Use of Data Science for Social Good

Introduction

Through expanding their services, initiatives, and outreach, Data Science for Social Good helps non-profit organizations and governmental bodies use their data more effectively and further their objective of bettering society and people’s lives. Data Science for Social Good program offers government agencies and non-profit organizations unprecedented access to talented data scientists. This increases their ability to employ cutting-edge quantitative techniques to address societal problems in fields including economic development, public safety, energy, and transportation.

Consider the below example where data science is applied to improve society. Microsoft and the Andhra Pradesh state government are employing data science and machine learning-based models to examine and forecast dropouts and take proactive action to improve Andhra Pradesh’s educational ecosystem. The government of Andhra Pradesh uses Python, data science, and Azure Machine learning to identify the 10,000 schools’ most dropout-at-risk children. With Azure Machine Learning, officials have generated more than 6,00,000 forecasts, revolutionizing how various state governments in India can boost student retention.

What is Data for Social Good?

While utilizing data analytics to address social issues, data is of utmost importance. This is “open data”, and must be available to data scientists without royalties, patents, or any other limitations on their usage for societal good.

Ethical and Governing Factors to Keep in Mind when Implementing Data Science for Social Good

1. Be clear about the project’s objectives and how they will affect various stakeholders.

Power disparities, a refusal to identify extractive activities, an inability to establish trust, and Western-centric policies cause suspicion in the minds of stakeholders. The individuals whose data is obtained and exchanged may not gain to the same extent as those data scientists in charge of “data for good” operations.

2. Focus on the issue at hand rather than a novel solution.

Data scientists and machine learning professionals occasionally find a solution while looking for a problem. It’s crucial to keep your attention on the fundamental issue and to be open to “mundane” or even non-technical solutions.

3. Respect data privacy.

Data scientists must specify the data’s storage method, users who will have access to it, and long-term disposition. Find out what information is required and if there are any less invasive alternatives to obtain it.

4. Do not respond to the “wrong problem.”

As an illustration, numerous European governments today use computational methods to defend austerity cuts. Many poor and elderly people in India are no longer able to get their food benefits as a result of an outdated biometric identity system, faded fingerprints, inability to go to scanners, or patchy internet connections.

Applications of Data Science in Social Causes

1.     Healthcare:

Advanced big data analytics and data science can help with strategic decision-making for the health system by offering useful insights. Making decisions based on data opens up new opportunities to improve healthcare quality.

The Indian government has started several efforts and projects to address the issue of healthcare data, including NDHM (National Digital Health Mission). This robust digital infrastructure serves as NDHM’s springboard for expanding and improving healthcare throughout the nation through digital management.

2.     Education:

Data science in education will assist in preparing teachers to improve their methods of teaching and comprehend numerous strategies for enhancing students’ interests.

3.     Recruitment:

One of the main areas for attracting a diverse workforce is data science and analytics. It enables HR teams to determine whether hiring managers are selecting qualified applicants from a diverse talent pool and to determine whether those applicants’ values align with their own.

Conclusion

Data science and analytics have a major role to play in achieving the sustainable development goals for 2030, particularly for social benefit. Are you passionate about using technology to make a positive impact on society? Our Data Science for Social Good course is designed for individuals who want to learn how to use data analysis and machine learning to tackle real-world social challenges. From predicting homelessness to analyzing educational inequality, this course will provide you with the skills and tools needed to make a difference. With hands-on experience in programming languages such as Python and R, you’ll gain practical knowledge that can be applied to a variety of industries. Join us today and start your journey toward becoming a data-driven social innovator!