Hunstead Lectures 2024: “Data Science Challenges and Skills in the Era of Big Data is Astronomy” by Dr. Bryan Scott

Dr. Bryan Scott is the LSST Discovery Alliance Data Science Fellowship Program Postdoctoral Scholar at the Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics, Northwestern University. He received his PhD from the University of California, Riverside. His research focuses on large astronomical surveys across the electromagnetic spectrum, including sub-mm line intensity mapping, photometric galaxy surveys including the Vera C Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space & Time, and spectroscopic surveys including the Subaru Telescope Prime Focus Spectrograph Galaxy Evolution survey. He is also passionate about teaching and holds graduate level certificates in higher education pedagogy from the University of California, Riverside and the Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching at Northwestern University.

Dr Scott spoke on “Data Science Challenges and Skills in the Era of Big Data is Astronomy”, where he covered many topics such as:

data science and statistical challenges for the next generation of all sky surveys, where he highlighted promising approaches to solving these problems, with a focus on contributions from early career scientists.
Bayesian inference and statistical methods, with a focus on E.T. Jaynes’ view that Bayesian approaches best represent the “logic of science” and discovery.
Contemporary machine learning methods, with a focus on general principles including understanding error, model generalization, and emerging methods.
Fundamental data science skills for scientific reproducibility, including version control, code documentation, and preparing code for public release.
Pedagogy and educational philosophy of the DSFP.

 

Recordings of his lecture series can be found here