The Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science presents the Fall 2025 Data Science Bootcamps, sponsored by Aegon Transamerica. Each week our distinguished presenters will present on topics including data analytics programming, business communication, and observational data analysis.

This week's Data Science Bootcamp presentation:

Dr. Kate Ralston, Director of Data Analytics, Enrollment Management, University of Iowa

"Before You Build: How to Scope, Ask, and Align Like a Pro"

The goal of this session is to introduce participants to early stages of project communication including gathering requirements, developing a project scope, timelines and communication plan. We will learn to distinguish between the business need, project goals and data questions, practice requirement gathering and communicating technical choices necessary to complete a project. In addition, we will discuss easy wins, common setbacks and safeguards that help project success.

A homework will be assigned between Dr. Ralston's October 28 and November 4 sessions.