DATA & DEMOCRACY 2018
(A Conference Prospectus and Call For Expressions of Interest)
WHAT WILL VOTING RIGHTS ACTIVISTS NEED FROM DATA SCIENCE VOLUNTEERS IN 2018?
WHAT NON-PROFIT DATA SCIENCE CAPABILITIES CAN BE FIELDED TO SUPPORT THOSE ACTIVISTS?
In the never-ending struggle against voter suppression and election manipulation, technology is no substitute for good old-fashioned volunteers on the ground, demonstrators in the halls of power, and attorneys in the courts of law. But when effectively applied, new technologies have the potential to be a potent force multiplier in defense of democracy. Data science – sophisticated Big Data analysis and visualization for situational awareness and decision support – particularly holds that promise.
Yet in order to deliver on its promise, data science must begin with conversations between its producers and consumers. What is needed? What's not? What's possible, but not yet realized in practice? What's impractical to achieve, no matter how desirable it might be? What are the areas most in need of data science support (Get-out-the-vote? Legal challenges? Voter registration? Redistricting reform? Rapid response to disinformation? Other?).
A Meeting of Minds, Hands, and Hearts
Insightus (North Carolina's home-grown collaborative of volunteer data scientists) proposes to host a conference in Durham, NC this fall where like-minded technologists and voting rights activists who seek to work together can prepare for the 2018 election cycle and beyond.
The conference’s goals include:
- To connect activist champions of democracy and the growing numbers of progressive data science organizations and individuals who are willing to serve their needs
- To think through together what it is that progressive data science can best do to help defend democracy in 2018, and how best to coordinate and provision those efforts
- To look back over recent progressive data science success stories...and failures...and promote outside-the-box thinking based on those examples' lessons
- To move forward to more proactive defense of democracy through data science (and away from its more common application in purely retrospective analyses of vote-suppressors' past accomplishments)
While Data & Democracy 2018 will have a distinctly Tar Heel flavor, it will aim to bring together a stimulating collection of voting rights champions, progressive data scientists, and thought-leading authors, journalists, and bloggers from across the South and beyond. Meeting registration will be modestly priced, and the organizers will seek to identify donors and volunteers who can help to provide registration, transportation, and lodging assistance for attendees of particularly limited means.
It’s Your Call
With this prospectus the organizers are seeking expressions of interest in and moral support for such a conference, before pulling the trigger on fundraising, planning and preparation. If the idea of participating excites you – as either an attendee or as a possible presenter in panel discussions, workshops, or platform presentations – please do drop us a quick email letting us know that, at admin (at) insight-us (dot) org (please note that neither KosMail nor the comments section below will suffice; your emailed response will virtually insure that you receive an invitation to attend). This is not a commitment on your part, but rather just a quick attaboy of support for the idea...because the listening and learning that is the goal of this conference begins with us listening to you, the progressive community, to learn whether such a conference would actually meet a real need.
If this prospectus generates enough of those emailed expressions of enthusiastic interest we'll be back in touch soon with updated plans and a call for presenters.
PS: Please feel free to share this prospectus widely among progressive friends of democracy and data science
If you have a question or suggestion, or you'd like to explore how your organization might help with logistic or financial support for this conference, please email admin (at) insight-us (dot) org.