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Interview Questions

What has been your role in the COVID-19 research project?
Did you anticipate data research to be so important in a public health crisis?
What has it been like to be part of such a historic event?
How do you see this as an example of what researchers within CDIS departments and the Data Science Institute can do and what type of impact they can have?

WFAA Managing Director of Communications Jessica Arp

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notes from Cris Carusi

This interview is a great opportunity to talk about the DSI and the COVID-19 research group. I looked over your slides, and they look good. My initial question is about the interview format rather than content. Suzanne's email says the interview will be largely conversational, which says to me they are not looking for a presentation. How are you planning to use the slides in the interview? Given that this is conversational, it's possible you will be asked some additional questions or follow-up questions. When you factor in some time for the conversation with Jessica, the 25 minutes will go by quickly.

What are the most important 2-3 points you want to make about the DSI and the COVID-19 research group during this interview?

catalyze large-scale coalitions on campus and beyond
develop and translate data science methods into practical use cases
ask why are we tackle grand challenges

Since this is being made by the UW-Foundation, I assume the primary audience is alumni and potential donors, which is something to keep in mind.

Important to differentiate DSI from CDIS.

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What has been your role in the COVID-19 research project?

Pivot first to these questions:

Why does DSI tackle grand challenges?

data can improve our insight about what to do next
data science is the study of patterns in data

Why is DSI important for grand challenges?

catalyze large-scale coalitions on campus and beyond
develop data science methods, translate into tools
build capacity in research teams to harness these tools
provide a campus-wide place for this activity

DSI is well-positioned to catalyze a thriving data science community that can address these challenges and further social good.

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What has been your role in the COVID-19 research project?

David R. Anderson Interim Director, AFI DSI July 2019

innovate, translate, collaborate in data science research
campus-wide center under Vice Chancellor for Research

Formed DSI COVID-19 Research Group in mid-March

initially 4 data scientists responding to urgent need
charter: build & interpret models, advise on messaging
adapted quickly over time to campus and state needs
built teams, found funding, shared tools & insights
engendered trust and collaboration in diverse teams

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Why is data research so important in a public health crisis?

models help us study what we don't know
data improves models, but still have gaps & uncertainty
timeline of public health challenges

Spring: study growth in cases and disease transmission
Summer: plan for Fall, project case scenarios
Fall: model test frequency, measure outbreak mitigation,

study spatio-temporal patterns of transmission

Winter: design vaccination plans, advise scaled up testing
Spring: analyze WiFi, wastewater, Covid variants

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What has it been like to be part of such a historic event?

scary
exciting
clarifying of role of DSI

quickly adapt to challenges with organized approach
gather together key members of team of teams
step back from details to see big picture
establish trust and added value of data science

collaborate first, find funds later

WARF Accelerator
CARES support from campus and state
potential private foundation support
non-COVID collaborations & NSF grant submissions

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How does this show research strengths of CDIS and DSI?

2019-20 built solid relationships between CDIS and DSI

CDIS faculty provide strategic advice to DSI leadership
several collaborative grants either through DSI or L&S
papers published or under development

clear methods leadership by statistics and computer sciences faculty

building and interpreting models
meeting with campus leaders

important dimensions added with iSchool faculty

ethics of testing and vaccinations
reaching underserved communities
messaging to disparate populations

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General Stanley McChrystal's Team of Teams

https://readingraphics.com/book-summary-team-of-teams/

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more frequent testing leads to fewer infections

Harvard/Yale Paltiel deterministic model simulation

Sean Kent, Sri Aravamuth, Steve Goldstein

biweekly

weekly

2x/week

https://data-viz.it.wisc.edu/covid-19-screening/

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Cornell model stochastic simulation

Steve Wright, Michael Ferris, Steve Wangen, Yiding Chen

https://data-viz.it.wisc.edu/cornell-parameter-sweep/

more testing, fewer cases
higher contact rate, more cases
higher prevalence, more cases
on (0) & off (1) campus

many options to explore
use CHTC computing power

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Cori-Thompson-Gostic data-driven projection model

Dörte Döpfer, Francisco Mandujano Reyes, Sri Aravamuth, Steve Goldstein

positives

quarantines

combined

off campus

on campus

buildup of undergraduate cases after Halloween heading toward Thanksgiving

(real-time restricted access to campus leadership)

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WiFi passive surveillance: building density

Suman Banerjee, Matt Malloy, Lance Hartung, Steven Wangen

1/28 bomb scare at 7-Eleven reflected in WiFi density in Extension & Library

https://www.channel3000.com/buildings-evacuated-on-uw-madison-campus-as-police-investigate-incident-near-state-st/

Stephen Cohn, Channel3000

Extension Building

Memorial Library

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