Course Programs

2024

Seminar of Nagano Prefecture with Data Visualization

Code:G2B55714 / Instructor:SUZUKI Jiro

Course Description

Under a national call for “regional revitalization,” we are discovering the attractions of each region, and our ability to broadcast information about these attractions are now being questioned. In this course, students will deepen their understanding of the current situation in Nagano Prefecture through topics presented by individuals involved in local government administration and the collection and dissemination of information. Students will make use of data science perspectives to discover new challenges and give presentations that examine the issues that emerge in the data with which they are provided.

Students will deepen their understanding of the problems in Nagano Prefecture based on concrete data provided by Suzaka City, Saku City, and Takamori Town and the Nagano Association for Public Opinion Research and TV Shinshu (organizations responsible for collecting and disseminating information). Each of these authorities and organizations will hold two to three topic sessions. The data will comprise both numerical data and unfiltered opinions (e.g., free-form responses, interviews).

Depending on the content of each topic, students may discuss and give presentations on it individually or in groups.

Keywords

problem-solving, problem discovery, group work, data science

Course Plan

Students will take part in group work with individuals from local government. At the end of this exercise, students will give a presentation and receive feedback.
1. Orientation
Nagano Association for Public Opinion Research
2. Public opinion polling in Nagano: What is a public opinion poll?
3. The “We the Shinshū People” survey series: A cross-tabulation and multivariate analysis of Shinshū residents
Session 3 and the subsequent sessions may proceed in a different order.
TV Shinshu
1. Reading the COVID-19 statistics
2. Visualizing the +4°C hypothesis
3. “Visualizing” numbers
Saku City
1. Policy formation in Saku (lecture)
2. Group work (exercises to understand the policy formation process)
3. Announcing policy proposals to Saku City
Suzaka City
1. Learning about Suzaka (lecture: strengths, weaknesses, characteristics, etc.)
2. Group work (identifying issues in Suzaka City and formulating hypotheses)
3. Presentation based on group work
Takamori Town
1. Urban creation in Takamori (actual town development based on planning)
2. What is a population target?
3. Specific initiatives (group work and presentation)