Explore Data Science and AI During the School Year
UVA Academic Year Data Science Bootcamps introduce young learners to data science and artificial intelligence through programs offered during the school year at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
Programs are designed for students with no prior coding or data science experience and use hands-on activities to introduce foundational data science and AI concepts.
Spring Break Data Science Bootcamp
Launched in 2026, the Spring Break Data Science Bootcamp introduces middle school students to data science and artificial intelligence through creativity, collaboration, and hands-on exploration.
Rather than beginning with coding, students explore how data can be collected, organized, interpreted, and communicated. Activities introduce foundational concepts while encouraging students to connect what they learn to familiar experiences and real-world questions.
Students may explore how machines learn from data, investigate how training data and bias can affect AI systems, discuss AI use in real-world settings, and learn the basics of generative AI and prompting.
The inaugural class also explored data through art. Students collected and analyzed their own data and transformed a group dataset about play into a three-dimensional collaborative installation.
What Do Students Learn?
Students build foundational data science and AI literacy while learning to ask questions, recognize patterns, interpret information, and think critically about technology.
Topics and activities may include:
- Data collection and analysis
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning
- Generative AI and prompting
- Training data and bias
- AI ethics and responsible technology
- Data visualization and storytelling
- Creative and collaborative problem-solving