Who is Gustavo Alvarez-Suchini?
Gus Alvarez is a computational physicist, educator, and EdTech founder currently pursuing his PhD in Learning, Design, and Technology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. His work is singularly focused on the idea that the passion young people have for sports is the most powerful gateway to data literacy and STEM education.
His career began in educational product development at Flinn Scientific, where he designed hands-on lab kits for K-12 classrooms. To deepen his analytical expertise, he earned a Master’s in computational physics, a journey that led him to a mind-blowing discovery: top professional soccer clubs like Liverpool and Arsenal were hiring physicists to build mathematical models of the game.
Inspired, Gus dove into the world of sports analytics, applying his skills as a Data Analyst for One Knoxville SC. Simultaneously, as a youth soccer coach, he began tinkering with his own idea: what if kids could learn coding and data science through the sport they already loved? He bought the equipment, tested it with his team, and after a successful pilot with Girls Inc., the concept was validated.
This unique synthesis of experience led him to found DataRook with the mission to empower youth through the intersection of sports and data science, fostering critical thinking skills and opening doors to STEM careers. His doctoral research now directly informs DataRook’s curriculum development and impact assessment, ensuring the program is not only engaging but rooted in the science of learning itself.
What is DataRook?
DataRook is an education technology company tackling the STEM engagement gap by bridging the universal passion for sports with essential data science skills. We provide a hands-on curriculum where the soccer field becomes an interactive data lab, transforming how young people learn, think, and play.
Through our flagship program, students are equipped with professional-grade GPS trackers and analytics software to turn their on-field actions into a dynamic dataset. They learn to code in Python, interpret statistics, and build data visualizations, all within the context of improving their own athletic performance. This transforms abstract subjects into a relevant, inquiry-driven experience that builds both technical skills and confidence.
DataRook was founded with the mission to empower youth through the intersection of sports and data science, fostering critical thinking skills and opening doors to STEM careers. Designed for schools, after-school programs, and community organizations, our program offers a turnkey solution to make high-quality STEM education as accessible and exciting as the sport of soccer itself.
