Friday, March 22, 2013

Debut Issue of 'Big Data' Journal Features Syracuse iSchool Roundtable

A new academic journal, Big Data, debuted this month, and its first issue features a recap of a spirited roundtable discussion conducted with a team from the Syracuse University School of Information Studies (iSchool).

The article, Educating the Next Generation of Data Scientists [PDF], captures a wide range of perspectives about the subject voiced during a roundtable moderated by the journal?s editor-in-chief, Edd Dumbill. Participating on the discussion panel were iSchool Dean Elizabeth D. Liddy; Senior Associate Dean and Professor Jeffrey Stanton; information management and data science graduate student Kate Mueller; and Microsoft FUSE Lab?s Shelly Farnham.

The discussion began with panelists addressing the basic question of defining the field of data science. It turned to observations about patterns and trends in data education, including the iSchool at Syracuse University?s approach of educating for the full lifecycle of the data field. Panelists also spoke about students who are entering the field and their various backgrounds and subject matter orientations. The high demand for data graduates, as well as career options and the needs of business and industry for data specialists also were detailed. In addition, panelists touched on the importance of higher education continuing its connection to and collaboration with industries who are hiring in the data field...

The journal, published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., is designed to ?bring together the community to address current challenges and enforce effective efforts to organize, store, disseminate, protect, manipulate, and, most importantly, find the most effective strategies to make this incredible amount of information work to benefit society, industry, academia, and government,? the issue states.

No comments: