In this challenge, a team of students from the Bachelor's program in Computational Social Science will research and design interventions to solve health and mobility problems.

Students are familiar with (and will be learning) a range of computational methods: Python data analysis, Data visualisation, Web Scraping, Machine learning (Natural Language Processing and Regressions and Classifiers), and Causal loop diagrams/system mapping, as well as research methods like ethnography.

We aim to work on wicked problems together with a variety of partners, both public and private related to mobility/health, provided they are based in the Netherlands.

Some examples of partners we have worked with in the field of mobility include NS, Prorail, GVB, Gemeente Amsterdam, and the Urban Cycling Institute!

Some examples of partners we have worked with in the field of health include GGD Amsterdam, Sigra, and Gemeente Amsterdam.

✅ Key features of the challenge

• Students per team: 4 or 5 students
• Programme: Bachelor in Computational Social Science
• No. of hours spent per team: 320 hours
• Deliverables: Data driven intervention proposal

The specific deliverables that students will provide will depend on your project needs. 

A basic project might include the following:

Data-Driven Intervention Proposal

Data-driven insights with the aim of deploying meaningful interventions

1. Dataset combining relevant data from multiple (open access) data sources. Note: With the Partner's consent, this dataset will be published on the Amsterdam Open Data platform.
2. Slide deck: A short and explainable presentation with the highlights of the proposal that you can repurpose.
3. Intervention Proposal: This includes a visually appealing executive summary, stakeholder assessment, and visualization, business insight based on machine learning-powered data mining, and ethics assessment. Backed by sociological theory and data-driven insight, students will identify key points for intervention aiming for positive change.

🏢 Requirement for participating public & private companies  / organisations

• Any company or community organisation in the field of mobility/health
• At least two founders/employees working in the company.
• In business for at least 6 months.

We encourage a wide variety of companies to apply. We ask that you have a clear link to mobility in the Netherlands, broadly understood. If you are not sure if you qualify, please reach out to us!

💰 Costs

This challenge is free of charge. Your investment in terms of time is:

• Around 16 hours for the contact person (e.g., joining the kick-off and final presentations, providing information, and answering questions).
• Spending more time is fine, of course.

📨 How to apply

You can submit the challenge directly through the website. Provide a title that summarises the challenge. Subsequently, briefly elaborate on your challenge. See link for a template you could use: https://link.masterchallenge.me/challenge-template or use the challenge generator: https://masterchallenge.me/challenge-generator

🗓 Planning

• Monday September 1st, 14:00-17:00: Project Kick-off Event | Roeterseiland Campus, JK Building, Nieuwe Achtergracht 184
• Tuesday September 9th, 14:00 onwards: Meet and Greet (Partners are introduced to Student Teams) | UvA Roeterseiland Campus or online Teams meeting
• Friday January 30th, 13:00-16:00: Project Handover: Presentation & Report of the Data Driven Intervention, Networking Event & Drinks

Questions? Do you want to discuss your challenge before submitting one?

Feel free to email (e.blacher@uva.nl) or call (+31 6 1697 2205) Emma-Rose Blacher, Julia Manikalo (j.manikalo2@uva.nl), or Head of Partnerships Suzanne Hansen (s.hansen@uva.nl, +31 6 482 72 193)