What is DSPACE?
The Data Science, Police Accountability, and Community Engagement (DSPACE) Group aims to partner with communities to work towards data-informed police accountability. Within QSIDE, the DSPACE Group serves as the research-intensive branch in the realm of police accountability. The group is composed of mathematicians, statisticians, and data scientists who partner with activists and communities to answer challenging questions about patterns in policing. Our endeavor is to make a direct and meaningful impact with partner communities and to contribute to scholarly research in data science and statistics.
How Can I Join?
If you are seeking partnership with or would like to contribute to our lab, please fill out this form and one of our directors will contact you shortly.
Meet our Team!
DSPACE Director, Manuchehr Aminian.
Dr. Manuchehr Aminian is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Manuchehr’s research interests include early detection of viral infection with machine learning, spectral image segmentation, and passive tracer problems. Manuchehr currently serves as the co-director for QSIDE’s DSPACE (Data Science, Police Accountability, and Community Engagement) Research Lab.
DSPACE Director, Ariana Mendible.
Dr. Ariana Mendible is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Seattle University. Her experience in data-driven modeling led her to research that applies data science to social justice contexts. Ariana currently serves as a co-director for QSIDE’s DSPACE (Data Science, Police Accountability, and Community Engagement) Research Lab.
DSPACE Director, Claire Kelling.
Dr. Claire Kelling (she/her) is an Assistant Professor of Statistics at Carleton College, and earned her Dual PhD in Statistics and Social Data Analytics from Penn State. Claire’s goal is to integrate evidence-based practice and policy on crime and policing using the power of statistics and data. Claire currently serves as a co-director for QSIDE’s DSPACE (Data Science, Police Accountability, and Community Engagement) Research Lab.
DSPACE Senior Researcher, Spencer Brooks.
Spencer Brooks is a researcher and educator with interests in natural language processing, human-centered computing, and education as a practice of freedom. He holds a B.A. in mathematics from Williams College. As member of the QSIDE’s SToPA and DSPACE Lab, he has created visualizations and analysis tools and explored topic modeling approaches for representing latent structure in police records.
DSPACE Senior Researcher, Alex Wiedemann.
Alex Wiedemann (he/him) completed his PhD in mathematics at the University of South Carolina and is now a Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Randolph-Macon College. His main areas of interest are graph theory, operator theory, linear algebra, and mathematical physics, with recent projects involving spectral theory, discrete mathematics, and data-driven applications thereof. Apart from theoretical research, Alex is interested in promoting equity and justice in mathematics and in the development of teaching practices which better serve students from underserved groups. He currently serves as Chair of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility for Spectra, the Association for LGBTQ+ Mathematicians, and a member of QSIDE’s Data Science, Police Accountability, and Community Engagement (DSPACE) Lab.