Datathon
WinterThon is our annual beginner-friendly datathon designed exclusively for first and second-year students interested in data science. Over 36 hours, you'll work with your team to analyze real-world data and present your findings to a panel of judges. This event is perfect for building hands-on experience and preparing for larger competitions like DataFest in Spring Quarter.
To help you succeed, we also offer a datathon prep workshop before the event, check out the workshop here and the workshops page for more resources!
Logistics and Format
When: Week 7, February 20-22, 2026
Duration: 36 hours total
Team Size: 3 members
Schedule:
Friday, 12:00 PM: Kickoff and dataset release
Saturday, 11:59 PM: Presentation submission deadline
Sunday: 5-minute team presentations to judges
How it Works:
All teams receive the same dataset, guidelines, and prompt
Analyze the data and create slides showcasing your insights
Present your findings on Sunday
How to Sign Up
Registration is now open! Sign up here! Don't have a team? No problem, we'll match you with others at your skill level when you fill out the form. No prior experience is required; beginners are encouraged to participate!
For questions, contact Annabelle Lee, Erin An, or Ayush Varma, and join our Discord server for ALL event updates and announcements.
Find the FAQ here!
Past WinterThon
In 2025, teams analyzed a scraped dataset from the Reddit homepage to uncover the secrets of achieving "Reddit fame." Participants explored patterns in upvotes, engagement metrics, posting times, and content characteristics to determine what makes posts go viral. Teams presented creative insights ranging from optimal posting strategies to content themes that resonate with Reddit's audience.