Study Data Science
Data Science is the fastest growing major at UW-Madison. Whether you are interested in a data science career, course, or workshop, opportunities abound here! Learn about undergraduate majors, graduate programs, the data science certificate, workshops, and internships and careers.
Explore Campus Resources
Data science has applications in all disciplines, and Data Science @ UW is your connection to data science institutes, centers, and programs across the UW-Madison campus. It’s also the place to find research funding and resources, coding meetups, seminars and events, data science faculty and communities of practice, student organizations, and more!
Collaborate With Us
Data science innovation at UW-Madison furthers the Wisconsin Idea by fueling discovery and economic development in all corners of the state and beyond. We are committed to fostering an inclusive culture in data science. Campus, industry, and community partners can benefit from our data science services.
Data Science Events
- December
- December 6Exploring AI in Teaching: AI Learning LabCenter for Teaching, Learning & Mentoring1:00 PM, Zoom
Also offered online - December 10ML+X Forum: Applied Machine LearningMachine Learning Beyond Traditional CS Fields12:00 PM, Orchard View Room, Discovery Building
Also offered online - December 11
News and Announcements
Present Your Work at the Data Science Research Bazaar
Showcase your work at the Data Science Research Bazaar, March 19-20 at the Discovery Building! The Research Bazaar welcomes submissions for lightning talks, posters, workshops, and interactive discussions.
Free Screening of The Thinking Game at Union South
WUD Film and DSI will present a free screening of The Thinking Game, 12/5, 6:30pm at the Union South Marquee Theater. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion.
AI for Science Seminar: AI for the Working Mathematician
François Charton, a research engineer at Meta AI, will speak on "AI for the Working Mathematician" Nov. 20, 4-5pm, 1435 Chemistry.
- More
Faces of Data Science
“When we started developing these models, we didn’t have the computing power we have now. But now we’d really like to capture all aspects of the plant disease triangle, and do it quickly in a simple interface that a farmer or consultant can access. To do that, it’s going to take machine learning and data science.”
Damon Smith
Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of Plant Pathology
Damon Smith is a first-generation college graduate who enjoys working outside. He has been interested in science since grade school and is a self-described electronics geek. His work allows him to blend these interests while helping farmers grow field crops more profitably and sustainably.
Roughly six million acres of corn and soybeans cover Wisconsin’s farmlands, and Smith develops models to anticipate when conditions are ripe for the spread of fungal diseases in these crops. Once you see fungus in the field, it’s too late to treat it, so farmers preemptively apply expensive fungicides. Smith’s forecasting models use data describing field conditions and pathogen behavior to inform farmers’ management decisions. This reduces pesticide use while improving ROI.
Smith uses machine learning and AI to create models that capture more extensive data about how crop diseases might spread, such as where fungal spores are released and how they move through the landscape. He works closely with campus and national partners, including the Data Science Institute, the UW-Extension Nutrient and Pest Management Program, and the Crop Protection Network, to build forecasting tools and get them into the hands of farmers and crop consultants who can put them to work.