Data for a good cause How

Data for a good cause

A solution to social problems may be hidden in the mountains and mountains of data that humankind produces on a daily basis.

Hein Fleuren Dick den Hertog

Text: Ans Hekkenberg

The amount of data collected by humankind over the past two years is greater than that of all previous years put together. These are the

billions of Whatsapp messages we send every day, as well as patient data, stock market information, and the data collected by Statistics Netherlands (CBS). These huge mountains of data hide secrets that data science can uncover.

With its Data Science for Social Good program, Tilburg University offers its

researchers a clear assignment: to search for solutions to social problems that are currently still hidden in data. Dick den Hertog, who led the University’s Impact Program until early 2020, and Hein Fleuren, his successor, introduce three projects led by researchers from the Faculty of Economics.

Nutritional data

Can you feed hungry mouths with data? According to the Zero Hunger Lab you can. With this project Tilburg scientists want to combat food shortages. Their main achievement: a mathematical model that improves the efficiency of the emergency aid chain in areas affected by famine. “We are working with the World Food Program of the United Nations,” says Hein Fleuren, initiator of the project. “The World Food Program provides food for between 80 and 100 million people every year. Behind this effort is a huge logistics operation. Where do you buy food? How do you transport it? How long do you store it? There are so many

factors at play that there are millions of different ways of distributing food.” It is impossible for people to consider all these scenarios. The mathematical model that Fleuren’s students created can do just that. This led to considerable efficiency gains in the distribution of food parcels. “Our model was used in Yemen, where 17 percent more people now have access to emergency food, with the same budget as before. We were also able to reduce the cost of Syrian food parcels by 12 percent,” says Fleuren. The intention is to eventually deploy the Tilburg model in all countries where the World Food Program is active.

SHUTTERSTOCK

“We can use data to make companies richer. We’d rather help people who need it”

Personal plan

How do you draw up the best radiation treatment plan for a patient with cancer? You have to take into account the location and size of the tumor, but also the location of the healthy organs around it. From which directions is radiation best, and for how long? For a doctor, it is almost impossible to come up with the optimal plan, because there are many different factors involved. As a result, the answer differs from patient to patient. Again, data science can open doors. “We can create a model that calculates the best solution,” says Den Hertog. The model considers different scenarios, with radiation from different angles and with different intensities. “From a large pool of possible radiation plans, you’ll find the best plan.” It is an example of personalized medicine, medical treatments tailor-made for an individual. It is an ultimate goal for many doctors. “It can be realized with smart mathematical techniques,” says Den Hertog. “We can find the best radiation treatment plan in 30 seconds.”

A good start

When you were born, did your parents own their own house? Congratulations! Chances are you will have a great job as an adult. Statistics Netherlands data shows that children who grow up in a privileged environment develop better, are less exposed to crime, and have a wider choice of careers than children who do not. “Where can we find vulnerable young people and what can we do to help them? These were the questions that led to the Smart Start project,” says Fleuren. The Smart Start researchers want to forestall problems. Dick den Hertog: “When a child gets into trouble, it’s really too late. You do what you can to support such a child, but it’s like trying to empty the ocean with a thimble. That’s why we want to identify families where problems may arise at an early stage and offer them positive support.” To achieve this, the researchers are studying data from Statistics Netherlands, the Dutch Mental Healthcare Association, and the food bank. They are looking for characteristics with which to recognize a vulnerable family. “For example, parents with a low level of education and debts – two ingredients that can lead to fewer opportunities for children,” says Den Hertog. One of the Smart Start pilot projects is taking place in the municipality of Heusden. When a child is born there, parents with “vulnerable characteristics” receive an offer of coaching in the future. Den Hertog: “Like a baby care package, but only for those groups that need it.”

Hein Fleuren and Dick den Hertog are attached to the Faculty of Economics. How did they become involved in research projects that seem so far removed from the economy? Den Hertog: “The mathematical methods of data science are generic. You can apply them to business – I’ve spent years doing just that. But you can also use them for applications that make society better.” Fleuren agrees. “As data scientists, we can make rich companies richer. Or we can help people who need it. With these programs, we are opting for social impact.”