What Is the Dayton Data Challenge?

The Dayton Data Challenge is a free, week-long data undergraduate competition at the University of Dayton. Students work in teams of 2–4, analyze real-world datasets, develop their own research questions, and present their insights to judges. Students of all experience levels are welcome. Teams may use the data analytics tools or software of their choice, subject to the competition guidelines.

The event is hosted by the Department of Mathematics with support from UD Data Analytics Club.

What Makes It Different?

Participants choose their own questions and may use the tools they prefer, including R, Python, Excel, or other data analysis tools.

The challenge focuses on:

Insight

What did you learn from the data, and why does it matter?

Creativity

What interesting techniques are you using to approach the problem?

Communication

How will your team explain the story to a broad audience?

Ask Questions • Explore Data • Communicate Insights

Unlike many competitions, participants are not evaluated on whether they reach a predetermined answer. Instead, teams are encouraged to ask meaningful questions, explore the data thoughtfully, and communicate their findings effectively.