Call for Papers

Date: 21st & 22nd August 2026

Organisers: Chennai Mathematical Institute and XKDR Forum

Venue: XKDR Forum, Mumbai, India 

Mode: In-Person

The Alt Data Workshop 2026 focuses on the use of "alternative data" -- the remarkable world of novel and clever data sources bubbling up outside the traditional official statistical machinery.

We seek to bridge the gap between STEM researchers (Computer Science, Statistics, Engineering) and domain experts in Economics, Public Policy, and Law. We will de-prioritise data from one-off field experiments and emphasise the use of widely available datasets that are predictably updated through time thus permitting long-term longitudinal research and the development of a research community surrounding each dataset. Examples of this include satellite imagery, digital footprints, high-frequency transaction data, and large-scale web-scraping to solve complex problems in the Indian context. Some examples are at https://www.xkdr.org/field/statistics-computer-science

The Scope of Alternative Data

For the purposes of this workshop, alternative data refers to non-traditional datasets that are, in principle, accessible to the broader research community on a sustained basis over the years, through which a literature can emerge on one dataset at a time.

We prioritise papers that address:

1. Methodological Rigor: Novel approaches to ground-truthing, signal extraction from noisy data, and bias correction.

2. Scalability: Techniques that can be applied across regions or time periods rather than isolated case studies.

3. Substantive Applications: Practical use in agricultural monitoring, urban heat stress, fiscal analytics, or market microstructure.

Themes and Topics

We welcome submissions from STEM and social science researchers on topics including, but not limited to:

1. Remote Sensing: Applications of satellite imagery for economic activity or environmental monitoring.

2. Digital Footprints: Analysis of transaction, payment, or transport data.

3. Automated Data Collection: Large-scale web scraping and crowdsourcing frameworks.

4. High-Frequency Proxies: Using alternative indicators to track fiscal or macroeconomic variables in real-time.

5. Computational Infrastructure: Engineering challenges in processing and storing large-scale alternative datasets for public policy.

Submission Guidelines

We invite both formal academic papers and industry-led technical talks.

1. Abstracts: Maximum 500 words. Must clearly state the research question, data sources, methodology, and results.

2. Full Papers: Maximum 10,000 words.

3. Format: Submissions should be in PDF. Include a separate cover page with author names, affiliations, and contact details.

4. Submission Portal: Submission Form

Review Process

Submissions will be reviewed for originality, technical rigor, and relevance. We value work that is reproducible and contributes to the public discourse on data-driven governance.

Travel funding

We will fund authors and discussants to stay in Bombay for two nights. 

Important Dates

1. Submission Deadline: 15 May 2026

2. Notification of Acceptance: 15 June 2026

3. Full Paper/Presentation Submission: 31 July 2026