This event has been canceled.
Get ready for a chilling adventure in data analysis! The Texas A&M Institute of Data Science 2024 Spooky Data Visualization Challenge invites undergraduate and graduate students to dive into the world of eerie datasets and uncover the hidden stories behind them. Whether uncovering the mystery behind ghostly trends, eerie anomalies, or bone-chilling correlations, your mission is to present a single, spook-tacular visual and a 250-word explanation of why it is spine-tingling.
This chilling challenge is part of the 2024 Lorefest, a five-day event combining scholarly research and creative practice inspired by folklore. Click here to read about the last year’s Lorefest.
The challenge? To blend creativity and analytical rigor to showcase your data science skills and the haunting beauty of data visualization. There are three prize categories (see below).
The winners will be announced in person at the Grand Stafford Theater in Bryan on Halloween (October 31) at 7 pm.
Deadline is October 29, 11:59 PM
Competition Guidelines
Submission: Students must submit one PDF file (maximum one page) with a title, your name, department, status (undergraduate or graduate), and a 250-word (max) description of the data and the spooky insight you’ve uncovered. The deadline for submission is October 29, 2024, 11:59 PM CST. You can submit your PDF to this Qualtrics Form.
Divisions & Teams: The competition is split into two divisions: undergraduate and graduate. Students can work independently or in teams of no more than five (5) members. A team with at least one graduate student will be assigned to the graduate division. Students cannot be on multiple teams or make multiple submissions.
Spooky Creativity Factor: The challenge focuses on how well the visualization represents the data’s eerie story. Be as imaginative and inventive as possible! The data can be scary by nature (horror movie trends, ghost sightings, Halloween sales), or your analysis can reveal something unsettling or surprising.
Data Sources: Participants can use publicly available datasets or gather their own. Just ensure that the data source is credible and properly cited. The visual should demonstrate clear, insightful data analysis and use effective design principles for conveying your spooky message.
Prize Categories
The first-place winner in each category in the Undergraduate and Graduate divisions will receive a $50 gift card and gift bag. The second-place winner receives a $25 gift.
Most Mysterious Insight
Awarded for the analysis that reveals the most surprising or eerie data-driven conclusion.
Best Data Storytelling
Awarded for the most compelling and creepy narrative that uncovers unsettling or unexpected data insights.
Best Spooky Analysis
Awarded for the most technically sophisticated visualization, with the best creativity, technical skill, and spooky storytelling.