
When people think of data science, they often picture some advanced, perhaps even futuristic system, and some super technical people working with it, usually for a commercial purpose. Although this stereotype has a grain of truth, the field has changed and continues to change. Some would say that data science has become more accessible and more encompassing. Perhaps even something we can leverage to further progress on an individual or a social level. In this article, we’ll look at how such a feat would be possible and quite viable today. But first, let’s look at what data science is.
What Is Data Science?
Data science has always been a game changer as it’s an interdisciplinary field that combines the merits and value-adds of different disciplines. It involves lots of math, especially in modern areas of that field, but it also involves a great deal of programming. Beyond that, there’s a lot of domain knowledge in data science, making a good data scientist a versatile professional who is also easy to communicate with.
Data science is also all about asking good questions, often hard questions, and applying the scientific method to tackle them. Contrary to other fields, data science tends to be more unbiased and less dependent on theories that may or may not apply to the problems tackled.
That’s why for all intents and purposes, data science is one of the purest forms of science today, especially when combined with Ethics and a good understanding of how the world works.
Data Science’s Benefits to the World
“So what?” someone may say. “How does it benefit the world today?”. These are valid questions to ask, questions that everyone in this field ought to ponder upon and try to answer in their way.

Data science is a powerful tool that we can use to benefit society.
In my experience, data science is a powerful tool that we can use to benefit society. In a world where data seems to be a currency of sorts, ubiquitous and valuable, it’s not far-fetched to view analytics and the scientific approach to deriving insights from data as something valuable in and of itself, as a way of using data science for social good. If the data scientist is unbiased and cares more about finding insights rather than proving a particular view on the matter, she is bound to come up with useful information that can help drive change.
That’s in stark contrast with the various conventional scientists today who research areas only to justify the grants they receive.
Let’s look at an example to clarify this point, namely, a particular phenomenon – how the extensive use of mobile devices may affect people, especially children. Naturally, no manufacturer of these devices will come forward and do this research, as it is bound to jeopardize the sales of these devices. In business, everyone tries to mitigate risk, so such an initiative is unlikely to happen, or if it does, it won’t go anywhere.
Alternately, a data science practitioner (who doesn’t need to be a professional in the field) could gather relevant data and examine this phenomenon through various data analytics models. Perhaps that person can look at different groups of users and analyze their behaviors and how extensive use of such devices affects them on a personal and social level. Then, this data scientist can present the results in a way that others can understand and weave a story around the findings of this project.
Given that this person is unbiased and driven by a will to get to the bottom of this phenomenon, this project can have a powerful effect on people and, at the very least, start a serious conversation on the topic, raising awareness. Eventually, all this can drive action toward implementing regulations or guidelines regarding the proper usage of such devices so that we mitigate the negative effects on their users.
Data Science and Solutions
Beyond the specific use cases where data science can add value to the world by identifying and understanding problems, it can also explore potential solutions.
For example, let’s say that a new invention comes about, which can utilize a particular renewable resource to better our lives. At first, everything may seem great. But will such a technology be viable and scale well?
That’s something that data science can help us explore and determine. This way, we can manage our expectations and make decisions towards the more promising possibilities, data-driven decisions, and in-depth analysis of the data involved through data science models.
On a more individual level, data science can help evolve us as people. This may seem a bit far-fetched to an outsider, but I have witnessed this many times over time, across different individuals. It’s not that suddenly someone becomes enlightened, but the curiosity and in-depth view of the world through data can make someone think in more down-to-earth and far-reaching ways.
Ideas are great; yet, it’s when an idea is backed by a proper data science analysis, it can go places. In the business world, it’s often referred to as an idea with legs, something actionable and probably viable. Being able to think in this way can help someone discern better what a real opportunity is and what merely appears to be so.
Naturally, these scenarios don’t have to be limited to the particular individual, since the data science work often applies to the collective, even if the work itself is undertaken by just one person. In other words, data science can be empowering and a powerful tool that can bring about discernment and a solid understanding of whatever is analyzed.

Final Thoughts
A mist of mystique and fads of futurism may surround data science today. But at the same time, it’s never been so accessible and applicable as it is now. Some people have brought its concepts to more digestible forms and have shown how they can be applied without breaking the bank.
You can even learn some parts of the field for free if you know where to look. Having a mentor can also help immensely in that. So, if someone is inclined to learn data science to improve the world, even if that person is acting alone, the potential is there. A solid ethical presence and a wish to interact with the world positively can go a long way, especially with data science as a force multiplier.
What would you do to help further progress through data science?
Please leave your comment below.
This article was contributed by Dr. Zacharias Voulgaris, a data scientist offering consulting services, a content creator for Technics Publications, and as a Mentor. On the side, he hosts the Analytics and Privacy Podcast. You can learn more about him at Foxy Data Science.