data and the liberal arts edge
TRANSCRIPT
Is Data Science a Liberal Art? And How do I Bring my Liberal
Arts Background to Work?
Matthew R. WaljeGeorge J. Mount
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
Is data science a liberal art?
Yes…in the sense that
all science is a liberal art
Data Science
Everyone who does this is a scientist.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method
Science IS part of a liberal arts education.
Data science… just another science?
Liberal arts as problem framing
Liberal arts is a multi-angle attack
Liberal arts and the falling tree in the forest
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”
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
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.
A Few Examples• Challenging
Assumptions as a junior analyst.
• Discovering new data sources for tracking ships.
• Borrowing models from other disciplines, Pirates as Viruses.
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.
Where to Find Us
@Matt_Walje
/matthew-walje-7aa83a3a
Matthew R. WaljeGeorge J. Mount
@Matt_Walje @gjmount
@gjmount
/gjmount
georgejmount.com