Hi there,
Welcome to the March 2021 edition of Innovation Lab news, with updates on events and opportunities about data science in the not-for-profit sector.
What we've been up to
Innovation Lab speak at Grantmaking Intelligence conference
The Innovation Lab team spoke last week at Grantmaking Intelligence, the annual conference for grantmakers held at Our Community House in North Melbourne.
Director of innovation, Sarah Barker spoke about practical ways artificial intelligence can help funders get more money to where it's needed most.
Data scientist Nathan Mifsud discussed early findings from an analysis grant applications, which have been auto-classified in SmartyGrants to paint a picture of funding flows and approval rates in Australia.
Watch the recordings of Sarah and Nathan's speeches below.
A bird’s-eye view: funding flows and approval rates - Nathan Mifsud
Artificial intelligence in grantmaking: how data can drive the dollars - Sarah Barker
Paola completes the veski inspiring women STEM sidebyside program
Innovation Lab principal data scientist Paola Oliva-Altamirano attended the veski inspiring women STEM sidebyside graduation ceremony earlier this month after completing the women-focused program supporting emerging leaders in STEM.
Paola said it was great to be in a room of "amazing women doing ground-breaking research."
Covid restrictions throughout 2020 meant that during the program, participants had only interacted online or wearing masks.
"The graduation ceremony was special because this was the first time that we got to see each other's faces," she said.
From our network
Data collaboration: Knowledge is power and it's time to share
Not-for-profit data experts Seer Data & Analytics say there are good reasons why for-purpose organisations should look beyond their own data projects and consider joining a “data collaborative”.
Seer have outlined five benefits of sharing your data with others:
Five benefits of data collaboration
- Make a bigger impact in your community
- Contribute to a wider impact across the sector
- Access better quality data
- Fill data and knowledge gaps at the community level
- Submit better reports to funders and stakeholders, to better tell your story
To find out more, join Save the Children’s Rachel Bell and Rachael Dooley, and Seer’s Kristi Mansfield as they discuss how data sharing is helping create impact in East Gippsland on Tuesday 30 March 1:30pm – 2:30pm AEDT.
RHoK are looking for changemakers
Are you working hard to make a difference in your community? The team at Random Hacks of Kindness want to help. RHoK want to know about the problems you're facing, the things you want to do to help those you work for, and how RHoK can help you make a difference.
Get in touch to find out how you can benefit from being connected with the RHoK network.
Read, listen, watch
- The Protein and the Social Worker: How ML can help us tackle society's biggest challenges - Nesta
- Makers of Sophia the robot plan mass rollout amid pandemic - inkl
That's all from us. Take care.
Our Community House
552 Victoria Street, North Melbourne, Wurundjeri Country VIC 3051
The Our Community Innovation Lab receives support from Equity Trustees, with thanks to the Ella & Mitchell Brazier Fund, Charles Lamond Forrest Estate, James Raymond Hartley Charitable Trust, Charles Frederick William Taylor Estate and Truby & Florence Williams Charitable Trust.
