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Data Science Defined

Data Science is an emerging interdisciplinary field whose goal is to extract knowledge and enable discovery from complex data using a combination of computation, mathematics, statistics, and machine learning. Datasets can be as varied as maps of the known universe, MRI images, human genomes, medical records, stock market transactions, education data trends, historical texts, infrastructure systems, or website clickstream data.

According to LinkedIn's 2020 Emerging Jobs Report, the field of data science continues to see rapid growth across all industries and has topped the emerging jobs list for the past three years. Data science plays an important and significant role on basic and applied research across all disciplines—science, social science, arts and humanities, engineering—and impacts all sectors of the economy, from health care to education, government, transportation, finance, manufacturing, construction, and urban planning.

Data Science for the Common Good

Data Science also has the potential to improve individual and community health and education; develop smart communities that enable efficient circulation of people, goods, and services; enable informed decision making in public and private sectors; and enhance environmental sustainability and overall quality of life. Given the wide range of applications and benefits, the powerful tools and techniques of data science must be used not only effectively, but ethically and responsibly.  

A School Without Walls

The University of Virginia School of Data Science—the first of its kind in the nation—is guided by common goals: to further discovery, share knowledge, and make a positive impact on society through collaborative, open, and responsible data science research and education. 

Founded in 2019 through a $120 million gift, the largest in UVA history, the School positions the University and our community to play an integral leadership role in the global digital future. Focusing on interdisciplinary, collaborative research and education, the School joins other departments across UVA, the community, industry, government, and non-profit organizations to use data science to further discovery and make a positive impact on society.