Data science perspectives on pandemic management (Coursera)

Offered by Politecnico di Milano,
Data science perspectives on pandemic management (Coursera)

The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the first world-wide scenarios where data made a difference in capturing and analyzing the diffusion and impact of the disease. We offer an introductory course for decision makers, policy makers, public bodies, NGOs, and private organizations about methods, tools, and experiences on the use of data for managing current and future pandemic scenarios.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

This course describes modern methods for data-driven policy making in the context of pandemics. Discussed methods include policy making, innovation, and technology governance; data collection from citizens, crowdsourcing, gamification, and game with a purpose (GWAP); crowd monitoring and sensing; mobility and traffic analysis; disinformation and fake news impacts; and economical and financial impacts and sustainability models. Methods, tools, and analyses are presented to demonstrate how data can help in designing better solutions to pandemics and world-wide critical events.
In this course you will discover the role of policy making and technology governance for managing pandemics.
You will learn about methods like crowdsourcing, gamification, sensing of crowds and built environments, and contact tracing for understanding the dynamics of the pandemic.
You will understand the risk of disinformation and its impact on people perception and decisions.
The course also covers the financial models that describe the pandemic monetary impact on individuals and organizations, as well as the financial sustainability models that can be defined.
Thanks to this course you will get a deeper understanding of motivations, perceptions, choices, and actions of individuals in a pandemic setting, and you will be able to start defining appropriate mitigation actions.
This course was developed by a set of European research and education institutions as part of the research project 'Pan-European Response to the Impacts of the COVID-19 and future Pandemics and Epidemics'. Funded by the European Commission Research Funding programme Horizon 2020 under the Grant Agreement number 101016233, PERISCOPE investigates the broad socio-economic and behavioural impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, to make Europe more resilient and prepared for future large-scale risks.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Introduction and Policies
This module introduces the course. It describes the structure of the course and proposes a first overview on the role of policies and technologies in the context of pandemic management.

WEEK 2
Crowdsourcing and Gamification
This module presents the concepts of crowdsourcing and gamification. It features some methods and examples and describes the advantages of the various approaches.
The COCTEAU tool
This module discusses a specific gamification approach called COCTEAU, which aims at involving participants in a game for creating subjective perceptions of the pandemic and visions for the future.

WEEK 3
Crowdsourcing and Crowdsensing of the Built Environment
In this Module, we will focus on crowdsourcing and crowdsensing of the built environment. More specifically, you will become familiar with OpenStreetMap — a prominent source of crowdsourced map data that is nowadays used by professionals, governments, and communities worldwide and forms the basis of an endless list of applications and services around different aspects of our living environments. You will also become acquainted with rudimentary procedures for querying and making sense of data derived from OpenStreetMap, using visualization techniques. The Module consists of three Lessons. This Module is organized by the Urban Analytics group of Delft University of Technology.

WEEK 4
Contact Tracing
This module discusses the different methods and data sources that can be exploited for the traceability of human movements and social contacts. This has been an important contribution to the understanding of the dynamics of the pandemic.
Disinformation and social media analytics
This module presents the problem of disinformation and fake news that are shared online and discusses the impact that this phenomenon can have on the life and decision of citizens, with particular emphasis on the reactions to the pandemic and to the different sensibilization campaigns.

WEEK 5
Financial impacts of COVID
This module studies the financial aspects related to COVID. It shows how it can generate financial impacts on the population and how one can design specific sustainability models in response to the issue.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Combining and Analyzing Complex Data (Coursera) Coursera
University of Maryland, College Park

Combining and Analyzing Complex Data (Coursera)

In this course you will learn how to use survey weights to estimate descriptive statistics, like means and totals, and more complicated quantities like model parameters for linear and logistic regressions. Software capabilities will be covered with R® receiving particular emphasis. The course will also cover the basics of record linkage and statistical matching—both of which are becoming more important as ways of combining data from different sources. Combining of datasets raises ethical issues which the course reviews. Informed consent may have to be obtained from persons to allow their data to be linked. You will learn about differences in the legal requirements in different countries.

Nov 16th 2026
4 Weeks
Data Science Ethics (Coursera) Coursera
University of Michigan

Data Science Ethics (Coursera)

What are the ethical considerations regarding the privacy and control of consumer information and big data, especially in the aftermath of recent large-scale data breaches? This course provides a framework to analyze these concerns as you examine the ethical and privacy implications of collecting and managing big data. Explore the broader impact of the data science field on modern society and the principles of fairness, accountability and transparency as you gain a deeper understanding of the importance of a shared set of ethical values.

Nov 16th 2026
4 Weeks
Empathy, Data, and Risk (Coursera) Coursera
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Empathy, Data, and Risk (Coursera)

Risk Management and Innovation develops your ability to conduct empathy-driven and data-driven analysis in the domain of risk management. This course introduces empathy as a professional competency. It explains the psychological processes that inhibit empathy-building and the processes that determine how organizational stakeholders respond to risk.

Nov 23rd 2026
4 Weeks
Understanding China, 1700-2000: A Data Analytic Approach, Part 1 (Coursera) Coursera
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - HKUST

Understanding China, 1700-2000: A Data Analytic Approach, Part 1 (Coursera)

The purpose of this course is to summarize new directions in Chinese history and social science produced by the creation and analysis of big historical datasets based on newly opened Chinese archival holdings, and to organize this knowledge in a framework that encourages learning about China in comparative perspective. Our course demonstrates how a new scholarship of discovery is redefining what is singular about modern China and modern Chinese history.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Code Free Data Science (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, San Diego

Code Free Data Science (Coursera)

The Code Free Data Science class is designed for learners seeking to gain or expand their knowledge in the area of Data Science. Participants will receive the basic training in effective predictive analytic approaches accompanying the growing discipline of Data Science without any programming requirements. Machine Learning methods will be presented by utilizing the KNIME Analytics Platform to discover patterns and relationships in data.

Nov 23rd 2026
4 Weeks
Data Science for Business Innovation (Coursera) Coursera
Politecnico di Milano,EIT Digital

Data Science for Business Innovation (Coursera)

The course is a compendium of the must-have expertise in data science for executive and middle-management to foster data-driven innovation. It consists of introductory lectures spanning big data, machine learning, data valorization and communication. Topics cover the essential concepts and intuitions on data needs, data analysis, machine learning methods, respective pros and cons, and practical applicability issues.

Nov 16th 2026
4 Weeks
Advanced Linear Models for Data Science 2: Statistical Linear Models (Coursera) Coursera
Johns Hopkins University

Advanced Linear Models for Data Science 2: Statistical Linear Models (Coursera)

Welcome to the Advanced Linear Models for Data Science Class 2: Statistical Linear Models. This class is an introduction to least squares from a linear algebraic and mathematical perspective. Before beginning the class make sure that you have the following: a basic understanding of linear algebra and multivariate calculus; a basic understanding of statistics and regression models; at least a little familiarity with proof based mathematics; basic knowledge of the R programming language.

Nov 23rd 2026
4 Weeks
Ethical Issues in Data Science (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado Boulder

Ethical Issues in Data Science (Coursera)

Computing applications involving large amounts of data – the domain of data science – impact the lives of most people in the U.S. and the world. These impacts include recommendations made to us by internet-based systems, information that is available about us online, techniques that are used for security and surveillance, data that is used in health care, and many more. In many cases, they are affected by techniques in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Life After COVID-19: Get Ready for our Post-Pandemic Future (Coursera) Coursera
Institute for the Future

Life After COVID-19: Get Ready for our Post-Pandemic Future (Coursera)

The pandemic will create long-lasting and surprising ripple effects, even after vaccines are widely available. Are you ready for what's next? This course will give you a clear forecast of the challenges and opportunities you’re most likely to encounter over the next 3-5 years, as a direct result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Find out what risks still lie ahead; Make a plan for resilience; Play future forecasting games to stretch your imagination about what's possible; Build your post-pandemic confidence; Envision the world you want to live in when we’re all finally on the other side of COVID-19. How can you take advantage of this unprecedented moment of disruption to make positive change in your community, company or other organization?

Nov 23rd 2026
4 Weeks
Global Statistics - Composite Indices for International Comparisons (Coursera) Coursera
University of Geneva

Global Statistics - Composite Indices for International Comparisons (Coursera)

In this course on global statistics, offered by the University of Geneva jointly with the ETH Zürich KOF, you will learn the general approach of constructing composite indices and some of resulting problems. We will discuss the technical properties, the internal structure (like aggregation, weighting, stability of time series), the primary data used and the variable selection methods. These concepts will be illustrated using a sample of the most popular composite indices. We will try to address not only statistical questions but also focus on the distinction between policy-, media- and paradigm-driven indicators.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Bioinformatic Methods I (Coursera) Coursera
University of Toronto

Bioinformatic Methods I (Coursera)

Large-scale biology projects such as the sequencing of the human genome and gene expression surveys using RNA-seq, microarrays and other technologies have created a wealth of data for biologists. However, the challenge facing scientists is analyzing and even accessing these data to extract useful information pertaining to the system being studied. This course focuses on employing existing bioinformatic resources – mainly web-based programs and databases – to access the wealth of data to answer questions relevant to the average biologist, and is highly hands-on.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Health, Society, and Wellness in COVID-19 Times (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado Boulder

Health, Society, and Wellness in COVID-19 Times (Coursera)

You may be encountering a world unlike any other generation. The public health crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic has created a context of pervasive uncertainty, heightened anxiety, and social isolation that overlaps with a critical time of your own learning and development. The COVID-19 pandemic also has exacerbated long-standing inequalities and disparities, and recent events in the United States have laid bare historical and current realities of racism and systemic oppression.

Nov 23rd 2026
4 Weeks