Summer Updates: Bricks, Bikes, and Brilliant Students
Paving Paths, Pedaling for Purpose, and Mentoring Tomorrow's Data Scientists
🧱 Celebrating Community Partnership at Hops on the Hill
Brewing up fresh data insights!
I had the chance to see the "Pave the Path" brick walkway at Hops on the Hill Brewery in South Glastonbury, CT, where Daly Analytics sponsored a customized brick. I love being able to support local businesses in ways that create something lasting for the community.
I absolutely love this brewery – from their welcoming atmosphere to their commitment to being a true community gathering place (plus the drinks are great!). Being able to contribute to their story through this walkway sponsorship feels incredibly meaningful. It's one thing to enjoy a great local business as a customer, but it's another level entirely to become part of their physical space and legacy. Every time I visit now, I'll see that brick and remember this moment of connection between my work and this special place that brings so many people together.
📦 Free Hex Stickers - Now with Brand New Designs!
Speaking of community celebration, if you haven't grabbed your free hex stickers yet, there's still time! The avilistr package release inspired me to create brand new hex sticker logos for all my packages. Choose from {avilistr}, {ttbbeer}, {shinyLP}, or CRAN Cookbook – these little badges of honor are perfect for your laptop, water bottle, or wherever you like to show your #rstats pride. Sign up here
🚴♀️ Pedaling for a Purpose: CT Challenge 2025
This July, I'm participating in the CT Challenge to raise funds for cancer survivors. The 2025 format has gone virtual, which means participants can contribute however works best for them – anytime this month, at their own pace, on their own schedule. There are no minimums or pressure, just a shared commitment to supporting an important cause. Check out my fundraising page if you'd like to support the cause!
🎓 Mentoring the Next Generation of Data Scientists
I'm thrilled to be sponsoring a capstone project for Eastern Connecticut State University's Master's in Applied Data Science program. Two brilliant students are diving deep into conservation analytics using real-world bird data and the {avilistr} package.
One student is tackling the critical question: "Which species are most at risk and why?" Their work spans population modeling, conservation status analysis, and habitat suitability modeling – essentially building the analytical backbone for informed conservation decisions.
The other student is addressing: "Where are priority species being seen and where should we focus conservation efforts geographically?" Their project brings together real-time API integration, interactive mapping, and citizen science engagement tools.
What excites me most is how these projects demonstrate the power of collaborative data science. Each student is pursuing a distinct analytical angle, yet together they're creating complementary tools that address the same conservation challenges from different perspectives. It's R programming in action for real-world impact. Follow along their progress 🦩
