What is Datathon?

What is Datathon?

Datathon is a type of competition that stands out for its ability to provide participants with the skills to solve real-world business cases. Data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning concepts are of great importance in Datathons. Datathon competitions aim to provide participants with a different perspective by developing solutions in various fields and enabling the creation of suitable environments. The topics addressed in Datathon competitions include data science, artificial intelligence, and open-source data. Many people want to have detailed information about Datathons.

So, what is Datathon? Datathon is also known as hackfest, ideathon, hackathon, codefest, and educathon. In Datathon, which stands out as a design activity, there are individuals with qualifications such as:

● Graphic Designer
● Computer Programmer
● UI Designer
● Product Manager
● Project Developer

There are also individuals who are involved in software development and want to improve themselves in this field. People from different professional groups collaborate intensively in Datathons and contribute to the functionality of the program.

Datathon competitions are organized with a specific purpose. The main goal of these competitions is to organize training sessions with experts in the field and create functional hardware or software as a result of the relevant training. Datathons have a specific focus point. The elements that can determine the focus of Datathons are listed as follows:

● Programming Language
● Operating System
● Application
● API

As can be seen, Datathon programs can have different focal points. In the applications carried out under the names hackfest and hackday, there are no restrictions in terms of software and design.

What is the Structure of Datathon?

Datathons are organized according to a specific program and each stage is designed for a different purpose. The system of Datathon programs, which take place in various fields such as data science and artificial intelligence, works as follows:

 First, the hosting organization that organizes the Datathon prepares a presentation or webpage that reflects the purpose, conditions, and details of the Datathon.
 

• Then, individuals who want to participate in the Datathon apply with their resumes and skills.
   
• The hosting organization reviews the resumes and skills of the applicants and determines the eligible participants.
   
• From the moment the event starts, teams and group participants carry out programming tasks. The Datathon organizer or manager provides satisfying answers to participants' questions and offers assistance in case of any issues.
   
• The duration of Datathons can vary depending on the organizing institution. Generally, Datathons last for 24-48 hours or a few days.
   
• At the end of the Datathon program, the participating groups present the results of their work.
   
• The jury members, consisting of organizers and sponsors, announce the winning teams and awarded prizes. This stage is referred to as the competition phase.

What are the Purposes of Datathons?

Datathons that utilize artificial intelligence and data science can be organized by hosting organizations for various purposes. The types of Datathons organized for different purposes are as follows:

• Application-Based Datathons: In Datathons that focus on application types, emphasis is placed on desktop operating systems, video games, web development, and many other categories, and work activities are carried out accordingly.
   
• Programming Language: There are Datathons specifically focused on a designated programming language.
   
• Specific Purpose or Reason: Datathon programs are organized for purposes such as motivation, profit, educational development, and problem-solving.
   
• Commemoration: There are Datathons organized in memory of an individual.
   
• Demographic Group: There are Datathons specifically targeted towards a particular group, such as women, university students, or young people.
   
• Motivation: Hosting organizations may organize motivation-based Datathons to encourage new product innovation.
   
• Code Sprints: These Datathons focus on developing solutions for a single application.

What are the Advantages of Datathon?

Datathon programs offer participants various advantages. The advantages provided by Datathon can be summarized as follows:

• Participants in the Datathon program acquire the ability to think analytically. Analytical thinking skills also bring crisis management abilities.
   
• Datathons involve rapid processes. Datathon processes provide solution-oriented gains that can be implemented quickly.
   
• Datathon programs offer opportunities for development in software development areas such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data science. Participants also become capable of applying their knowledge in the field.
   
• Datathon allows for the expansion of perspectives. Individuals with expanded perspectives can approach cases from different angles and develop various solution proposals.

What is the Data Science Community?

The Data Science Community is an international digital community that organizes Datathons at regular intervals and provides informative sharing related to data science. It is a community for individuals who want to develop in the field of data science and also want to share their knowledge in this field. Participants in the Data Science Community have the opportunity to learn about real data cases and work to globalize data science. Workshops, summer schools, and informative seminars are organized for data enthusiasts within the community. The community also has its own personal channel called Data.Chat.

Examples of Datathons

There are various organizations in Turkey that organize Datathon programs, although they are not very common. Some examples of Datathons in Turkey are as follows:

• BTK Akademi Datathon
• Trendyol Datathon
• Kaggle Datathon
• Boğaziçi Datathon
• Doğuş Datathon