OpenDS4AII is now an open source project to facilitate data science programs

ODPi, a nonprofit The Linux Foundation project, announced that OpenDS4All is now an ODPi Live Project, accelerating the creation of data science curricula at academic institutions.

This project was initiated and funded by IBM, built by the University of Pennsylvania, and brought to life under the governance of the Linux Foundation.

OpenDS4All is a curriculum kit comprised of a set of open source building blocks for schools to supplement, strengthen, or start-up their data science programs.

These building blocks are based on Python, open source tools, and frameworks and include slides, documentation, code, and data sets that could be adopted or updated by anyone.

By making a “starter set” of training materials available on how to build a Data Science program, IBM, cross-industry partners, and educators working together can help accelerate the availability of skills-building programs around the world.

OpenDS4All is one of the open source projects under the ODPi umbrella. ODPi aims to be a standard for simplifying, sharing, and developing an open big data ecosystem.

“Naturally, there was a desire for the project to have open source credibility and reach from the get-go. IBM is a member of The Linux Foundation, ODPi and recently announced participation in The Linux Foundation AI,” said John Mertic, director of program management at The Linux Foundation. “This project that IBM proposed and funded is revolutionary for developing educational materials. It is a great fit for what The Linux Foundation stands for, shared technology. Shared education is an emerging and important frontier for open source.”

Several academic institutions have voiced their intention of using this set of starter materials to either start their Data Science programs or embed data science education into other programs such as computer sciences, marketing, etc.

For more information about this news, visit www.odpi.org.