Love Data Week returned to Tulane University for its third annual run from Feb. 4 to Feb.10, celebrating the power and beauty of data. The Connolly Alexander Institute for Data Science and Tulane University Libraries hosted lectures, workshops, a game night and the data visualization contest. 

One of this year’s winners, Julia Miller, a senior majoring in anthropology and environmental studies, did her project on food deserts in New Orleans. Miller mapped public food resources like community fridges, gardens and food banks. 

Miller took transit data and mapped how far someone could get to a food access resource using public transportation like buses or streetcars. “It shows where there are gaps between transit and food access resources,” Miller said. 

The other winner, Ph.D candidate Jill Love, did her project on environmental effects on the cutleaf monkeyflower,  a flower species native to California.   

Kaypounyers Maye, the scholarly engagement librarian and resource and data analyst at TUL, presented the awards on Feb. 10. Maye also helped organize the Love Data Week events.  

“I saw Love Data Week as a natural way to celebrate data and bring awareness around data processes like data analysis, data visualization and data management to faculty, staff and students on campus,” Maye said. “I think there’s no wrong way to start getting involved in data.”  

Lisa Dilks, professor of practice at CAIDS, also attended the concluding reception. 

“Every year, we try to do a little more and draw in, again, a broad audience from lots of different backgrounds and fields,” Dilks said. “I think we did a really good job.”