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IEOR Seminar by John S. Bay

Title: Data Science and Analytics: Panacea or Hype?

Speaker: John S. Bay, Binghamton University

Date and time: Monday, 30 July at 11.30 am

Venue: IEOR seminar room

Abstract: The latest wave of information-related science and technology is in the area of data science and analytics. The US NSF has established “Harnessing the Data Revolution” as one of its strategic thrusts, and it is prominently featured in the S&T plans of numerous defense and research agencies. Degrees are being offered, buildings are being built, and institutions are dedicating permanent commitments to the topic. However, some of the methods involved are still emerging, and many of the applications are still speculative. Like some technological “revolutions” of the past, researchers and adopters alike should pause to take a critical look at what is the real potential of emerging data science and analytics, and what might be hype.

In this talk, we will see the extent to which investments in data science are being made and the advances that are being realized, but also the fallacies and alternatives that we need to be aware of. We will also briefly discuss what potential there might be for additional research related to Air Force applications.

Bio: Dr. John Bay is currently the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at the Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science at Binghamton University. This represents one full circle of a career that started in academia, at Virginia Tech, in 1988. In 1999, he moved into the military/industrial world as an Engineering Fellow for Strategic Systems at Raytheon. From 2001 to 2005, he was a Program Manager at the DARPA offices of Information Technology and Information Exploitation. From 2005 to 2009 he was Chief Scientist at the AFRL Information Directorate in Rome. Then, after leading some cybersecurity, consulting, and public service businesses, he re-settled into academia in 2016 where he remains … so far.

Dr. Bay is a Fellow of the IEEE for his contributions to embedded systems, winner of an IEEE Technical Achievement Award, the C. Holmes MacDonald Award for his teaching career, and a Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service.

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