Under the guidance of Professor Grazyna Badowski, the students traveled to Saipan and Palau in July and August to lead a beginner-friendly workshop series called "Introduction to Data Science with R." R is an open-source software suite for statistical computing, graphics, and data analysis. The five-part workshops provided the participants with hands-on experience in coding, statistical methods, and working with real local data, while also giving the student facilitators teaching experience and exposure to regional needs.

“This workshop experience was truly our first step in expanding the data science community locally and regionally,” said Maria Seanna Minas, a data science graduate student who co-led the Palau workshop. “One of the most rewarding parts was seeing participants gain confidence in using R. At the end of the week, they were building their own visualizations and even brainstorming how data science could apply to their work or studies. The excitement from public health professionals showed us that data science can be impactful for our region.”

Teaching modern, accessible tools 

The workshops brought together students, teachers, researchers, and public health professionals interested in applying data science in their fields. Participants utilized actual datasets from sources, such as the Pacific Island Partnership for Cancer Healthy Equity and the Guam Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, to gain experience in preparing and managing data, generating visualizations, and applying statistical models.

By introducing participants to modern, accessible data science tools, the workshops strengthened local capacity for evidence-based decision-making in health, education, and community development.

“What made this experience so wholesome for me was […] engaging in meaningful conversations about their local challenges and the ways data science could empower our sister islands to better understand their populations,” said UOG MSDS graduate student Michael Cajigal, who co-facilitated the workshop in Saipan. 

An applied learning experience

For the UOG graduate students, the workshops also served as an applied learning opportunity, allowing them to bridge the science and the software from the classroom with professionals in the community looking to make informed decisions or a case for funding or policy changes.

“Since all the participants represented diverse backgrounds and careers, their perspectives on applying data science within their discipline were invaluable and insightful,” said Abigail Pobre, a UOG graduate student facilitator. “I hope that more opportunities like this can be hosted in the near future to raise awareness to the endless applications of data science.”

Cajigal said his interactions during the workshops deepened his appreciation for teaching and reinforced for him how important it is to build data analaysis capacity in the Pacific to address pressing community needs.

Turning data into opportunity

Beyond the technical training, the workshops fostered collaboration among Pacific island communities working toward shared goals in data capacity and analytics.

“I am inspired by the dedication and engagement of Palau Public Health from this workshop,” said Cabrini Aguon, who co-facilitated the sessions in Palau. “I look forward to this continued exchange and our shared efforts to build data capacity across Micronesia.”

The initiative reflects the MSDS program’s long-term vision to expand access to analytical tools and cultivate a stronger network of data practitioners across the Pacific. By continuing to offer training and applied learning opportunities, the University of Guam aims to empower students and professionals alike to turn data into opportunity.

Participant testimonies:

• “The most valuable takeaway that I learned was creating instructions that tell a computer what to 
  do and how to do it. I think the workshop was great! This was my first time using R, and 
  although it was new to me, I found it surprisingly intuitive once I learned the basics. I quickly 
  saw how powerful it is for organizing and analyzing data.”
  - Participant, Palau Public Health, Data Specialist
• “I discovered how R can empower evidence-based thinking and problem-solving in public health 
  and research. [This workshop] is a great workshop! With [RStudio], I learned that every dataset 
  has a voice — data science just gives it the language to speak.”
  - Participant, Palau Public Health, Data Specialist
• “The data preparation and analysis [sections of the workshop] helped me gain more knowledge about 
  the research process [of a project]. The most valuable takeaway or key concept that [I’ve] 
  learned was how to use R to analyze large datasets that could help me make informed decisions.”
  - Participant, Northern Marianas College, Student
• “All workshop modules helped me gain more knowledge about the research process. The most 
  valuable takeaway I've learned was the use of ggplot() and [how it] was useful in analyzing 
  student performance in my classes. It was very worth learning even if it’s a bit hard."
  - Participant, Northern Marianas College, Student

---

Interested in a Master's in Data Science?

Explore more about the M.S. Data Science Program in the UOG Catalog online, or contact program chair Dr. Grazyna Badowski at gbadowski@triton.uog.edu.