CS major Babba Jaden ’20 conducted research at Harvard University this past summer, analyzing data for their Data-Smart City Solutions initiative.
“Smart” Cities and Data Analytics
Babba Jaden ’20, a computer science (CS) major at Elms, is something like a 21st-century explorer, experimenting on the frontiers of data analytics.
After earning a $15,000 fellowship from Station1, a nonprofit that pairs students with startups, research labs, and think tanks in the Boston area, Babba spent the summer working as an intern at Harvard University. He was part of the Data-Smart City Solutions initiative, which is housed under the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. Babba’s internship gave him first hand experience with the emerging field of urban science and technology.
“I’m writing reports for researchers at Data-Smart, giving them feedback on which cities are implementing technology,” said Babba. “It’s more technical, which is something I like — it’s more data analytics and data structures.”
For a city to become “smart,” civic leaders need to creatively use data to guide their decision making. This involves analyzing datasets to discover patterns, predict trends, and address issues before they occur. When average citizens get involved and co-produce that data, society as a whole benefits.
“Having that civil engagement between the community and government builds a strong bond,” said Babba.
One of the cities that Babba researched was Dallas, TX. After analyzing data on the rates of cat and dog attacks in the city, he produced a heat map showing how dangerous different streets and parks are for pedestrians. Titled “Big Data Solutions in Smart Cities,” his project emphasizes the advantages of using applied technology and analytics to improve the quality of life in communities.
At the Forefront of Computer Science
As a Summer@Station1 research fellow, Babba attended seminars, speeches, and workshops, all of which emphasized inventive approaches to STEM research that promote a socially conscious, equitable future. The experience reinforced not only his love of research, but his resolve to earn a Ph.D., he said.
“Being here has given me more of an idea about what I should do next, what the big next move in my life is.”
“Elms has prepared me as a student to look beyond what’s out there, at what opportunities I can try so that I can improve my career and have an open mind,” he added. “Being a CS major at Elms really helped me in this summer program.”
Do you like working with computers? Are you interested in using technology to solve real-world problems? If so, the new computer science major at Elms College can set you on the right path.
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