We are living in an exciting era for the natural, social, and engineering sciences, because we have access to an unprecedented variety and amount of information that can now be recorded, stored, and analyzed for the most diverse purposes. This is creating new opportunities for students, researchers, government organizations, and local industries, working together to try to understand the world better and bring social good. 

The Laboratory of Data Science (LDS) at Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW) is designed to provide big data expertise in the metropolitan area of Fort Wayne and increase data science opportunities for student and local community engagement in Northeastern Indiana.

LDS is grounded in mutual respect and promotes Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. LDS promotes collegiality, curiosity, strives for positive change and to advance scientific knowledge, and addresses complex questions through Inclusive Excellence.

The purpose of LDS is to promote data science for good and for all, through high quality research, service, and education. LDS supports world-class scholarship activities in data science and brings this to the metropolitan area of Fort Wayne. LDS advances cutting-edge research in the theory and applications of data science, delivers educational options and training for early and mid-career researchers, and provides consulting opportunities. LDS serves as a leading hub in data science for the Northeastern Indiana region. 

LDS (i) promotes cross-pollination of ideas throughout PFW programs and research projects, (ii) works to increase the number of quantitative faculty in all disciplines on PFW campus, (iii) brings regional and internationally renowned researchers and talented students in data science to campus, (iv) disseminates data science expertise to the local and global communities, (v) supports regional data science activities, and (vi) is dedicated to interdisciplinary, cross-department, regional, national, and international research in theoretical and applied data science of social impact. 

LDS focuses on student learning opportunities, high quality and innovative research, visiting programs, community programs, and engagement with the final goal of contributing to social good and solving real-word problems by means of data science and a fruitful interaction among academia, government, and industry.