The Data

The Health Nutrition and Population Statistics database hosted by the World Bank Group provides various key indicators related to health issues, population dynamics and nutrition. The data have been gathered from 258 countries over the last 57 years.

Instructions

Objectives

The data challenge aims at informing us about potential progress towards the resolution of some health and nutrition issues as well as descriptions of population dynamics. Generally speaking, participants can focus on any aspect of the data and should provide any analysis they find relevant. The submission will provide a conclusion based on the analysis of the the Health Nutrition and Population Statistics database. External open source data can be used to support conclusion and for illustrative purpose only. It is not allowed to use external data to perform your analysis. Some possible thoughts to get started are:

• Distribution of the world population or in a specific area
• Evolution of malnutrition for children under 5 years old
• Can we identify a possible link between malnutrition and child mortality?
• Evolution regarding HIV: is there any progress regarding safe practices?
• Can we exhibit a correlation between education and some other indicators?
• Can we identify the differences regarding cost of treatment and therapeutic development between various geographic areas?

Submission format

Participants are allowed to use R code only. They will have to submit a PDF or HTML file compiled from an R notebook or a RMarkdown file containing their code and their comments on the methods used to learn about the data. The submission will be made using the abstract submission page. Though it is not compulsory, participants are advised to develop a shiny app (link provided in their submission). The jury of experts will in particular value submissions that meet following criteria

• scripts well organised and commented with, if needed, indications on the choice of a particular package rather a competitor
• use of graphics to convey findings
• thorough analysis with explanation of the methods used to study the data (e.g., solution to handle missing or censored data) and conclusion

Who can enter the challenge?

The challenge is open to:

• students in Master Degree or PhD,
• people who got a PhD within the last 3 years,
• people who got a Master Degree or equivalent within the last 5 years,

at the date of submitting their proposal. A team of several persons meeting those criteria can submit one submission. However, if the team wins, only the person who submitted the proposal gets a free registration for the conference.

Award

The winner will get a free registration to useR! 2019. An award session will be held during the closing ceremony of the conference.

Key dates

• December 17, 2018: submission opening date
• March 1, 2019: submission closing date
• April 15, 2019: announcement of results
• July 12, 2019: award ceremony