The 2nd Annual Women in Data Science (WiDS) Datathon has begun! We invite you to join us in this predictive analytics competition focused on social impact.

This year, the Global WiDS team, the West Big Data Innovation Hub, and the WiDS Datathon Committee have partnered with Planet and Figure Eight to bring more than 20,000 labeled satellite images to participants. The WiDS Datathon challenge using Kaggle’s online platform is to create a model that predicts the presence of oil palm plantations. Read more in this Ready, Set, Go! The WiDS 2019 Datathon article.

The WiDS Datathon aims to inspire women worldwide to get involved in data science, and to create a supportive environment for women to connect with others in their community. The WiDS Datathon is open to individuals or teams of up to 4, with each team comprised of a minimum of 50% women (individuals identifying as female). Team members can participate remotely and include anyone from those new to data science to veterans of the field. More information

To begin:

If you're not already on our WiDS Datathon community mailing list, sign up here (and share with your networks!) Read through the WiDS Datathon details, create an account on kaggle.com, and connect with others on the competition site. Register with your team or merge with another, no later than February 21, 2019.

Share and join the conversation on social media with #WiDSDatathon. Look out for local and online Datathon-focused events, trainings, and opportunities starting this week!

The Datathon will close on February 27. The top three winners will be announced at the WiDS Conference at Stanford University on March 4, 2019.

Take the challenge today, and submit up to 5 solutions a day while the datathon remains open, tracking your progress on the Kaggle leaderboard.

We’re so excited to see your entries!

-The WiDS Datathon Committee