In this Q&A, we take a closer look at data science with Curt Savoie, Tech Services & Security’s Principal Data Scientist.

Q: As the Commonwealth’s Principal Data Scientist, what are some of the ways in which you are using data to drive better policy?

A: Currently, I would say we are just getting started. The team has begun some exciting work with a few different agencies focusing on domains such as taxes, consumer protection, and education as well administrative areas like doing an analysis of how agencies share data, representing it by a social network. This is just the beginning, there isn’t really an area of business in the Commonwealth that we couldn’t help run better through the use of data.

Q: What was the Chapter 55 Opioid data story?

A: This was the first major project we did focused on combining datasets from several secretariats for this kind of analysis. Through a law passed just for this purpose we worked with DPH throughout the process in a supporting role, taking care of infrastructure and some procurement. In the end, when DPH handed their report into the legislature as required, the team here built an amazing digital experience to help better communicate the findings of this groundbreaking study.

Q: How will that success be replicated in other areas?

A: ​Right now we are pursuing a few different grant opportunities that will help us create the right conditions to replicate these kind of projects. We have proposals for work with EOE and LWD and are hoping to look at early childhood education over the next year. The goal would be to use the model of combining data sets from multiple secretariats to work on larger problems that the silos sometime prevent.

Q: Why is it important to base policies and projects on robust and up-to-date data?

A: There’s a lot of work being done with data out in the world, and if we want to take advantage of cutting edge research we need to have the means to understand it and operationalize it for ourselves. Having a robust data ecosystem as well as the tools and talent to provide services to agencies when they need to solve the hard problems is what we’re after. When we do this we will be well positioned to improve services to constituents across the Commonwealth.

Q: What does the EOTSS legislation do in regards to data science?

​A: The legislation establishing EOTSS provides some broad powers to utilize data, especially in instances where multiple secretariats are involved. This will allow us to lower the barrier to entry in this kind of work for our partners, decreasing “time to market” and opening up more innovative solutions that were difficult to execute before. By having a central facilitation role we’ll be able to make sure our partners have access to the data they need. Our goal is really to help agencies achieve their own policy objectives, and the new legislation allows a new range of tools and possibilities for us to work with them on.

Q: How can other organizations and agencies avail themselves of your expertise to help them develop better data-driven projects?

A: Talk to us! We love talking data so we always welcome the opportunity to work with other agencies and see what creative solutions we can come up with. The data team is open for business and would love to engage with people and figure out how we can be a part of the work. That could be advising on tools and platforms, it could be sharing code and methodology, it could be finding ways to connect to outside collaborators and experts, it can also be more formal consulting engagements where we do the deeper analysis.

Q: What are your objectives in the year ahead?

A: We’ll be taking advantage of the opportunities that the new legislation allows while having a focus on cross-secretariat analysis projects and building out platforms for integrating data, all while developing a modern and lightweight policy framework to address our most pressing data concerns. We’ll also be trying to serve as an exemplar in what is possible with machine learning and other cutting edge techniques, showing our agency partners what’s possible with data.

EOTSS: Tech Transformation in the Commonwealth

Our Mission: To provide secure and quality digital information, services, and tools to constituents and service providers when and where they need them.

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Executive Office of Technology Services & Security

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To provide secure and quality digital information, services, and tools to constituents and service providers when and where they need them.

EOTSS: Tech Transformation in the Commonwealth

Our Mission: To provide secure and quality digital information, services, and tools to constituents and service providers when and where they need them.

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