Understanding data is key to unlocking job opportunities
The key to real-world success is understanding data, according to David Kane, a preceptor in statistical methods and mathematics in the Department of Government. Kane, a former officer in the U.S. Marines who spent more than two decades as a quantitative finance expert on Wall Street, says his class, “Gov. 1005: Data,” lays groundwork for absolutely any career. “Being able to work with data is of growing importance in today’s world, especially for entry-level positions in elite occupations,” he said. “There is no better way, for example, to get a job on the staff of a U.S. senator than demonstrated skill in working with data associated with polling, fundraising, and policy issues.” The class, new to Harvard’s curriculum, helps students understand the foundation of data, building proficiency in data analysis, interpretation, and application. Using John William Waterhouse’s 1891 oil painting “Ulysses and the Sirens” as the central metaphor, Kane jokingly calls the class...