Humanizing the Data: How Professor Jordan Blekking Teaches the Stories Behind the Numbers

By Jordan Minor

Originally from Battle Creek, Michigan, Professor Jordan Blekking has lived and studied in Zambia, Kenya, and Malawi, and now teaches at UNC Charlotte. His practical experience and empathy enable students to gain insights that extend beyond the classroom.

Professor Blekking brings diverse real-world experience, including fighting wildfires and serving in the Peace Corps. As an assistant professor, he applies these experiences to his work in data science and geography, with a consistent focus on environmental considerations.

Your path to the School of Data Science is notably diverse. How have your hands-on experiences influenced your approach to data, geography, and academic research?

Originally, I thought I wanted to teach high school English or history, but when I took a class at my community college and we had a field trip to the Smoky Mountains, where we had to identify different trees and figure out how fast streams were moving, I discovered that I truly loved being outside and studying our environment. So, when I transferred to Michigan State’s environmental science program, I was able to have two study abroad experiences [in South Africa], and during that time, I realized that the work I do should be for the betterment of people. I joined the Peace Corps, working with the Bureau of Land Management, and lived in a little village for two years, wanting to understand how people interact and what their well-being looks like in a tough area far from many necessities.

In my academic approach to data and geography, I emphasize empathy and patience. Data science often involves large datasets, where each row represents a person, family, or community. I encourage students to recognize that data tells a story and reflects real lived experiences. It is important to remember these are not just data points, but individuals with real lives and outcomes. Acknowledging the world’s inequalities is essential in our work.

After living in various places and gaining experiences that shaped his teaching, Professor Blekking explained what led him to join the School of Data Science at UNC Charlotte.

I didn’t know much about Charlotte until I visited a few years ago, and I liked it. When I came to interview for this job, I already knew some professors who had worked here, and I was really impressed by them. Charlotte is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, so there are many opportunities. At the University, I was struck by how kind, thoughtful, and enjoyable everyone was. I was excited to be part of both geography and data science, since these two fields work closely together.

You teach Fundamentals of GIS (GEOG 3120) and Modeling and Society (DTSC 2301). Why is it so important for modern data scientists to understand spatial data when building models to solve big societal problems? Does AI help or hurt this work?

Space matters tremendously because where you live can have a massive impact on your well-being or how you’re able to develop, same as genetics, same as your family, friends, all of that sort of thing, for example when I was in graduate school in Indiana, there was a study that came out explaining that for each half mile you are from the city from the center of the city of Indianapolis, and people who lived in more affluent areas of the city lived really long, same with Charlotte, if you’re on the south side in a more affluent area, you’re going to have access to better schools, connections, etc. So, people do understand that space matters, but it comes with many perceptions, and we have to include modeling when looking at this data. Usually, when data is studied, it is examined through male-versus-female, old-versus-young, or black-versus-white lenses, but it goes beyond those metrics. In terms of AI, I will say AI is a double-edged sword, and that it allows you to do much more than you would otherwise. If I don’t have the exact code and I want to go from point A to point B, AI will help me to get there, but the challenge with the social part of it is that AI is nothing but a preprogrammed probability-generating machine so that does play a role in how accurate it’s going to be, so while it’s a helpful machine, it is not the one telling you whether this is right or wrong. 

Given Professor Blekking’s background in environmental work, we asked for his perspective on the environmental impact of AI, particularly in countries facing significant challenges, and how he addresses these topics with his students.

Recently, I have been considering this issue because many of my friends in Zambia use AI wondered where their data centers ar located. In Charlotte, several data center proposals have sparked community debate in recent months. In countries like Zambia and Malawi, energy and security are ongoing challenges, with most electricity generated by hydro dams. These countries also face frequent blackouts and are heavily affected by climate change. As AI expands, I think about the placement of data centers and their impact. In my classes, I discuss AI and infrastructure (such as data centers, energy requirements, and related costs) to encourage students to consider these global challenges. 

After discussing what makes the School of Data Science and its faculty unique, we asked Professor Blekking what distinguishes SDS students.

The number of students stands out to me. The program has grown rapidly, with new PhD, undergraduate, and master’s programs. There is strong interest and enthusiasm, especially among students, who are eager to get involved in various fields. I have students interested in sports analytics, banking, and crypto. When data science students combine their studies with personal interests, it creates a valuable educational experience.