A week of presentations and workshops around all things data, presented by Bernard Becker Medical Library, WashU Libraries, Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Digital Intelligence & Innovation (DI2) Accelerator, School of Public Health, Institute for Informatics, Data Science & Biostatistics (I2DB), Brown School Library, Continuing & Professional Studies, Data for Social Impact (DSI), Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, and The Graduate Center.
Please join us. All are welcome.
Overview of Love Data Week events:
Monday
- Research Exchange: Core Services from WashU’s Ecosystem: DI2 and Library Data Services (Danforth Campus)
- Establishing a Coherent Data Visualization Identity at WashU (Virtual)
Tuesday
- Human-Centered Data Storytelling: Turning Numbers into Narratives (Virtual)
- Keynote: Meaningful Data for a Healthier and Better World (Danforth Campus)
- Networking & Data Visualization Competition Awards Reception (Danforth Campus)
Wednesday
Thursday
- Leveraging Dashboards and Repositories to Serve Diverse Audiences (Virtual)
- AVA Open House (Danforth Campus)
- Graduate Research Symposium (Danforth Campus)
Friday
- Unlocking the Power of WashU Data: How Governance Connects, Protects, and Empowers You (Virtual)
- Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Trivia Challenge (Medical Campus)
Second Annual WashU Data Visualization CompetitionEntries are due by Sunday Jan 25th, 11:59 p.m. CT. Students, faculty, and staff are invited to participate in the annual WashU Data Viz Competition. Participants will compete to transform a provided data set into an engaging visual story, either individually or as part of a team. Prizes are awarded to the top three entries in the student and faculty/staff divisions. Additionally, a People’s Choice Award will be selected at the networking event on Feb. 10. |
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Research Exchange: Core Services from WashU’s Ecosystem: DI2 and Library Data ServicesMonday, Feb. 9 | 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. | Olin Library, Room 142 (Danforth Campus) Saif Arif
Director of Digital Solutions Dan Maranan
Executive Director Jennifer Moore
Head of Data Services Zach Szczepaniak
GIS and Data Analyst Ryan Wallace
GIS and Map Librarian and Data Curator Mollie Webb
Geospatial Programs Manager and Data and GIS Developer Kelly Walker-Moseley
Director of Strategic Partnerships The Geospatial Research Initiative (GRI) invites researchers on campus to an interdisciplinary exchange focused on infrastructure and services to support your engagement in geospatial inquiry. |
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Establishing a Coherent Data Visualization Identity at WashUMonday, Feb. 9 | 1–2 p.m. | Virtual Soophia Ansari:
Data Visualization Designer II Meihsi Chiang Audrey Lee
Data Visualization Designer I This session will demonstrate how using consistent colors, fonts, and design choices—especially those aligned with WashU’s visual identity—can make data easier for audiences to understand. Participants will learn core data visualization best practices, see practical examples, and explore how a shared data visualization style guide strengthens clarity and consistency across reports, executive summaries, dashboards, and presentations. Faculty, staff, researchers, and students interested in improving data visualization skills and creating consistent, professional visuals are invited to attend. Participants will gain straightforward design tips they can apply right away to make charts and graphics easier for audiences to interpret. |
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Human-Centered Data Storytelling: Turning Numbers into NarrativesTuesday, Feb. 10 | 1–2 p.m. | Virtual Grace Cobble Heather Krause Founder We All Count Sara Mohamed
Associate Director of Engagement and Equity This session focuses on transforming data insights into meaningful stories that drive understanding and action. Topics could include using narrative framing, context, and visuals to shift understanding of data, spark dialogue, and drive change. Case studies could demonstrate how data storytelling has been used to shape narratives in academia, media, and beyond as well as what happens when groups are left out of the narrative or charts are used to mislead. Communicate the importance of planning for dissemination and best practices for implementing a utilization-driven approach to contextualize and make meaning of the data. |
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Keynote: Meaningful Data for a Healthier and Better WorldTuesday, Feb. 10 | 4–5 p.m. | Bryan Cave Moot Courtroom (Room 310), Anheuser-Busch Hall (Danforth Campus) Sandro Galea, MD, DrPH This year’s theme — “Where’s the Data?” — explores how people across disciplines create, connect, and communicate data in meaningful ways. Drawing on Dean Galea’s work at the intersection of population health, equity, and narrative, he will share his perspective on how data can better serve human flourishing. His work has shaped how institutions connect evidence to meaning and action. |
Networking & Data Visualization Competition Awards ReceptionTuesday, Feb. 10 | 5-7 p.m. | Crowder Courtyard, Anheuser-Busch Hall (Danforth Campus) The WashU community is invited to view the 2026 WashU Data Viz Competition entries at the networking event where the top visualizations will be showcased, and attendees can vote to determine the People’s Choice Award. All entries will be on display and light refreshments will be offered. View the winners of the 2025 Data Viz Competition » |
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Data DiscoverabilityWednesday, Feb. 11 | 10 a.m.–12 p.m. | Eric P. Newman Education Center (EPNEC), Seminar Room B (Medical Campus) Join us to explore opportunities for researchers to discover, access and collaborate around research data during this two-part session. Refreshments will be provided, so come and engage with your questions and feedback. Fostering Connection at the School of Public Health: Building a Data CatalogBen Cooper: DirectorData Management & Analytics School of Public Health Tim Zeilonko Data Visualization Manager School of Public Health The Data Management & Analytics team within the School of Public Health supports researchers with high quality data services and tools. Our team is currently developing a comprehensive data catalog that expands opportunities for researchers to discover and collaborate around research data. The data catalog will feature an intuitive user experience that leverages existing data infrastructure at the university, paired with an AI layer to generate research questions informed by the school’s unique data assets. Biomedical Research Databases and Resources for Navigating Data LocationsMadhurima KaushalSenior Bioinformaticist Institute for Informatics Maze Ndukum Senior Support Scientist Bernard Becker Medical Library Presented by the Institute for Informatics and Bernard Becker Library, this session will explore a variety of popular biomedical research databases. This presentation will feature live demonstrations on how to query, navigate and download publicly available data from resources such as GEO, TCGA & CBioPortal, and how to navigate data locations using command line and graphical user interface platforms. |
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Data RescueWednesday, Feb. 11 | 1–4 p.m. | Olin Library, Instruction Room 2 (Danforth Campus) Avianna Wooten
Data Management and Sharing Specialist During this event, Libraries staff will work with WashU volunteers to capture federal data to make it available outside of government websites. Our purpose is to capture data of interest to researchers and staff affiliated with WashU. |
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Leveraging Dashboards and Repositories to Serve Diverse AudiencesThursday, Feb. 12 | 10–11 a.m. | Virtual Avianna Wooten
Data Management and Sharing Specialist Sharing research is a crucial part of scholarly exploration and innovation. Dashboards and data repositories offer different ways to discover, interact with, and reuse data. In this workshop, we will demystify data sharing tools to meet the needs of diverse audiences, inside and outside of academia. Participants will learn the strengths and limitations of dashboards and repositories, the potential of integrating both, and how to choose the right approach for sharing scholarly output. |
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AVA Open HouseThursday, Feb. 12 | 11 a.m.–1 p.m. | Olin Library, Level A, Room AO5 (Danforth Campus) Harper Tooch
3D Visualization Specialist Celebrate Love Data Week by discovering how emerging technologies can bring data and ideas to life. The AVA Studio open house invites you to explore extended reality (XR), 3D scanning, and visualization tools alongside our podcasting, videography, and photography resources. Drop in to test equipment, view sample projects, and learn how these tools can enhance research, teaching, storytelling, and creative work across disciplines. |
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Graduate Research SymposiumThursday, Feb. 12 | 1-5 p.m. | Frick Forum & Emerson Auditorium, Knight Hall (Danforth Campus) The WashU Graduate and Professional Student Council is pleased to host the 31st Annual Graduate Symposium. The symposium is an interdisciplinary platform, welcoming current graduate and professional students from all fields and disciplines. It showcases the remarkable scope and depth of graduate research at WashU. We invite contributions in all research forms, including primary studies, literature reviews, case studies, and the unveiling of new methodologies. Poster presentations will be grouped by discipline (Humanities, Social Sciences, Sciences, Engineering, and Professional), and judged on the clarity, aesthetics, and content, as well as presentation skills. There will be cash prizes for top presenters in each discipline and special cash awards for top presenters overall! |
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Unlocking the Power of WashU Data: How Governance Connects, Protects, and Empowers YouFriday, Feb. 13 | 10-11 a.m. | Virtual Barry GoldsteinSenior Business Analyst Institutional Effectiveness Jessica Holtgrewe Assistant Director IT Data Management and Analytics This session introduces how Data Governance empowers the WashU community to confidently find, understand, and use critical institutional data without guesswork or pulling data points from outdated spreadsheets. We’ll demonstrate how tools such as Collibra make data discoverable, validated, and trusted by centralizing definitions, owners, and context. Through real use cases, including the Community and Economic Benefit Report data, attendees will see how governance reduces confusion and accelerates analysis. The session also highlights upcoming FY26 initiatives designed to make high-value data even more accessible across campus. Ultimately, participants will walk away knowing how governance transforms data from a challenge into a strategic asset. |
 
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DMS Trivia ChallengeFriday, Feb. 13 | 12–1:30 p.m. | Erlanger Interactive Classroom (Medical Campus) Registration closes on Monday, February 9, 2026, at 5 p.m., or earlier if we reach the 60-person capacity. Additional registrants will be placed on a waitlist in case spots open up.Register for the Love Data Week DMS Trivia Challenge and turn your lunch hour into a team-building trivia session focused on Data Management and Sharing (DMS). Lunch will be provided. Come as a ready-made team with your lab members, coworkers, or classmates (3–5 people), or sign up as an individual and be matched with others to compete for a prize and a bragging right. For questions, contact Seonyoung Kim at seonyoung.kim@wustl.edu |
Sponsored by:
Medical Library
Innovation (DI2) Accelerator
Data Science and
Biostatistics (I2DB)
Health
Impact (DSI)