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UNB Fredericton

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Data Challenge

Tell a story with data | Nov. 24, 2023

The Data Challenge will bring together two competitive events, Data Visualization (8th annual) and Data Analytics (4th annual) in a virtual format. Take up the challenge and demonstrate the power of data from anywhere.

In every challenge, there's opportunity

Participants will have the chance to showcase their ability to tell a story driven by data in two unique competitions. Participants can participate in both competitive events.

This is an ideal setting for citizens to engage, meet leaders in academia, government and private organizations and to explore the world of data science.

Competitions

8th annual

In this competition, qualified participants will assess and analyze any publicly available data related to a given theme and present it to an audience to communicate a recommendation, story or new idea. This allows for better decision-making and more varied solutions to problems that span a wide range of social, environmental and economic topics.

Data visualization themes

Presentation round

Each participant will be required to present their data story to a panel of judges through data visualizations (charts, graphs, etc.) using any software (PowerPoint, Tableau, Keynote, etc). Participants will need to share their screen in a video call and present to a panel of judges.

Sample visualization presentation

  • Rounds: Qualifiers and final
  • Data set: Open data of your choice
  • Presentation time: Four minutes
  • Judge questions and answers: Ten minutes
  • Prizes: 1st, 2nd and 3rd place

Infographic round

An infographic should visualize your important findings from the same data set you use for the Presentation Round.

Sample infographics

  • Portrait format: PDF file format, 8.5x11 inches, less than 1mb
  • Submission deadline: Nov. 15, 2023
  • Prizes: 1st, 2nd and 3rd place + viewer's choice

Data challenge competition guide

Applications will open Sept. 30, 2023.


4th annual

Participants will get to put their analytical skills to the test and present their insights to an audience. Participants must choose one of the five data sets provided below.

  • What insights are you able to discover?
  • How well can you separate useful information from "noise"?
  • What outcomes are you able to predict?
  • What are your recommendations?

Data sets

Download one of the five data sets. Instructions are on tab one.

Presentation round

Each participant presents their data insights to a panel of judges explaining how they arrived at those insights through a data analytics platform of choice. Participants must be able to convey their complex analysis as simply as possible and tell a story.

You will need to present your analysis to a panel of judges. During your presentation you must show all the steps, tests, justifications and decisions you took to arrive at your insight or prediction.

  • Will the problem be clearly articulated?
  • Will the null hypothesis testing be stated properly?
  • Do you have a clear rationale for the choice of a statistical method and have you checked for normality or variance?
  • Is there any consideration of privacy and ethical issues?
  • Are the charts used appropriately?

You must be able to explain these steps in a clear and concise manner. You may use any method for displaying your analysis, for example Jupyter Notebook, PowerPoint or in SPSS or STATA.

Sample analytics presentation

  • Rounds: Qualifiers and final
  • Data set: Choose one from five data sets provided by organizers (on Oct. 25, 2023)
  • Presentation time: Ten minutes
  • Judge questions and answers: Ten minutes
  • Prizes: 1st, 2nd and 3rd place

Teaser poster round

Using only three sentences, how much curiosity can you generate for your presentation? The teaser posters will be shared with the judges before the competition and showcased at the venue. You will not be presenting them.

Sample teaser posters

  • Three sentences that capture your analysis and generate interest or curiosity.
  • Submission deadline: Nov. 15, 2023.
  • Prizes: 1st, 2nd and 3rd place + viewer's choice

Data challenge competition guide

Applications will open Sept. 30, 2023.


Event information

  • Everyone can participate - The competition is not restricted to students.
  • One to four members.
  • Completion of application form (one form per team) with information of all members submitted by Nov. 15, 2023 11:59 p.m. AT.
  • Deliverables submitted by Nov. 15, 2023 11:59 p.m. AT.
  • Laptop with a functioning webcam and microphone (for all members who present).
  • Stable internet connection to run video calls smoothly.
  • Entirely virtual event using Zoomn

The UNB Data Challenge is a competitive event. A panel will review all applications and select the top participants to present in the Data Challenge.


  • Oct. 13, 2023 | Applications open
  • Nov. 3, 2023 from noon - 1 p.m. AT. | Workshop on Data Viz tips and tricks
  • Nov. 15, 2023, 11:59 p.m. AT. | Application and submission deadline
  • Nov. 17, 2023: Qualified teams announcement
  • Nov. 24, 2023: UNB Data Challenge event

The UNB Data Challenge will take place on Nov. 24, 2023 in a completely virtual format (Zoom). 

All participants in the Data Visualization and Data Analytics tracks will present in the morning and finalists will present after lunch.

Based on the competition schedule, online teams will hop on the meeting link and tell their data story to a panel of judges.

Nov. 24, 2023 | Data Challenge Event

  • 8:30 a.m. - noon AT | Elimination round (both tracks)
  • 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. AT | Final round (both tracks)
  • 5 - 5:30 p.m. AT | Awards presentation

Data competition competition guide

Only one representative from each team needs to complete the application form.
Applications open: Oct. 13, 2023

Apply to compete


Thank you to our sponsors


Contact us

International Business & Entrepreneurship Centre
Faculty of Management
University of New Brunswick
9 Macaulay Lane, Tilley Hall

Email ibec@unb.ca