Foundation or Backdrop? The Role of Statisticians in Academic Data Science Initiatives

• Activity Number: 609 - Foundation or Backdrop? - the Role of Statisticians in Academic Data Science Initiatives
• Type: Invited
• Date/Time: Thursday, August 2, 2018 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistical Learning and Data Science
• Author(s): Patrick J Wolfe* and Jennifer L Hill* and David Madigan* and Edoardo M Airoldi * and Tian Zheng*
• Companies: Purdue University and New York University and Columbia University and Harvard University and Columbia University
• Keywords: Data Science; Academic Initiatives

Abstract

For centuries, statistics has been known as the science of collection, analysis and interpretation of data. The recent rise of data science, however, is often viewed as prioritizing the the computational and engineering aspects of data analysis. As academic data science initiatives "pop up" in research universities across the globe, what's the role for academic statisticians? How do we highlight our unique skillsets in the context of the broader data science movement? What are effective strategies for statisticians to stay engaged and contribute to growing data science communities?