The document discusses how data science can benefit social good organizations by improving understanding of the populations served, designing more efficient programs, and better allocating resources. It highlights various projects, including understanding homelessness and prioritizing hazardous waste inspections, demonstrating the effectiveness of data-driven decision-making. The initiative 'NC Data4Good' connects data scientists with social organizations to address community issues such as childhood hunger.

1. Twitter: @NCD4G DATA SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL GOOD NCData4Good.github.io
Zeydy Ortiz, Ph. D.
Organizer

2. Agenda
What is data science?
How can data science help social good
organizations?
Better understand people served
Design more efficient programs
Better allocate resources
What is NC Data4Good?
Twitter: @NCD4G DATA SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL GOOD NCData4Good.github.io

3. Twitter: @NCD4G DATA SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL GOOD NCData4Good.github.io
Data
Scientist
Zeydy Ortiz, Ph. D.
zortiz@datacrunchlab.com
Twitter: @DrZeydy | @DCrunchLab
Computer Engineer
Computer Science
Performance
Engineer

4. Data journey to value
Twitter: @NCD4G DATA SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL GOOD NCData4Good.github.io
DATA VALUE
GENERATION
COLLECTION
AGGREGATION
RESULTS
What happened?
What is likely to happen?
What is the next best action?
ACTION
INTERPRETATION
DECISION
PRESCRIPTIVE
PREDICTIVE
DESCRIPTIVE

5. How can data
science help social
good organizations?
Better understand people served
Design more efficient programs
Better allocate resources
Twitter: @NCD4G DATA SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL GOOD NCData4Good.github.io

6. Sharing data to understand homelessness
DataKind UK for St. Mungo’s Broadway & Citizens Advice
http://www.datakind.org/projects/sharing-data-to-learn-about-homelessness
Twitter: @NCD4G DATA SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL GOOD NCData4Good.github.io
BETTER UNDERSTAND PEOPLE SERVED

7. Understanding needs
The St Mungo’s Broadway team
sought to answer questions such
as:
•What sorts of advice do people
seek before they become
homeless?
•How do St Mungo’s Broadway’s
services perform for different
groups of people?
•What happens to people when
they leave St Mungo’s Broadway’s
services?
Twitter: @NCD4G DATA SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL GOOD NCData4Good.github.io

8. Identify “superusers”
DataKind & Pivotal for Crisis Text Line
http://www.fastcoexist.com/3047638/how-data-science-shaped-this-teen-counseling-by-text-service
Twitter: @NCD4G DATA SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL GOOD NCData4Good.github.io
DESIGN MORE EFFICIENT PROGRAM

9. Designing more efficient
program
Situation: 3% texters were
superusers using 34% of
counselor’s conversation minutes
(40-50 minutes per conversation)
Result: Identified superusers as
early as their 5th conversation
=> using only 8% of conversation
minutes
Twitter: @NCD4G DATA SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL GOOD NCData4Good.github.io

10. Prioritizing hazardous waste inspections
Data Science for Social Good Fellowship for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
https://dssg.uchicago.edu/2015/10/16/epa-data-driven-hazardous-waste-detection/
Twitter: @NCD4G DATA SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL GOOD NCData4Good.github.io
BETTER ALLOCATE RESOURCES

11. Better allocate resources
Twitter: @NCD4G DATA SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL GOOD NCData4Good.github.io
Situation: In 2014, there were
more than 20,000 chemical spills
in the US leading to more than 800
deaths and $50 million in property
damage
Challenge: Prioritize facilities to
inspect (~4% of active facilities)
Results: Risk score model to
effectively identify potential
violators, better allocate
inspection resources, and
maximize the impact of each
investigation

12. Other Data4Good projects
Twitter: @NCD4G DATA SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL GOOD NCData4Good.github.io

13. Twitter: @NCD4G DATA SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL GOOD NCData4Good.github.io

14. Twitter: @NCD4G DATA SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL GOOD NCData4Good.github.io

15. Making an
Impact
Data
Scientists
Supporters
Bring together social
good organizations
and data scientists to
make a difference in
our communities
Social Good
Organizations
COMMUNITY
Twitter: @NCD4G DATA SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL GOOD NCData4Good.github.io

16. Data
Scientists
Supporters
DataCrunch
2015
Enable social
innovators to
address issues of
childhood hunger
and access to fresh,
nutritious foods
Social Good
Organizations
COMMUNITY
Twitter: @NCD4G DATA SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL GOOD NCData4Good.github.io

17. Twitter: @NCD4G DATA SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL GOOD NCData4Good.github.io

18. 1 in 5 children living in poverty
Darker areas represent
~1000 children in
poverty:
• North Durham
• East Durham city
• North (east) Raleigh
• South East Raleigh
• Near US401S &
TenTen
• Garner
• Benson
Where is the need?
Twitter: @NCD4G DATA SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL GOOD NCData4Good.github.io

19. Food pantries near bus stops
% Pantries within 1 mile
of a bus stop:
• Durham : 95%
• Orange : 67%
• Wake : 50%
• Johnston: 0%
Where are the gaps?
Many food pantries are not
accessible by public
transportation
Twitter: @NCD4G DATA SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL GOOD NCData4Good.github.io

20. Twitter: @NCD4G DATA SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL GOOD NCData4Good.github.io

21. Thanks to the community!
“I learned a lot about both the content (childhood hunger in the community) and techniques,
got to apply my skills and contribute to the project, and made new friends”
Twitter: @NCD4G DATA SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL GOOD NCData4Good.github.io

22. Thank you!
Zeydy Ortiz, Ph. D.
zortiz@datacrunchlab.com
Twitter: @NCD4G DATA SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL GOOD NCData4Good.github.io