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WiDS Posts | March 24, 2025

WiDS Ambassador Event Highlights: February and March

WiDS Philadelphia @ Vanguard

WiDS Philadelphia @ Vanguard reported a tremendous success of the 2025 Datathon event. With over 200 participants from Malvern, PA, Charlotte, NC, Dallas, TX, Toronto, Canada and London, United Kingdom, this event exemplified the power of collaboration and innovation in the field of data science. The time, dedication, and enthusiasm were instrumental in making this event a resounding success.

The attendees were a mix of data science practitioners and beginners who delved into AI and machine learning to enhance the speed and accuracy of ADHD diagnosis in adolescent females. In total, there were 220 participants and 33 mentors across 6 sites globally (Melbourne, Australia event is planned for March 25th). The enthusiasm was electric from start to finish, and participants were inquiring about the next event. This was a very successful Datathon for Vanguard staff to explore and learn new skills for a good cause.

WiDS Lima

The 8th Annual WiDS Datathon Challenge kicked off with a series of engaging workshops aimed at enhancing participants’ Python skills for data analysis and machine learning. Organized with the support of CODE UP and Women in Engineering UP, these sessions provided undergraduate students with the opportunity to teach and learn from one another, fostering a collaborative environment.

Throughout three days of hands-on learning, attendees explored key topics in data science such as Python basics, data exploration, and prediction and clustering techniques. With a total of 35 attendees, the workshops were a resounding success, fostering an inclusive and engaging learning space. A key highlight was witnessing undergraduate students take on the role of educators, sharing knowledge and building confidence in both technical and teaching skills.

As the WiDS Datathon Challenge progresses, participants leave these workshops with sharpened technical skills and a strong sense of collaboration, ready to join the challenge.

WiDS Kuwait @ Kuwait University

The Introduction to Python Programming workshop, hosted by ClickIT in collaboration with KARS, PyData, and WiDS, successfully introduced participants to fundamental coding concepts. Led by Eng. Asmaa Alazmi, the interactive sessions provided hands-on experience with variables, loops, conditionals, and data structures, supported by dedicated mentors.

The inclusive environment fostered confidence, with one attendee sharing, “This workshop gave me the confidence to start coding in Python. The hands-on exercises and mentor support made learning easier and more enjoyable.” Stay tuned for more opportunities to learn and grow.

WiDS Dhahran @KFUPM

The first WiDS Dhahran@KFUPM 2025 event—a hands-on datathon workshop titled “Building AI Models for ADHD Detection in Women: Leveraging fMRI Data for a Data Science Challenge with Social Impact” was a success! The session attracted a diverse group, with around 32 in-person participants and an additional 15 joining online via Zoom. Attendees included KFUPM graduate and undergraduate students, IAU undergraduates, and a research scientist from Halliburton, DTV. Presented by Rahaf Jaber and Yasmin Yasin.

The event concluded on a high note with great vibes as attendees engaged in hands-on coding using a provided notebook, fostering an interactive and collaborative atmosphere throughout the workshop. As one participant summed it up: “It was really engaging and informative. I am a beginner and it was easy to understand the concepts for me too.”

WiDS Surat

WiDS Surat hosted a virtual webinar for WiDS 2025, bringing together data science enthusiasts to explore AI and data-driven research.

WiDS Surat Ambassador Hetvi Patel introduced attendees to the WiDS mission, Datathon 2025, and guided them on registration, Kaggle navigation, and available resources. The highlight was Prof. Vandana Joshi’s session, which provided insights into ADHD, its challenges, and the WiDS Datathon dataset, demonstrating how data science can uncover ADHD-related patterns.

The event concluded with an interactive discussion on competition guidelines, dataset usage, and best practices. Coordinated by Hetvi Patel, Prof. Dhatri Pandya, and Dr. Dipali Kasat, the session equipped participants with practical knowledge of data-driven ADHD research, insights into the WiDS Datathon, and real-world applications of data science in healthcare.

WiDS Ibadan

WiDS hosted an interactive Upskill Workshop, equipping participants with practical data science skills and hands-on learning opportunities. Attendees explored key concepts, engaged in guided exercises, and gained insights from experienced mentors.

Key Takeaways:
“Your perspective matters, your presence is powerful, and your voice is needed. Diversity in data means fairer algorithms, more ethical AI, and a better future for all.”
“Accelerate action with the 3 Ls: Learn fearlessly, Lead boldly, Lift others as you rise.”

WiDS @ Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa

This Datathon workshop provided an engaging, hands-on introduction to data science, with active participation from attendees and invaluable guidance from mentors. Participants created Kaggle accounts, completed the “Titanic” challenge, and gained firsthand experience in data analysis and competition workflows.

Mentors found the experience highly rewarding, with some stepping into mentorship roles for the first time. Attendees expressed appreciation for the workshop, highlighting its value as an entry point into data science. The event successfully fostered collaboration and learning, equipping participants with essential skills to navigate data competitions.

WiDS San Jose Youth & WiDS Trinidad and Tobago

In celebration of International Women’s Day, WiDS Trinidad and Tobago and WiDS San Jose Youth hosted a fireside chat featuring women leaders in Data Science and AI. The discussion covered strategies for breaking into the field, the importance of mentorship, and valuable resources such as online courses and professional communities. Speakers also reflected on resilience, adaptability, and continuous learning as key pillars of their success. The session provided attendees with actionable insights and inspiration to navigate and excel in these dynamic fields. Watch now!

 

WiDS Kansas

This presentation is part of a series of workshops under the movement to integrate data science in Kansas. The event was organized as a collaboration between the University of Kansas and Kansas State University, in partnership with Women in Data Science Kansas and the Kansas Data Science Consortium (KDSC). The presentation aims to shed light on how and why language models learn harmful content and explores methods to evaluate safeguarding approaches. These include data filtering and output-level interventions, examined through a socio-technical perspective to ensure responsible and ethical AI development.