Data Institute for Societal Challenges - DISC

03/30/2026

🎉 The DISC 2nd Annual Data Science Symposium is just 8 days away! 🎉

We’re counting down and want to give a huge THANK YOU to our amazing Gold Sponsors who make this event possible!

Your support helps us bring together innovation, research, and collaboration across the data science community. We appreciate you!
🙌 Thank you to our Gold Sponsors:

03/26/2026

📢 Join Us for the Next DISC Speaker Series Presentation!
We are excited to welcome Dr. Wei-Hsuan “Jenny” Lo Ciganic as our next distinguished speaker.
Dr. Lo-Ciganic is a Professor of Medicine with tenure at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, specializing in pharmacoepidemiology. Her work focuses on improving drug safety, medication adherence, and prescribing quality—particularly among older adults and Medicaid beneficiaries.
She brings extensive expertise in advanced analytics, including machine learning and group-based trajectory modeling, applied to large healthcare datasets. Since 2015, she has served as PI or Co-I on more than 20 extramurally funded grants and contracts.
Currently, Dr. Lo-Ciganic is:
⭐ PI of the R01 study “DEMONSTRATE” (Machine-Learning Opioid Prediction & Risk-Stratification E-Platform)
⭐ A lead investigator on the R01 study “mPROVEN” (Machine-Learning Prediction & Reducing Overdoses with EHR Nudges)
Both studies are funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
She has authored 125+ peer‑reviewed publications (h-index: 29) and has a strong record of mentoring PharmD, MS, and PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, residents, and junior faculty.

📅 When: Wednesday, April 8, 2026
🕑 Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
📍 Where: Rainbolt Auditorium, Samis Center
1200 Children’s Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73104
🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/gsYHCW43

02/16/2026

🎉 Douglas Day Celebration 2026! 🎉

The DISC, in partnership with the OU Libraries, was thrilled to co-host this year’s Douglas Day Celebration on February 13!

More then 35 members of the OU community came together to honor the legacy of Frederick Douglass through collaborative learning, transcription activities, and meaningful discussion. It was inspiring to see so many participants contributing to the preservation of Black history and culture.

From focused work sessions to themed treats and stickers, the event was filled with energy, connection, and purpose. ✨

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the day a success!

02/06/2026

🚀 Join us for the DISC Symposium 2026!
We’re bringing together researchers, students, and innovators for a day of data science exploration and collaboration.
📅 April 7, 2026
🕣 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
📍 OU Memorial Union
🎤 Keynote Speaker:
Dr. David Saah, Director of the Geospatial Analysis Lab, University of San Francisco
💡 Don’t miss presentations, posters, networking, and discussions on the future of data-driven discovery.
📲 Scan the QR code to register!
Hosted by the Data Institute for Societal Challenges (DISC)

12/22/2025

Dear Data Science Community,
As the year comes to an end, we want to extend our sincere appreciation for your involvement and continued engagement with DISC. Your participation in our events, workshops, and collaborative projects has played a vital role in strengthening the data science ecosystem at OU and beyond.

This year has been full of exciting opportunities—from new research initiatives and interdisciplinary partnerships to the growth of our programs and community. None of this would be possible without your dedication and willingness to learn and innovate alongside us.

As we look toward the new year, we are committed to building on this momentum and creating even more opportunities for you to connect, collaborate, and grow. We hope you will continue to be an active part of the DISC community.

Wishing you and your loved ones a restful holiday season.

Warm regards,

Mike

11/05/2025

👋 Hello DISC Community and Followers!

We have got some exciting events coming up, and we’d love for you to be part of them! 🎉

Check out what’s happening and register here 👉
https://www.ou.edu/disc/news-events/newsroom-events

Let’s connect, learn, and grow together! 💬✨

The University of Oklahoma

09/09/2025

📢 You're Invited!
Join us for the OU AI Symposium: From Foundations to Future — a full-day event exploring the impact and future of artificial intelligence at OU.

🗓️ Date: Friday, September 26, 2025
🕣 Time: 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
📍 Location: Molly Shi Boren Ballroom, Oklahoma Memorial Union, 900 Asp Ave, Norman, OK

🔍 Highlights Include:

Keynote by OU’s new Chief AI Officer
AI Working Group Reports
Panel Discussions & Breakout Sessions
Networking Opportunities
Registration is required! https://qualtrics.ou.edu/jfe/form/SV_9Brsup86pwk4rIi

📌 Questions? Contact:
Luke Pemberton – [email protected]
Jennifer Panicci – [email protected]

Let’s shape the future together. See you there! 🚀

08/11/2025

🎉 Congratulations to Dr. Erin Maher!

The Data Institute for Societal Challenges is proud to celebrate our Senior Associate Director and Professor in the Department of Sociology, Dr. Erin Maher, on her recent election to the American Sociological Association!

Dr. Maher has been elected as a Council Member of the ASA’s Practice and Public Sociology Section, and has also been appointed as a 2025–26 Faculty Fellow for Housing and Residential Life.

We’re thrilled to see her continued leadership and impact in the field of sociology and beyond. 👏

07/31/2025

📢 FY25: A Year of Data-Driven Impact at DISC!

As we wrap up another incredible year at the Data Institute for Societal Challenges (DISC), we’re proud to share the milestones that made FY25 unforgettable. From innovative student research to global partnerships, our community powered bold discoveries at the intersection of data science and real-world change.

✨ Highlights from this year:

💸 $187,730 in seed funding awarded to 24 research teams

🌐 Partnerships with KAIST & Sejong University to advance global collaboration

🧠 Launched 5 AI working groups + 20 OU AI pilot projects across 29 departments

📈 $143M in external proposals submitted, $10.9M in funding secured

🎓 Over 462 members driving societal solutions through data innovation

We’re not just building research—we’re building a movement. Huge thanks to our students, faculty, staff, and affiliates for making DISC a dynamic force for good.

🚀 Looking ahead to FY26, we’ll expand funding, deepen industry partnerships, and continue pushing the boundaries of AI, ML, and transdisciplinary research.

📄 Read the full Year-End Report:https://www.ou.edu/content/dam/disc/docs/DISC%20Final%20FY%2025%20EOY.pdf

🔗 Learn more about DISC: https://www.ou.edu/disc

07/01/2025

📢 You're Invited!
Join the AI Research Working Group for our second Lunch and Learn of the summer! 🌞🤖

🗓 Date: Tuesday, July 15
🕚 Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Location: OU Bizzell Memorial Library, Lower-Level Room 123, 404 Brooks Dr., Norman
💻 Zoom option available – Link will be sent on July 14 to those who register.

Enjoy a series of lightning talks from OU faculty exploring the intersection of AI with education, communication, and creativity, followed by lunch and informal discussion.

🎤 Featured Speakers & Topics:

Raju Maharjan – Integrating AI to Enhance Art and Design Education
Jacob Pleasants – Less Work for Teachers? Questioning the Labor-Saving Promises of AI in Education
Kristin Bennett – Whose Design Is it Anyway? GenAI in Technical and Professional Communication
Hunter Heyck – AI as Tool and Medium
🍽️ Lunch provided | 🧠 Great conversation guaranteed
📌 Limited to 60 in-person attendees – Register now!

🔗 Register here: https://ousurvey.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_73uWNeEVQizyGDc

📧 Questions? Contact Jennifer Panicci at [email protected]

Thank you for registering for our July 15 Lunch and Learn. Please note that in-person attendance is limited to 60 participants, while up to 200 attendees may join via Zoom.

06/25/2025

🚀 Exciting News from the University of Oklahoma! 🤖

We're thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new AI website — your go-to hub for all things artificial intelligence at OU! 🎓✨

🔗 Visit now: https://ou.edu/ai

Whether you're a student, faculty member, researcher, or just curious about the future of AI, this site is packed with resources, events, research highlights, and opportunities to get involved.

Let’s shape the future together — the AI way! 💡💻

The University of Oklahoma