YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Eight members of Youngstown State University’s Data Science Club recently embarked on a trip to Austin, Texas, to attend the Data Science Salon conference as a professional development initiative.
The trip was funded by the J. Douglas Faires Memorial Endowment and supported by Tom Wakefield, chair and professor.
Jeffrey Coldren, chair and professor of psychological sciences and counseling, organized the trip with support from Jay Kerns, professor of mathematics and statistics. It provided an opportunity for students to immerse themselves in the evolving world of artificial intelligence and data science.
The group included Coldren and Kerns, club advisers; Faiza Jalees, club president; Fatima Wasim, vice president; Mitchell Bogan, secretary; and student members Shrijan Aryal, Anna Colgrove and Diana Drobnjak.
The Data Science Club at YSU was initiated in spring 2024 with the goal of making data science accessible to students from all disciplines.
“It’s Data Science for all,” Kerns said. “We want students from every major to feel welcome because data science is impacting every industry.”
The club meets weekly, using platforms like DataCamp and LinkedIn Learning to help students gain certifications in programming languages such as Python, SQL and R.
“We want to create an environment where students from different backgrounds – math, computer science, psychology, business, even art – can explore data science together,” Jalees shared.
In addition to their regular meetings, the club has hosted guest speakers, including faculty member Amanda Goodrick from Slippery Rock University and Dana Sperry from YSU’s Department of Art, who showcased how data science is used in artistic applications.
Unlike traditional academic conferences, which focus on research publications, the Data Science Salon centered on real-world AI applications, business strategies and startup innovation. The first day featured industry leaders from companies such as CVS and John Snow Labs discussing how they integrate AI and data science into their operations.
“As a student, it was a bit intimidating at first,” Jalees said. “These were professionals with decades of experience, discussing cutting-edge AI solutions. But as we listened, we started connecting the dots – how AI is being used in health care, marketing and education.”
The second day was structured like a Shark Tank competition, where startups pitched their AI-driven business ideas to venture capitalists.
“It was fascinating to see how startups build upon existing technologies, identify gaps in the market and secure funding,” Wasim said. “It really opened our eyes to the entrepreneurial side of data science.”
Pictured at top: Members of YSU’s Data Science Club.