MIDAS Seminar Series Presents: Ben Wellington, Quantitative Analyst, Two Sigma

Ben Wellington

Quantitative Analyst, Two Sigma

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Shaping a City with Open Data

Abstract:

Across the world, the Open Data movement is growing and more and more cities are releasing data to the public.  As citizens push for more openness, it is fair to ask: what can we do with all of this data to make our cities better?  In this talk, I’ll explore how I’ve used my blog, I Quant NY, and some Data Science techniques to make changes in the city I live in: New York City. From parking ticket geography, to restaurant inspection scores to subway and taxi pricing, I will discuss best practices for data science in the policy space, explore how story telling is an important aspect of data science and highlight the various data-driven interactions I’ve had with City agencies that have led to infrastructure and policy changes. Along the way, I will point out that data science need not always use complicated math and complex programs.  I will show examples of the power of simple arithmetic, and show how often it is more about your curiosity and the questions you ask than the complexity of the equations you use.

Bio: 

Ben Wellington is the creator of I Quant NY, a data science and policy blog that focuses on insights drawn from New York City’s public data, and advocates for the expansion and improvement of that data. His data science and storytelling has influenced government policy including changes in street infrastructure, the training of police officers, the way New Yorkers pay for cabs and the design of NYC subway vending machines.

Ben is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the City & Regional Planning program at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn where he teaches statistics using urban open data.  He works as a quantitative analyst at the investment management firm Two Sigma, where he helped start the firm’s Data Clinic, a pro bono data analysis program that works with non-profits to harness the power of their own data.  Ben holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from New York University