K-12 Data Science Education
Bringing statistics and data science to young learners
Data shapes the world our children are growing up in, from the apps they use to the decisions their communities make. In the age of data and AI, statistics and data science are becoming a cornerstone of education, and we believe every student should have the chance to explore them early.
Through its K-12 Data Science Education program, IRSA works with the School of Statistics, the ASA Twin Cities Chapter and community partners to offer hands-on camps, workshops and competitions for students across Minnesota. Our events need no prior experience and are led by University of Minnesota faculty, students and volunteers.
Want to bring a program to your school, or volunteer at an event? Contact Tianxi Li at [email protected].
Our K-12 events
- Scratch Programming Camp, October 24, 2026. A half-day coding camp for students in grades 4-6, and the first event of the IRSA K-12 Data Science Education Series. Read the recap.
- 2026 Minnesota K-12 Data Visualization Poster Competition, posters due April 25, 2026. A statewide competition in four grade categories, organized by IRSA, the ASA Twin Cities Chapter and the UMN Undergraduate Statistics Club. Read the recap.
- Workshop on Introduction to Data Visualization, March 21, 2026. A free online workshop for K-12 schools, held ahead of the poster competition. Read the recap.
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Catch up on the Latest News
IRSA Sponsors the 2026 Women in AI & Data Science (WiADS) Conference
IRSA was a sponsor of WiADS 2026, held October 26 at the McNamara Alumni Center and hosted by the University of Minnesota Data Science and AI Hub.
IRSA Launches K-12 Data Science Education Series with a Scratch Programming Camp
Students in grades 4-6 built their own games at the Scratch Programming Camp on October 24, 2026, the first event of the IRSA K-12 Data Science Education Series.
IRSA Hosts Medtronic Information Session
On September 16, 2026, IRSA hosted an information session with the Medtronic statistics team on data science in healthcare, careers and research collaboration.
