Impact Project Spotlight: Generation180 Interactive Data Visualization Site
In the Impact program, we assemble teams of Forge members to do data science, marketing, UX, and software engineering projects for nonprofits (and sometimes our own initiatives), allowing participants to use their modern technology skills to improve the community. Last semester, Impact worked with Generation180, a local nonprofit focused on equipping people and organizations to transition to clean energy, to enhance their Solar for All Schools campaign. Gen180 is leading the national movement of schools adopting solar energy by providing informative resources. One of the most complicated parts of how schools transition to clean energy is the financing. To help explain financing options to school stakeholders, I and a team of Impact students synthesized solar financing data and built a website that uses dynamic visualizations to tell the story of how schools can pay for — and save money — by going solar.
Gen180 is still in the process of tweaking copy and styling the page, but you can view it here. The site was made using D3.js, a JavaScript library for interactive data visualizations. This project was one of the most technically difficult in Impact’s history so I took a really involved role in the planning and coding process. To gain some background in D3, I took Envision (Forge’s D3 data viz course) during the same semester. It was really fun to apply techniques to the project as I was learning them. None of the other team members had experience with D3, so I provided them with a lot of the content and resources I’d found through Envision. While learning on the fly was quite challenging at times (LOTS of research and debugging), it was really cool because I think the project did a great job of simulating an internship situation, where you’re often given big projects that require you to pick up new skills quickly. This work wouldn’t have gotten done without the dedication and curiosity of sprint lead Kay and the rest of the participants. Read below to hear Kay share a little more about the project!
Could you give a brief bio/intro of yourself and what experience you have with Forge?
“I am a fourth-year student majoring in Statistics and minoring in Data Science. I joined Forge as a Node student in Spring 2020 and have been involved with the Impact program ever since.”
What made you want to work on Impact projects in general?
“The Impact program stands out to me for two reasons: it provides an opportunity to utilize the skills developed through skills courses and help nonprofits in the process! The Impact projects resemble the assignments I worked on during summer internships and provide students a unique way to gain real-world experience.”
Tell me about this project and what you did for it.
“The Generation180 sprint was a 3-month project focused on creating interactive data visualizations using D3.js and then integrating them into a website built and designed using HTML and CSS. I served as the Data Science Sprint Lead for the project, so I worked closely with the Impact Director, Anna Grace, and built the project timeline, organized resources, coordinated team meetings and working sessions, and assisted participants with code issues.”
What about this project specifically stuck out to you?
“The Generation180 project was intriguing for several reasons. The project length was much longer than previous projects, allowing us to dive deeper into the data and build stronger relationships with fellow participants and the nonprofit. Further, it provided an opportunity to learn new programming languages (JavaScript, HTML, CSS) and gain experience in front-end development.”
What was the most challenging part of this project and what part did you find to be the most enjoyable?
“The most challenging part of this project was leading a project focused on coding in programming languages that were completely new to me, and many of the participants. To overcome this challenge, I organized weekly working sessions so we could code together, share ideas and discuss errors. Although the project was challenging, it was very rewarding. My favorite part of the sprint was combining the data visualizations and customizing the design of the website, really pulling our whole vision together.”
What’s the number one reason you would suggest that students try out an Impact sprint?
“I encourage students to try out the Impact program because the projects can truly transform your career goals and interests. Based on my experience, this project opened my eyes to front-end web development and encouraged me to explore internship opportunities I would not have been qualified for or interested in otherwise. The Impact Program is a unique opportunity to try something new, build upon current skills and gain exposure working with local organizations.”
If you’re interested in participating in a project like this, check out Forge’s Impact program here.
