Contest Essentials

The Hudson Data Jam emphasizes creativity in presenting data, which begins with the ability to understand and interpret data. These skills—understanding, interpreting, and presenting data—are essential in today’s world, where all sorts of misleading “facts” are only a click away and our ability to gather data outpaces our ability to interpret and categorize it.

Your challenge

Graph, analyze, and creatively interpret Hudson River watershed data for a public audience. Your goal is to present a compelling data-based story or message that accurately describes a finding from local scientists.

You may create a graphic, story, play, song, or other product—your imagination is the limit! Just make sure your creation accurately summarizes and portrays the trends from the data.

The Data Jam Guidebook is a comprehensive look at Hudson Data Jam.

NEW THIS YEAR

Use Tuva’s tools to analyze, visualize, and interpret your data! It's a great way to begin your exploration

Registration

Pre-registration for the Hudson Data Jam Competition is required. All registrations must be completed by April 24, 2019. Registration is non-binding, but helps us estimate the number of judges we will need.

Projects registered by February 1 will be eligible for a free classroom visit by a Cary Institute educator to introduce Data Jam or assist with student projects.

Fill out the registration form. Only one registration form is necessary per advisor

You will receive a confirmation by email. If you have not received a confirmation within 24 hours of submitting your registration, please callor email Shelly Forster (845-677-7600 x 303; caryeducation@caryinstitute.org).

All students participating in the competition must complete the consent form. Team projects with missing consent forms cannot be judged.

Submission/Judging

Projects are both submitted and judged online.

Instructions for project submissions
Judging rubric

Teams

Students can work on projects on their own or in groups as small as two students or as large as a whole class. Prizes are awarded for a project, so winnings must be split between team members.

Prizes

Prizes will be awarded separately for middle and high school students. Each age group will include:

• Best overall project ($500)
• Level 1 winner ($200)
• Level 2 winner ($200)
• Level 3 winner ($200)
• People’s Choice Award chosen at the Data Jam Expo ($100)
• Honorable Mentions and various other special prizes, such as “Best Use of Visual Art” and “Best Use of Riverkeeper Sweep Data”. Watch our DJ Facebook page for more special award announcements throughout the contest period.

Parts of the Project

Each submission to the Hudson Data Jam Competition will include two parts – a scientific report and an interpretive creative component.

1. Report. Each team must submit a report that summarizes their project for judges and others to review. The report is worth 55% of the total project score. The report should be completed using Hudson DJ Report Form.
2. Interpretive Creative Component. Communicate your findings! The creative piece should clearly explain the data to someone without the scientific knowledge to interpret datasets or graphs on their own. Skits, videos, songs, puppet shows, poems, photographs, exhibits, sculptures, interactive displays and more are encouraged. The projects will be judged online, so live performances must be submitted as electronic audio or a YouTube video. Recordings must be 5 minutes or less. The creative project is worth 45% of the total project score.

Please read the Data Jam Guidebook for a scoring rubric and detailed information about what the Report and the Creative Component entail.