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title: Data Science for Social Good 2022

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*Pushing the boundaries of ML/AI to tackle the problems that really matter*

{{< youtube FX5WDFwWaQ4 >}}

# DSSG in Germany

After being involved in organisation of DSSG at University of Warwick and the Alan Turing Institute for 3 years in the UK - we are now bringing this concept to **Germany**.

This programme gives aspiring data scientists the opportunity to refine their data science skills through intense training, and by working in small supervised teams on real-world data mining, machine learning, and data science projects. Participants will work with global non-profit organisations and government bodies to make a real-world social impact with their data, by improving their services, interventions, and outreach. Fellows are offered a stipend.

If you have a passion for data science, care about the social good, and love to work in an international team of top talent, you are invited to apply by **31 January anywhere on earth**.

Kaiserslautern is famous for technology and innovation. The town has gained a reputation in the past few years as a modern centre of science and information technology. It lies in south-western Germany, in the middle of the Palatinate Forest (great outdoors and mount biking), and is just 50 kilometres from the neighbouring country of France, and 150 kilometres from Luxembourg.

# University and Institute
TUK has gained high reputation in science, technology & industry in only a short period of time and holds top positions in Germany’s university [ranking](https://www.uni-kl.de/en/international/master/prospective-students/why-kaiserslautern/rankings-achievements), for instance [ranked 3rd in overall study situation for computer science.](https://www.daad.de/en/study-and-research-in-germany/plan-your-studies/che-university-ranking/?che-subject-id=1&che-university-type-id=1&che-degree-id=3&che-a=ranking-list&che-indicator%5B%5D=309&che-indicator%5B%5D=23&che-indicator%5B%5D=611&che-indicator%5B%5D=42&che-indicator%5B%5D=14&che-sort=23). DSSG fits well within the university which offers a graduate program in [Socioinformatics](https://www.cs.uni-kl.de/en/studium/studiengaenge/bm-si/)(deals with the analysis and modelling of the interaction between society and computer science, the co-evolution of social norms and processes and the supporting software).

### DFKI
The German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) was founded in 1988 as a non-profit public-private partnership. It has research facilities in Kaiserslautern, Saarbrücken and Bremen, a project office in Berlin, a Laboratory in Niedersachsen and branch offices in Lübeck and Trier. In the field of innovative commercial software technology using Artificial Intelligence, DFKI is the leading research center in Germany.
At present, approx. **800** highly qualified researchers, administrators and 560 graduate students from more than 65 countries are contributing to more than 400 DFKI research projects. DFKI serves as a stepping stone to leading positions in industry and successful careers as founders of spin-off companies. Over the years, more than **160** staff members have been appointed professors at universities in Germany and abroad.
[](https://www-live.dfki.de/fileadmin/user_upload/DFKI/Medien/Ueber_uns/DFKI_im_UEberblick/Unternehmensprofil/20211206_DFKI_Unternehmensprofil_EN.pdf)

- The [PlasticObs project](https://www.dfki.de/en/web/news/using-ai-against-plastic
)( with OPTIMARE Systems), is the first to use an AI system to detect plastic litter along bodies of water operationally and from the air in order to identify the main sources and distribution routes of the plastic ([video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5TYk90aDqw
)).

- [AI for emergency managment](https://www.dfki.de/en/web/research/competence-centers/ai-for-environment-and-sustainability/) - from natural disaster to terror atacks

- To develop new AI technologies and applications, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) are establishing [ESA_Lab@DFKI](https://www.dfki.de/en/web/news/esa-dfki-transferlab0). a joint research laboratory recent spin-off [Vision Impuls](https://www.vision-impulse.com/#our_solutions) that provides solution for slum mapping, forest and farm managment with earth observations. Other use cases currently pursued include the reduction in fertializer usage.

### Fraunhofer-Institute for Industrial Mathematics

Among others a centre for excellence of [Quantuum Computing](https://www.itwm.fraunhofer.de/en/fields-of-application/quantum-computing.html) and has transated mathematical models in . Recenetly has helped Biontech with the scaling of its [productions]( https://investors.biontech.de/de/news-releases/news-release-details/biontech-bedankt-sich-bei-mitarbeitern-und-partnern-fuer-die/). Another exmaple of realword positive impact is that [ITWM has developed a real-time decision support tool](https://www.earto.eu/wp-content/uploads/Innovation-Awards-2019-Brochure.pdf) that evaluates the optimal compromise of too much and too little exposure in radio therapy.

## Digitalization Strategy of Kaiserslautern

We cannot talk of significantly contributing to changing the lives of millions of people without talking about technology. As information, Kaiserslautern is one of the only cities in its region to have received a prize under the Implementation of the 5G Technology. The company “Herzlich Digital” established in 2017 is working hard in order to make Kaiserslautern a Smart City. It is not an option to believe that being a smart city is not an advantage. Majority of researchers came across with the conclusion that the future of cities lies within being a Smart City [1]. After a competition under “Smart City Pilot Projects” organized by German Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community (BMI), Kaiserslautern extraordinary became among the 13 German cities or municipalities selected in the first round. This enabled the city to be funded 15 million euros for the further development of the Smart City Pilot Projects. It is true that it is huge money for a population of 100,000 people, but this money can also be more beneficial if great people around the world decide to choose Kaiserslautern as either a place to be or a place to spend sometimes.

# Life at Kaiserslautern


Kaiserslautern has an international flair and is situated close to the French and Luxembourgian borders. This town lies in the middle of the low-lying mountain range known as the Pfälzerwald, or Palatinate Forest. The science centre is renowned for technology and innovation. With everything close at hand, it's an ideal place to study.


With the motto "Life tastes nice" - there is a vibrant restaurant and cafe area in Kaiserslautern [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3bIaPIkRB4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3bIaPIkRB4)


Nice parks around the city such the city park and the Gartenschau


Ramstein Air Base is located in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate (aka Rheinland-Pfalz) and is part of the Kaiserslautern Military Community -- the largest American community outside of the United States.