Upcoming Symposium will Bring Together Experts to Assess Capacity for Using Data to Build Actionable

The Data Foundation is hosting its 3rd annual, two-day 2022 Virtual Research Symposium from June 22 to 23. In partnership with George Washington University’s Trachtenberg School for Public Policy and Public Administration, the event provides an opportunity for researchers, data analysts, evaluators, program managers, and other experts from across the data and evidence community to share knowledge and innovative practices. 

Centering on assessing capacity for using data to build actionable evidence, the symposium will spotlight strategies that increase the use of data and evidence for decision-making and a better informed society. With 16 research presentations covering a wide range of different topics, participants will have the chance to learn about local, state, and federal initiatives from the points of view of nonprofits, coalitions, leading research institutes, universities, and government agencies, among others.

The first day of the symposium kicks off at 10:00 am ET, and presenters will address data infrastructure, management, and evaluation in federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Aviation Administration, and U.S. Administration for International Development. Other presentations will provide insight into advancing equity for evidence-building and approaches for new partnerships and evidence capacity assessments.

Day two will also cover a range of policy areas, from education policy and the use of longitudinal data systems to public health and how to apply COVID equity data to improve health practices. 

Presentations will include discussions on building data science teams, improving data governance, opportunities around administrative data to assess government funding, and participant engagement processes at various levels of government. Tune in from 10:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.ET on the second day to hear more.

All research will contribute to helping the U.S. government – from local to federal – understand the value of evidence and the critical importance of enhancing generation, access, and use of data for improving policymaking and the provision of government services. The Data Foundation’s Symposium aligns with the new publication of assessments that federal agencies are publishing throughout Spring 2022 about their own capacity for engaging in evidence-building activities and other major initiatives of Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act implementation underway in government today.   

The 2022 Virtual Research Symposium is an exciting opportunity to get a glimpse of just a few ideas and insights being explored and developed by the evidence and data community. See the full agenda of the 2022 Research Symposium and RSVP!