, underscored the transformative impact of data science and the pivotal role of women in driving innovation in the digital era.

WiDS Paris

The WiDS Paris ambassador team, led by Myriam Fayad and Rim Baccour, organized their inaugural NextGen event on April 4 at the TotalEnergies digital Factory in Paris, supported by the non-profit organization elles bougent. They welcomed 44 middle and high school girls to explore the realm of Data Science through workshops led by data experts from TotalEnergies. The event included comprehensive introductions to data concepts and hands-on activities with real-world use-cases in energy and healthcare. Feedback from the event was overwhelmingly positive, with 7 participants expressing interest in pursuing a career in data science and 15 others showing curiosity about the field. The success of this event motivated the ambassadors and speakers to continue inspiring young girls to pursue careers in data science, aiming to increase gender and minority representation in the field.

WiDS Irvine

WiDS Irvine showcased prominent female data scientists from academia and industry, alongside researchers from various colleges in Southern California and a senior data scientist from Walmart. High school and middle school students delved into the core principles of data science and its practical applications, igniting a passion for future careers in the field. Attendees explored diverse interdisciplinary uses of data science, spanning environmental science, healthcare, and supply chain optimization, prompting deeper exploration into specific domains. The event underscored the significance of gender equality in the tech sector, spotlighting the impactful contributions of women in propelling technological progress and societal transformation.

WiDS London @ Vanguard

On April 12, 2024, Vanguard London’s Women in Data Science (WiDS) Datathon Workshop attracted 31 participants and 4 mentors, with a majority of women attendees. The event featured Python and data science presentations in the morning, followed by a Global WiDS Datathon competition in the afternoon, with 9 teams showcasing their skills and surpassing baseline models. Feedback from 24 attendees indicated a high satisfaction rating of 8.375 out of 10, with an expressed interest in further DS & ML learning opportunities and future WiDS events at Vanguard. Participants with varying levels of expertise praised the workshop for enhancing their confidence in coding and providing valuable hands-on experience in Python and data science concepts.

WiDS Bengaluru

The Women in Data Science (WiDS) Bangalore Conference 2024, hosted by the Data Centre and Analytics Lab (DCAL) at IIM Bangalore, convened accomplished women data scientists and industry luminaries on April 13th, 2024. With over 70 participants, the event featured technical speakers from organizations such as EY, GE HealthCare, and PayPal, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among attendees. Led by WiDS Bangalore Ambassadors, including Prof. U Dinesh Kumar, the conference provided a platform for data science enthusiasts to engage, learn, and network, promoting inclusivity across genders. More information about the event can be found on the conference website here.

WiDS @ MathWorks

Grace Woolson from MathWorks and Valerie Elliott from WiDS Worldwide demonstrated the utilization of MATLAB in addressing the second 2024 WiDS Datathon. Valerie commenced the event by introducing WiDS and detailing the dataset, which included real patient and environmental data concerning individuals diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Grace then guided participants through the model-building process, covering steps from initial data analysis to the development and implementation of predictive models. The livestream attracted 434 viewers, showcasing significant interest in leveraging MATLAB for data science endeavors.

WiDS Baku

On April 21, 2024, the WiDS team organized a Datathon Workshop in Baku, Azerbaijan, featuring speakers Sitara Aghayeva, Leyla Jahangirova, and Vusala Isayeva who shared insights on Kaggle use cases, model development, and domain knowledge application. The event also facilitated discussions on career paths, Data Science roadmaps, job opportunities in the data sector, and the implications of AI. Participants and speakers engaged in networking during the coffee break, fostering a supportive community where they could address real-world data and career challenges. The workshop culminated in the establishment of a WhatsApp group for ongoing support and resource sharing, marking a significant step in fostering women’s empowerment and collaboration in the field of data science. Credits were extended to organizers Sitara Aghayeva, Leyla Eminova, Nigar Mammadova, and Nigar Mammadzada for their contributions to the success of the event.

WiDS Madrid @ URJC

The Regional WiDS seminar, held on April 25th at URJC and conducted entirely online, featured insightful speeches from prominent figures in the field of Data Science. Speakers such as Mónica Villas, Arantxa Yugueros Ferrer, Bella Eke, and Mónica De Pablos Heredero shared their extensive expertise and experiences, highlighting the triumph of women’s humanist leadership in the tech industry and addressing key ethical considerations in AI application. The seminar facilitated engaging discussions among over 50 participants, exploring challenges and opportunities for women in technology management positions, as well as strategies to encourage female participation in STEM fields. For further details, the event recording is available on TV URJC.

WiDS Upper Bavaria

WiDS Upper-Bavaria recently hosted a webinar titled “Optimizing Emergency Call Handling: From Concept to Real-Time Solutions,” aimed at supporting women in data science and STEM fields. Featuring Rim Amarat as the keynote speaker, the webinar delved into innovative approaches to improving emergency call management using AI technologies. Rim’s expertise in Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) systems provided attendees with valuable insights into the advancements and challenges in this area. Additionally, the event highlighted the WiDS datathon, encouraging participation in the healthcare-focused challenge and reinforcing the organization’s commitment to fostering a supportive environment for women in STEM. You can learn more about the event here.

WiDS Villach

The 5th edition of the WiDS Villach Conference in April 2024 attracted over 400 participants, both in-person and online. You can watch the recording here. Consolidating its status as a prominent platform for networking and showcasing female role models in data science and artificial intelligence, the event featured insightful talks addressing current application fields and challenges in data science. Discussions ranged from ethical considerations to applications in computer vision. Interactive workshops provided hands-on learning opportunities, while the “Girls in Data Science” initiative engaged local schools, fostering interest in data science and AI among younger generations. Overall, WiDS Villach 2024 underscored the vibrant and inclusive nature of data science, highlighting its potential for societal benefit.

WiDS Kansas

At the Kansas Data Science Conference 2024, an event was held to introduce and promote the involvement of women in data science to all attendees. The occasion marked the launch of the WIDS Kansas chapter, inviting participants to join and contribute to the community. In a smaller session, interested women gathered to network and received information on how to actively engage in the chapter’s initiatives, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for women in data science.

WiDS Honduras

The Impact the Future event, jointly hosted by Women Tech Makers Honduras and WiDS chapter Honduras on International Women’s Day, garnered a vibrant audience of 100 attendees. The event not only delved into the world of AI but also celebrated the remarkable achievements of women in tech and data science. Particularly inspiring was the enthusiasm among young participants, eager to explore datathons and contribute to the burgeoning WiDS community in Honduras. Overall, it was a celebration of empowerment, innovation, and the boundless possibilities within the realm of data science.

WiDS Hubballi

WiDS Hubballi at KLE Technological University hosted an online workshop on April 27, 2024, to support the Global WiDS Datathon 2024 Challenge #2. The workshop aimed to enhance participants’ data science skills for effective participation in the datathon. Ms. Srujana Kaddevarmuth from Walmart Global Tech discussed “Generative AI Applications in Retail,” while Ms. Ashwini Chandrashekharaiah provided a detailed guide on tackling the “Equity in Healthcare” challenge. Over 120 students and faculty attended, finding the workshop informative and valuable for dataset analysis and pre-processing techniques.