A holistic approach to data science integration
FAIR FORWARD 2025
A BIPOC Perspectives Initiative
11/01/25 & 11/02/2025
Supported by the Open Research Community Accelerator Program and funded by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.
This hands-on experience will engage participants in analyzing open-source scientific and healthcare data to address real-world problems. Participants will learn how to apply the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) to ensure their research outputs contribute to transparent, reproducible science. We're prioritizing BIPOC students from HBCUs, HSIs, TCUs, and MSIs in our first recruitment wave, followed by working professionals from BIPOC backgrounds interested in mentorship and applying their skills for social good.
WANT TO PARTICIPATE?
HERE'S HOW!
What to Expect:
An all-virtual learning space
Informational Webinar
AUG 15TH
Workshops about:
Open source data | Aug 29th
A 2 day hackathon to help you gain
hands-on experience!
Introduction to coding in R | Sep 8th and 10th
Basics of Version Control | Sep 24th
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Data Visualization in R | Oct 10th
With cash prizes for our winning teams and a certificate for all our participants
Part 1: View slides | View recording
Part 2: View recording
NOV 1ST AND 2ND
10.30AM - 5.30PM EST
AUG 29TH - OCT 10TH
Who is this for?
We're prioritizing BIPOC students and professionals from community colleges, HBCUs, HSIs, TCUs, and MSIs.
What do I need?
Whether you're studying biology, computer science, public health, statistics, or you're just curious about data science - this hackathon will meet you where you are.
Focus
Hands-on analysis of real datasets to tackle meaningful community challenges
What if I'm new to coding?
Whether you're studying biology, computer science, public health, statistics, or you're just curious about data science - this hackathon will meet you where you are.
Questions? Reach out to fair@biodatasage.com - we'd love to hear from you!
Frequently Asked Questions
1 / Do I need to have programming experience to be a part of this?
No! All of the workshops are beginner friendly and intended to prepare you for the hackathon.
2 / Is it necessary to attend all the workshops to attend the hackathon?
No, it's not. You can pick and choose from whichever workshops that you find beneficial for your learning! You're also more than welcome to join us for the workshop series but opt out of the hackathon.
3 / What time will the hackathon be on Nov 1st and 2nd?
The hackathon will run with core hours from 10.30am - 5.30pm EST on both days to accommodate participants, mentors, and judges across multiple time zones. Participants are welcome to spend additional time outside of these hours with their team to work on their project, if necessary.
Want to contribute to the initiative as a mentor? Here's how!
1. Technical Mentorship
Guide teams through:
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Programming challenges and workflows
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Data visualization techniques
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GitHub collaboration
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Statistical modeling and public health analysis methods
3. Judging & Evaluation
Assess projects on:
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Technical rigor and methodology
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Reproducibility and transparency
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Real-world applicability & community impact potential
2. Challenge & Dataset Curation
Sign up here!
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Recommend compelling public datasets
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Suggest realistic, impactful problem statements
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Identify emerging research areas for fresh perspectives