Important Announcements
DSSG Project Solicitation
We are seeking nonprofits and government agencies who have informed decision-making and data analysis needs to submit project proposals for participation in the 2026 DSSG summer program. Applications are due by March 6, 2026, 5 PM
DSSG Project Proposal SubmissionsDSSG Summer Internship
Students with an interest in working in interdisciplinary teams and developing socially innovative solutions are welcome to apply for the 2026 Florida DSSG Internship. Applications are due by March 20, 2026, 5 PM.
DSSG Internship Application SubmissionsAbout DSSG Program
The Florida Data Science for Social Good (FL-DSSG) program brings together artificial intelligence (AI), data science, and software engineering to tackle pressing social challenges across Florida. We collaborate with nonprofit and public-sector organizations to analyze their data and develop actionable, impactful solutions that strengthen communities.
Through summer internships and research opportunities, FL-DSSG empowers students from diverse disciplines to work on real-world AI and data science projects alongside our community partners. Participating organizations benefit from data-driven insights, interactive dashboards, and innovative AI solutions that enhance their mission and impact.
The FL-DSSG program is proudly hosted at the University of North Florida (UNF).
The DSSG program is inspired and modeled after successful programs in Chicago and Washington.
Program Leadership
The FL-DSSG program at UNF is led by Dr. Dan Richard, Professor of Psychology, and Dr. Karthikeyan Umapathy, Professor of Computing. Together, they bring over a decade of experience in AI and data science projects, as well as extensive collaboration with nonprofit and public-sector organizations.
Dr. Richard specializes in helping agencies interpret data and translate insights into actionable strategies. Dr. Umapathy focuses on designing and implementing custom AI, data science, and web application solutions that enhance program efficiency and impact.
Founded in 2017 with a seed grant from the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida, FL-DSSG began as a pilot initiative to explore the summer internship model—and has since grown into a thriving program that bridges data science and social good.
Program Mission
DSSG program promotes data-informed approaches and partners with agencies in Florida to solve social problems by:
- Doing data science projects in collaboration with agencies that serve a public good
- Creating educational programs for aspiring data scientists to work on data science projects with social impact
Tribal Motto: We are social trustees of knowledge with a unique capacity to do social good.
Seeking Sponsors
We are seeking donations to support DSSG program activities. The FL-DSSG program attracts talented students from computing, statistics, social sciences, business, and health disciplines to develop data science solutions for wicked social problems. The FL-DSSG program supports interns and public sector organizations to deliver high-impact, data-driven projects for social good.
We are seeking foundation and industry sponsors who share our vision, aim, and values. Sponsors continue to benefit from the program's reputation and social impacts made long after the summer internship ends.
Donations of $5000 and less
Foundations and Industry Sponsors
Get Involved!
Community Partners
Are you a nonprofit or a public-sector organizaton? Do you want to make data-driven decisions? Submit your data science project proposal.
DSSG Fellows
Are you a student interested in gaining real-world data scientist work experience? Submit your application for paid summer internship.
Data Science Professionals
Are you an experienced data scientist? Do you have experience with data-driven social impact projects? Submit your application to mentor DSSG interns.
Are you interested in supporting FL-DSSG in other ways, please contact program directors.