by Irmarie Fraticelli-Rodríguez
From Friday, January 22 to Saturday, January 23, a small number of GRASAC members and research assistants took part in a trial run of a “data-a-athon” as a pilot idea for a data science hackathon. Participants from different academic disciplines and professions were placed into two teams. Both groups were tasked to answer questions related to the GKS controlled vocabulary, ontologies, data cleaning, and information architecture.
Over a hundred new relations between objects and language items were proposed for the GKS database. Teams identified over thirty data errors in the GKS controlled vocabulary that may be interfering with the search and retrieval of the database items. Also, teams presented GKS information architecture proposals intersecting data visualization and website wireframing. The teams delved into the possibilities of representing seasonalities and waterways visually through the use of a map and other user-focused features.
“The hack-a-thon was an excellent opportunity to collaborate with other GRASAC members and share ideas. I especially enjoyed brainstorming connections between heritage items and language items, it allowed me to develop a more holistic understanding of the database.” — Olivia White, RA and Hack-a-thon participant
Hack-a-thons are usually associated with computer science/engineering fields. These are events where programmers collaborate to propose solutions to a software-related issue. For the GRASAC community, this format is being explored for its potential to bring multiple knowledges and expertise together in a focused and informal environment. By working together, the participants discovered both isolated and pervasive issues with the GKS Database and proposed new solutions. Miigwech, nia:wen, thank you to our participants!
The pilot data-a-thon was developed and organized by University of Michigan Research Assistants, with support from Professors Ricky Punzalan, Heidi Bohaker and Cara Krmpotich. The team is now preparing to scale up the data-a-thon and host GRASAC-wide events in the Spring. Stay Tuned!