ABW 2023 Conference: Impact and Outlook - Analytics for a Better World

The Analytics for a Better World 2023 Conference kicked off on May 24th, bringing together a vibrant community of nonprofits, researchers, and companies. With more than 100 online participants and 70 attendees at the Amsterdam Business School, the event provided an inspiring platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Analytics for a Better World: First year’s Recap and Key Insights

The Analytics for a Better World 2023 Conference kicked off on May 24th, bringing together a vibrant community of nonprofits, researchers, and companies. With more than 100 online participants and 70 attendees at the Amsterdam Business School, the event provided an inspiring platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Opening Address and Introduction

The conference commenced with an opening address by Marc Salomon, dean of the Amsterdam Business School and co-founder of Analytics for a Better World. Marc emphasized the institute’s commitment to contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals and expressed gratitude to Ortec, one of ABW’s founding partners, for their valuable support.

Marc Salomon, Dean of the Amsterdam Business School and co-founder of Analytics for a Better World

Progress and Impact of ABW

Robert Monné, ABW Managing Director, highlighted the remarkable progress achieved by ABW since its launch on June 1st, 2022. ABW’s impact is based on three main pillars: research, which focuses on solving ongoing problems; businesses, which apply analytics and research in practice; and nonprofits, who bring forth the problems worth solving. Through extensive collaborations and knowledge sharing initiatives, ABW successfully bridges the gap between analytics knowledge and practical implementation. Robert showcased significant collaborations with esteemed nonprofits like Amref, 510, The World Bank, and The Ocean Cleanup, and announced exploring partnerships with organizations such as Oxfam and the Medicins Sans Frontieres. ABW also acknowledged its research and business partners, including Ortec and the University of Amsterdam, as well as in-kind contributors like MIT Management School, Tilburg University, Cmotions, and DPDHL Group. Looking ahead, ABW aims to secure long-term funding, expand its team and contributors, and increase its overall impact.

ABW Fellowship Program and New Course Announcement

Parvathy Krishnan, ABW Chief Technology Officer, provided insights into the first cohort of the ABW fellowship program for data science practitioners. The program spanned eight weeks, offering 165 course hours taught by ten sponsors and supported by 120 mentors. After a rigorous selection process, 43 participants from around the world were chosen, resulting in a total of 14 ongoing projects. Parvathy emphasized the importance of collaborating with nonprofits, aiming to equip them with the necessary tools and knowledge to implement analytics solutions in their day-to-day projects. Additionally, Parvathy announced the upcoming 2023 edition of the ABW academy, featuring a new course on analytics translator training, specifically designed for project and lead managers. Applications for this exciting opportunity are now open!

Research Projects and the Analytics for a Better World Journal

Dick den Hertog, ABW Science to Impact Director, highlighted several research projects in which ABW is actively involved. These projects primarily focus on optimizing existing initiatives, including plastic removal from the ocean with The Ocean Cleanup, estimating child wasting burden in the Sahel region with the World Food Programme, and message classification and topic detection with partners such as 510 Netherlands Red Cross and HEC Paris. Dick also unveiled the research seminar series, held five times a year, where experts share insights from ongoing projects in the field. Lastly, he announced the forthcoming launch of the Analytics for a Better World Journal, which will feature open-source papers focused on impact and practical applications.

Watch the full recording of the session here:

Get Involved!

You can catch up on the inspiring moments and valuable insights by accessing the recording of the conference section below. If you’re passionate about using analytics to create a better world, we invite you to join our mission! Connect with us on LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest developments and opportunities to contribute. Together, let’s make a positive impact through analytics!