UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON OPENS U.S. CENSUS BUREAU RESEARCH DATA CENTER

On the 24th of September 2012, the U.S. Census Bureau announced that University of Washington has opened a Census Research Data Center (RDC) in its college campus. This facility is one among the 15 data centers in USA.

 It aims at providing researchers access to surveys, polls, public health, community welfare and other social activities. It would also help in accelerating extensive research in the above said areas.

“This Census Research Data Center will enable the research community across the Northwest to conduct statistical analyses that otherwise would not be possible on a wide range of research projects in the social sciences,” said Thomas Mesenbourg, the Census Bureau’s acting director. “We anticipate the creation of new products that leverage the value of Census Bureau data that has already been collected.”

“There are fantastic benefits, “said Mark Ellis, Director of the NWCRDC and Professor of Geography at UW. He also said, “The Census Bureau runs a whole host of surveys. There are population surveys, but also surveys about housing, manufacturing, service jobs, a whole host of things designed to take the pulse of American society and American activity.”

The other 15  research data centers are situated at- Boston; Berkeley, California; Los Angeles; Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Ann Arbor, Michigan; New York; Ithaca, N.Y.; Durham, N.C.; and Minneapolis.

ABOUT U.S CENSUS BUREAU

For researchers to conduct research at RDC, they are required to submit their proposals to the Census Bureau. The bureau reviews these proposals for suitability and facts. These proposals should be capable of being implemented for the betterment of society. The RDC holds itself responsible for all the data stored in its campus. It is bound to maintain confidentiality and secrecy. The researchers also need to abide by the rules and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data.