Seth Eckert
The Sage Concept Grant is an upcoming grant at the Mount funded by Dr. William Christiansen. Christiansen explained what the grant is, saying, “It is a worldwide call for innovation in the social science research methods community.” The goal of the grant is to finalize the development of three different apps, through the assistance of student researchers.
He went into further detail of the development of his three apps. “I created three apps, known as ‘Educate R’, to help students learn data science and statistics early on in their undergraduate careers to make it easier.” According to Christiansen, R is a ‘command line programming interface’ that is often difficult to use and can intimidate students trying to pick up Data Science.
“The point of the apps is to give a first step, that is point and click, that shows you the code as you point and click, so that you can get initial data analysis done. But at the same time, start learning the structure of the code and the language.” Christiansen wanted to develop an environment that allowed people to learn R in a way that was productive, yet straightforward.
He detailed the finances of his grant. “So, I got 8,000 British pounds, or a little over $10,000 and I am planning to spend the money on a little bit of equipment. So, computer that my research assistants can use that offer high-capacity computing, in terms of data storage and processing speed.”
Christiansen is interested in a wide range of students from the Mount, “I intend to use that money to hire a team of research assistants from Computer Science, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Political Science and Sociology, at least History.
Generally, you know, an interdisciplinary team to help develop the apps, perform independent research with the apps, and help me get them to be much more accessible.”
The project will span over a year from its start. Over the project's duration, the main goal will be enhancing the suite of apps. However, additional funding will be given to a few professors to work with the students, or for additional students from the University to conduct independent research projects relating to the grant. The professors and additional students will be separate from those working on the primary apps project of the grant.
Christiansen explained his main goal of the project. “I have used the apps to study my stuff, and it works and if you know anything about code, it breaks when you try something even slightly different…So that’s what I’m trying to do now. I want to break it. I want to tear it [R] down and make sure it’s something that is helpful for other disciplines.”
Christiansen believes that a team comprising several majors is vital to the success of the Sage Grant. “I am really confident that having the interdisciplinary team and bringing other professors in on it, will not only increase interdisciplinary collaboration at the Mount between students and faculty; but will also accomplish the underlying goal of the grant quite successfully; Which is to make the apps as effective as possible before they are distributed worldwide by Sage.”
Information regarding the Sage Concept Grant will be sent out in a round of emails in the coming weeks.
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