The School of Science and Technology holds the second edition of Datathon
By Dr. Gabriel Okello
The Datathon was held on Saturday, July 13 and brought together data science students, professionals, and professors to showcase the current applications of data and the innovative work of their peers. The event aimed to foster student engagement, unleash the power of analytics, and encourage creative and innovative thinking to generate useful tools and solve dynamic problems faced in Kenya and Africa. It also sought to enhance students' soft skills, such as problem-solving, communication, and teamwork, which are essential for professional success.
Participants gained extensive knowledge through teamwork and invaluable experience in a close-to-real-time environment. The Datathon integrated a diverse group of students with shared interests in data science, fostering mutual understanding and collaboration. Data science and analytics were applied to solve a broad spectrum of real-life challenges across various domains. Participants developed diversified models to address sectors of the economy, aiding decision-making and creating positive societal impacts. This event was a significant challenge for data enthusiasts and a vital learning opportunity, driving the emerging data science program forward.
Ten teams of students worked on projects addressing two crucial Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). The event featured three renowned industry leaders as judges, who brought extensive experience in their respective fields.
The top three teams recognized for their outstanding projects were: MialeNet, whose solution focused on providing a low-cost internet solution, promoting digital inclusion under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), KidsNourish developed an application for tracking nutrition for kids, "Nourish4Kids", designed to improve child nutrition and health, supporting SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and UzaziBora focused on a maternal health tracker designed to improve maternal health outcomes, supporting SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).