EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

DATE: 5 p.m., Friday, April 13, 2018.

EVENT: About 100 students at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business will compete for $10,000 in a Datathon competition to see who has the strongest data science skills. Datathons are similar to Hackathons for software engineers. But instead of creating apps, students use real-world data to solve a problem.

All Ross students or those affiliated with the school are eligible to register and take a screening test to qualify for the competition. The students will collaborate to develop statistical analyses and predictive models around the topic of air travel patterns. It’s the first Datathon hosted by the school.

The Ross School leads a shift in academia to a more data-driven business curriculum with the launch this fall of a new data and business analytics concentration in the full-time MBA program. It will be geared toward students who want to hone their analytical and organizational decision-making skills. Course offerings include big data analysis, data mining and digital marketing.

The recent explosion of data growth is transforming how businesses operate. Roughly 90 percent of all the data in the world was created during the last two years. By 2020, more than 34 billion objects ranging from smartwatches to smart wind turbines will be producing data.

“We live in a data rich world and the ability to combine data analytics with strategic thinking are critical for future business leaders,” said Ravi Anupindi, faculty director for the Center for Value Chain Innovation at the Ross School. “At Ross, we offer multiple opportunities for our students to learn and hone such skills through course work, action-based learning and competitive events like the Michigan Ross Datathon.”

PLACE: Ross School of Business, Jeff T. Blau Hall, 700 E. University Ave., Room B1580, Ann Arbor. The public is invited to attend to observe the competition.

HOSTS: The Center for Value Chain Innovation at the Ross School and Correlation One, a New York-based data talent solutions technology company.

SPONSORS: Ernst & Young, Llamasoft.

RSVP: Media wanting to attend should contact Brittany Smith, Ross School, 734-936-2150 or brsmith@umich.edu