Causal Data Science with Directed Acyclic Graphs
What you'll learn
- Causal inference in data science and machine learning
- How to work with directed acylic graphs (DAG)
- Newest developments in causal AI
Course content
- Preview15:41
Requirements
- Basic knowledge of probability and statistcs
- Basic programming skills would be an advantage
Description
This course offers an introduction into causal data science with directed acyclic graphs (DAG). DAGs combine mathematical graph theory with statistical probability concepts and provide a powerful approach to causal reasoning. Originally developed in the computer science and artificial intelligence field, they recently gained more and more traction also in other scientific disciplines (such as, e.g., machine learning, economics, finance, health sciences, and philosophy). DAGs allow to check the validity of causal statements based on intuitive graphical criteria, that do not require any algebra. In addition, they open up the possibility to completely automatize the causal inference task with the help of special identification algorithms. As an encompassing framework for causal thinking, DAGs are becoming an essential tool for everyone interested in data science and machine learning.
The course provides a good overview of the theoretical advances that have been made in causal data science during the last thirty year. The focus lies on practical applications of the theory and students will be put into the position to apply causal data science methods in their own work. Hands-on examples, discussed in the statistical software package R, will guide through the presented material. There are no particular prerequisites for participating. However, a good working knowledge in probability and basic programming skills are a benefit.
Who this course is for:
- Data scientists
- Economists
- Computer Scientists
- People intersted in machine learning
Instructor
I’m an assistant professor at Copenhagen Business School, department for Strategy & Innovation. I studied economics at the University of Mannheim, HEC Lausanne, and New York University, and obtained a PhD in business economics from KU Leuven, Belgium, in 2017. My research focusses on empirical studies in the area of innovation, strategy and entrepreneurship and has been published in leading outlets such as Harvard Business Review and Research Policy. Moreover, I gained practical experience in policy consulting for, among others, the European Commission and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.