Data Democratization

Catalog description

Access to quality data and information is at the heart of an informed and engaged populace. However, the skills required to process and make sense of data have historically been disproportionately held by state and corporate actors who often possess more resources to collect, store and analyze data than everyday people. This is particularly true in the context of surveillance technology, where use of data collected from such means is not equitably distributed, or equally advantageous. Through a framework of data democratization, this class will equip students with the skills needed to critically interrogate and use authentic data from a variety of open data sources to inform their personal decisions, including civic engagement and issue advocacy.