Diversity in Data

The collection of race and ethnicity data by the United States Census Bureau has a long, complex, and problematic history. The Census claims that their racial categories generally reflect a social definition of race recognized in America, adhering to guidelines set by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. In 1900, the Census recognized five racial categories: White, Black, Chinese, Japanese, and American Indian. Today, the Census collects more...

For many of us, the colors a computer screen makes are of secondary importance: we would much rather have the screen adjust for the conditions — a bit less blue in the evening, a bit more brightness when it’s sunny — and have a crisp resolution. If the color is about right…it's good enough. For many professionals though, from photographers, to film producers, to Data Scientists, color can become an exacting and important field of study.

For a little backstory on color in general it is important to define why it’s so complex and how creating a...

Dear fellow scholars and community members,

We write this statement of solidarity, denouncing the murder of George Floyd in Minnesota and the ongoing oppression of Black Americans.

D-Lab mourns with millions across the country over the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and so many other Black people killed at the hands of police. We denounce these horrendous events that are indicative of the systemic racism that is built into the fabric of our society and government. We call for the demilitarization of institutions of higher learning...