The Master of Science in Data Science program offered by the University of Arizona’s College of Information Science has been named the #4 in-person data science graduate program in the country by Fortune, a jump of five spots since last year's ranking.

On December 19, the College of Information Science held its Fall 2024 Convocation at Crowder Hall. The milestone event was not celebration not only of InfoSci graduates, but also of the interdisciplinary spirit that defines our community of faculty, students and alumni.

At the U of A and beyond, Associate Professor Peter Jansen is redefining how machines engage with science. As a researcher at the prestigious Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (Ai2), Jansen sits at the cutting edge of a field long viewed as a distant dream: automated scientific discovery. His latest project in concert with other Ai2 researchers, DiscoveryWorld, blends the charm of a video game with the rigor of scientific exploration.

Reworked recently turned to InfoSci Interim Dean Catherine Brooks to explore the growing importance of information governance as organizations integrate generative artificial intelligence into their operations. Brooks and other experts agree that a strong governance plan is essential to navigate this evolving landscape effectively.

The promise of open science lies in its potential to foster transparency, collaboration and innovation. Yet, as researchers including Associate Professor Andrea Thomer highlight in a recent post on the London School of Economics and Political Science’s LSE Impact Blog, this openness also brings risks of misuse that can harm individuals, skew findings and undermine public trust in science.

Jennifer Rochelle joined the college in 2022 as an assistant professor of practice and faculty advisor for the Master's in Library and Information Science. Holding a law degree from CUNY and her U of A MLIS degree, her community work includes humanitarian aid on the U.S.-Mexico border, while her teaching covers copyright and intellectual property and ethics.

Starting this spring, the college's undergraduate capstone program takes a bold leap forward by inviting organizations to partner directly with student capstone teams. These partnerships offer a unique synergy: students gain invaluable experience solving complex, real-world problems, while organizations benefit from the energy, creativity and technical expertise of top talent.

Drew Castalia has placed third in the Turbo Makes Games DOTS Jam, an international competition spotlighting data-oriented programming. His entry, Tic Tac Noo, is a clever inversion of the ubiquitous match-three puzzle genre, challenging players to avoid creating matches.

Academic Advisor Jessica Chung, who advises InfoSci main campus students, joined the college in the spring of 2024 after serving as an advisor at the University of Chicago. In this profile, she shares her joy in helping students achieve their academic goals; her love of music, food and games; and the value of goal-setting for students.

Jay Sampson, a College of Information Science lecturer with more than 25 years of leadership experience at high-tech companies like Microsoft and Adobe, offers not only insight but also instruction via the Digital Media History and Innovations course to help guide InfoSci students on their career development paths.