SoBigData Academy Camp Instructions
SoBigData Academy Camp Instructions
SoBigData Academy Camp 2027: Discover Data Science & AI for Society!
Register hereJoin the second edition of our free, three-month online Camp, especially designed for all academic backgrounds.
Registration is open from 1 to 31 January 2027.
Overview
This Camp is a free, online learning initiative designed for students from all academic backgrounds, with particular attention to those studying medicine, economics, political science, law, humanities and other social sciences who want to understand how data and AI can be used to study society.
From February to early May 2027, you will follow a structured learning route consisting of seven self-paced online courses and monthly interactive meetings with professors and invited experts.
No prior programming or data science experience is required for the Beginner Route. Students with prior knowledge can choose the Expert Route.
Registration: 1–31 January 2027
Learning period: 1 February – 2 May 2027
Format: online, self-paced courses + monthly interactive events
Workload: 60 hours per route
Participation fee: free
Who can participate: students at all levels; no previous data science or programming experience is required for the Beginner Route.
Want to know more? Save the date: 8th February 2026, 5.30 p.m (CET).
Camp Structure
Choose your learning route
Each route includes seven courses for a total of 60 hours. Choose one route according to your starting knowledge and experience.
Beginner Route
Start from scratch!
Ideal for students new to Data Science and AI. Learn Python, data collection and analysis, visualisation, responsible data use, and how data-driven innovation can create value.
No prior programming experience required.
7 courses · 60 hours
Expert Route
Take your skills further!
For students already familiar with Data Science who want to explore Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Reinforcement Learning, Deep Learning, LLMs and Explainable AI.
Previous data science knowledge recommended.
7 courses · 60 hours
Already joined Camp 2026?
If you completed Camp 2026, you are welcome to continue your learning through the Expert Route.
Please note that previous Camp 2026 completers cannot enrol in the Beginner Route.
If you did not complete Camp 2026, you can start again with the Beginner Route and complete the foundational courses in 2027.
If this is your first SoBigData Academy Camp, choose the route that best matches your experience: beginners need no prior data science background, while the Expert Route is intended for students who already have relevant knowledge.
1. Online courses to complete
You must complete all seven courses in your chosen route by 2 May 2027. The total workload is 60 hours per route.
All courses are online and self-paced. Each course includes a final test; to receive the individual course certificate, you must answer at least 80% of the questions correctly.
After successfully completing your full route, you can receive the Camp Certificate of Participation.
Beginner Route: 7 compulsory courses (60 hours)
| Course | What it covers | What you can use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Python | Fundamentals of programming and working with data. | Read data files, manipulate datasets and automate simple research tasks. |
| Legal & Ethical Aspects of Data Science | Privacy, the GDPR, the AI Act, data governance and ethical questions. | Recognise responsible and potentially harmful uses of data. |
| Data Collection | Responsible ways to collect data from websites and social media platforms. | Gather data from online sources while considering ethical and legal requirements. |
| Data Theory & Society | Social, cultural and political dimensions of data. | Think critically about data, platforms, digital democracy and society. |
| Data Analysis | Techniques for exploring, describing and interpreting data. | Compare datasets, identify patterns and produce indicators. |
| Business Model & Data-Driven Innovation | How organisations can use data to create value and develop innovative business or policy models. | Design data-informed ideas and strategies for organisations, public services and research projects. |
| Data Visualization & Visual Analytics | Presenting data clearly through charts and visual analysis. | Communicate results visually in an accessible and meaningful way. |
Expert Route: 7 compulsory courses (60 hours)
| Course | What it covers | What you can use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Data Collection | Methods for collecting data responsibly from online sources and social media. | Plan and evaluate approaches to gathering real-world data. |
| Data Mining & Machine Learning | Finding patterns, rules and predictive relationships in data. | Analyse trends and understand algorithmic predictions. |
| Computer Vision | Image processing, classification, object detection and practical AI models. | Understand and apply methods for analysing visual data. |
| Reinforcement Learning | Learning from interaction and rewards, from classical approaches to deep RL. | Understand how an agent learns strategies for sequential decisions. |
| Neural Networks & Deep Learning | Advanced neural network models, including CNNs, recurrent models, Transformers and generative architectures. | Explore methods for image, language and other complex data tasks. |
| Large Language Models | Distributional semantics, Transformers, pre-training, fine-tuning and evaluation. | Understand the development and assessment of contemporary LLMs. |
| Explainable AI | Post-hoc and by-design methods for understanding model behaviour. | Interpret and critically evaluate AI decisions and transparency. |
2. Live Online Meetings
Take part in three interactive online seminars with SoBigData Academy professors and invited experts. They will share use cases and answer questions about the courses.
Dates:
- 15 February 2027
- 15 March 2027
- 15 April 2027
Meeting access details will be shared with registered participants.
3. Complete Your Route
Complete all seven compulsory courses and obtain their course certificates by 2 May 2027.
Successful participants will receive a Camp Certificate of Participation signed by SoBigData Research Infrastructure.
Camp certificates are scheduled for 14 May 2027.
4. Summer School Scholarship
Students who successfully finish the Camp will be eligible for a random draw for a scholarship to attend the SoBigData Summer School.
20–26 June 2027
Baratti – Poggio dell'Agnello, Italy
The scholarship covers an all-inclusive Summer School week. The winner will be notified on 24 May 2027.
Certificates & Summer School Opportunity
For each course, you can obtain a course certificate by achieving at least 80% correct answers in the final test.
After completing all seven courses in the chosen route, you will receive a Camp Certificate of Participation
signed by SoBigData Research Infrastructure.
Registration to SoBigData Academy & its Courses
To start the Camp:
- Register on the SoBigData Academy platform
- Enrol in the compulsory courses of your chosen route
- Start learning at your own pace
A video tutorial is provided to guide you through the registration and enrollment process.
We look forward to welcoming you to SoBigData Academy Camp 2027!
For information, contact Sara Lelli, Learning Designer:
sara.lelli@isti.cnr.it .
Meet the Camp 2026 Winners
Curious about the SoBigData Academy Camp experience? Hear directly from three winners of the 2026 edition as they share their learning journeys, experiences and achievements.