data and the liberal arts edge
TRANSCRIPT
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Is Data Science a Liberal Art? And How do I Bring my Liberal
Arts Background to Work?
Matthew R. WaljeGeorge J. Mount
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Who am I?• Analyst by Trade– Marine Corps – Oceans Beyond Piracy
• Liberal Arts Educated– William Jewell College– University of Denver,
Josef Korbel School of International Studies
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Is data science a liberal art?
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Yes…in the sense that
all science is a liberal art
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Data Science
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Everyone who does this is a scientist.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method
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Science IS part of a liberal arts education.
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Data science… just another science?
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Liberal arts as problem framing
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Liberal arts is a multi-angle attack
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Liberal arts and the falling tree in the forest
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Resources• George J. Mount,
“Is Data Science a Liberal Art?”• Adam Weinberg, “
Data Analytics and the Liberal Arts”• Andrew S. Yang,
“Science as a Matter of (Liberal) Art”
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What Liberal Arts Means• “An approach to learning that
empowers individuals and prepares them to deal with complexity, diversity, and change.”
• Broad range of knowledge coupled with practical skills such as communication, analytical and problem-solving skills, and a demonstrated ability to apply knowledge and skills in real-world settings.– The Association of American
Colleges and Universities
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A Liberal Arts background gives you the flexibility to
identify new ways to use the tools at your disposal to find creative solutions to complex
and pressing problems.
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A Few Examples• Challenging
Assumptions as a junior analyst.
• Discovering new data sources for tracking ships.
• Borrowing models from other disciplines, Pirates as Viruses.
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Programs like Excel can be learned. They are tools. It is much, much harder to teach someone how to think, and to give them a broad range
of experiences.
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Where to Find Us
@Matt_Walje
/matthew-walje-7aa83a3a
Matthew R. WaljeGeorge J. Mount
@Matt_Walje @gjmount
@gjmount
/gjmount
georgejmount.com