Invitation to attend virtual Differential Privacy for the Census talks by Michael Hawes (July 22) and John Abowd (July 24)

[Julie Vu]

Dear all,

You are invited to attend the following virtual talks presented as a part of the Harvard Summer School Course Stat S-115 (Data Science: An Artificial Ecosystem) taught by Xiao-Li Meng:

– July 22, 12 - 3:00pm EST: Michael Hawes will be presenting content based on his Harvard Data Science Review article, Implementing Differential Privacy: Seven Lessons From the 2020 United States Census, in addition to providing key background information on the work done by the Census Bureau.

– July 24, 12 - 3:00pm EST: John Abowd will be presenting content based on his and his co-authors’ Harvard Data Science Review article, The 2020 Census Disclosure Avoidance System TopDown Algorithm in addition to hosting a Q-and-A session with some Census collaborators. The focus of the talk will be on the 2020 disclosure avoidance system, but also discussing the risk assessment that led senior leadership to adopt the differential privacy framework for the 2020 Census and how it was refined as they worked on implementing the system.

The July 22 lecture is aimed at providing background information important for the July 24 one. Please use the Zoom links below if you would like to attend; you are welcome to join for any portion of the sessions as your schedule permits.

– July 22: https://dcegather.canvas.harvard.edu/courses/140166/events/G1/breakthroughs/8258077322172166110203972320241137178564

– July 24: https://dcegather.canvas.harvard.edu/courses/140166/events/G1/breakthroughs/7219120563172166111603872420249187805726

About the Stat S-115 course: The course was designed to 1) help students appreciate the breadth of data science, 2) to increase broad awareness of HDSR’s commitment to feature everything data science and data science for everyone, and 3) to provide additional exposure for HDSR authors by enabling them to communicate directly to readers that they might not otherwise engage with. The enrolled students vary widely in their backgrounds and interests and have so far included high school students, undergraduates in the humanities, postdoctoral researchers, and a self-identified “grandmother” from France.

Please feel free to direct any questions to Xiao-Li (xlm...@g.harvard.edu) or myself (jul...@g.harvard.edu).

Best,

Julie