Data Science Initiative

A $1.8 billion global commitment has been announced to make biological data AI-ready, expanding the Virtual Biology Initiative led by CZ Biohub. The funding aims to standardize and open up biological datasets so machine learning models can be trained on them, a long-standing bottleneck in applying AI to life sciences research. The news is drawing attention among researchers and technologists debating how AI could transform biology.

In Coos Bay, Oregon, a project known as the 'data canoe' is bringing together water science and the traditions of local tribes. The initiative pairs scientific monitoring of the bay's waters with Indigenous knowledge, aiming to make environmental data more meaningful to tribal communities. Details beyond the collaboration of Western science and tribal tradition are limited, but the effort highlights growing interest in combining these ways of understanding water and ecosystems.

A data science professor at William & Mary has been awarded a grant to fund a partnership with the Internet Archive aimed at preserving digital history. The funding will support collaborative efforts to safeguard online materials for future research and public access.

Funding for the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub's virtual biology project has reached $1.8 billion, with major technology companies among its backers. The initiative aims to model biological systems computationally, combining AI, biology and large-scale data. The scale of the investment and the involvement of big tech firms are drawing attention across the biotech and science funding communities.

The University of Chicago's Space Program is expanding its stratospheric research in partnership with NASA, sending scientific instruments high into Earth's atmosphere to gather data beyond the reach of ground-based studies. The initiative highlights the university's growing role in space science and its collaboration with the federal space agency on high-altitude research missions.

Wikimedia efforts are set to feature at the 2026 Summer Institute in Computational Social Science, which will be hosted in Kenya. The initiative aims to connect participants in computational social science with Wiki projects, encouraging open data and collaborative research practices among scholars gathering for the annual institute.

Clark University announced that its NSF-funded CROSSROADS project has developed a holistic model for data science education. The initiative aims to reshape how data science is taught by integrating broader perspectives rather than focusing narrowly on technical skills. The announcement highlights continued investment by the National Science Foundation in reforming higher education curricula to meet growing demand for data-literate graduates.

Cornell University has brought in leaders from artificial intelligence and data science as part of its Radical Collaboration initiative, an interdisciplinary push uniting researchers across departments. The move is intended to strengthen Cornell's work in AI and data-driven research, drawing attention from academic and technology communities watching how universities organise around artificial intelligence.

CZ Biohub, the Department of Energy, the National Institutes of Health and partner institutions have committed $1.8 billion to build large-scale, AI-ready datasets in biology. The initiative aims to organize biological data so it can be used to train artificial intelligence models, accelerating research in medicine and the life sciences.

The participatory science programme Bugs Matter, run via the insectes.org platform, is inviting members of the public to help count insects to track their populations. The initiative, shared with environment and climate hashtags, encourages volunteers to contribute data on insect abundance, a key concern given widespread reports of insect decline and its impact on ecosystems and food chains.

Biohub, together with US government agencies and artificial intelligence companies, has pledged $1.8 billion to create open datasets for building predictive biology models. The initiative aims to make large-scale biological data freely available so researchers can develop AI tools for drug discovery, disease understanding and other life sciences applications, rather than keeping such data locked within private or siloed institutions.

The US National Science Foundation is committing $19 million to establish a national biological observatory that will map living organisms and ecosystems in three dimensions. The initiative aims to create large-scale 3D imaging data of biological life, giving researchers new tools to study biodiversity, organism structure and environmental change across the country.

Science Hill Independent Schools Superintendent Matt Cook in Kentucky is expanding professional learning communities across the district, an approach where teachers collaborate regularly to review student data, refine instruction and share best practices. The initiative, reported by Kentucky Teacher, aims to strengthen teaching quality and student outcomes district-wide.

A new citizen science project is recruiting volunteers to help search for black holes that have not yet been discovered. Participants will contribute to astronomical research by analyzing data that scientists could not process alone. The initiative highlights the growing role of public participation in astrophysics, allowing amateurs to aid in identifying candidate black holes across large datasets.

NOAA's Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing office has launched a series of AI pilot projects aimed at modernizing how ocean data is collected and analyzed. The initiative explores artificial intelligence tools to improve the efficiency and accuracy of ocean observing systems, a move watched closely by researchers and marine technology firms focused on climate and ocean monitoring.

Brown University reports that its students and faculty are applying data-driven approaches to solve problems in brain science. The initiative combines computational methods with neuroscience research, reflecting a broader push to use large-scale data analysis to better understand the brain. Details of specific projects have not been released, but the university is highlighting the work as part of its science coverage.

Zimbabwe is turning to science and evidence-based approaches to improve its water security, according to UNESCO. The initiative aims to use scientific data and research to guide water management decisions in a country that has faced recurring droughts and water shortages. Details of specific programmes or funding have not yet been announced.

The Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) is presenting its work on international ocean observation during the UN General Assembly in New York. The institute says it is fully committed to strengthening worldwide monitoring of the seas, aligning with UN efforts to coordinate ocean data collection and marine research. The announcement highlights Belgium's role in global ocean science cooperation.

Mount Sinai and the Hasso Plattner Institute have announced an international graduate student exchange program focused on digital health and artificial intelligence innovation. The initiative will let graduate students study across both institutions, aiming to build skills at the intersection of medicine, data science and technology. The announcement highlights growing institutional investment in AI-driven healthcare research and training.