Data in the Era of Algorithms: Looking Beyond the Obvious

Abstract

We live in an era of algorithms. Our digital footprints let algorithms decide which doors will open for us, both literally and figuratively. The techniques and tools to gather, process, analyse, and utilize data in large volumes and from diverse sources have developed with breathtaking speed in the recent past. Machines now learn mostly on their own, and can increasingly support and replace humans in many activities conventionally considered to be beyond machines. Engines of that learning are essentially fueled by data. The ubiquity of data and the fact that all of us are a party – consciously or unconsciously – to its near continuous generation and transmission makes it unique. Data can both a medium and commodity at the same time. While data science has come to be recognized as a distinct discipline, it represents a confluence of humanities, social sciences, law, statistics, computing, and specific domain expertise. This seminar will emphasize how algorithms, machine learning, and data science combine in our increasingly data-driven world, by discussing real-world applications from multiple domains. Additionally, the seminar will highlight the benefits and challenges of such inter-disciplinary combination, and identify key skills for aspiring data scientists and machine learning engineers.

Speaker’s Profile

Subhajit Datta has over 25 years of experience in software engineering practice, research, and teaching in industry and academia in the United States of America, Singapore, and India. He has led cross-functional software engineering teams in the design and development of large-scale software systems for enterprise customers. Subhajit has a passion for teaching and has delivered many courses for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as working professionals in the conventional classrooms, online and hybrid learning modes. Subhajit is the author of the books Software Engineering: Concepts and Applications (Oxford University Press, 2010) and Metrics-Driven Enterprise Software Development (J.Ross Publishing, 2007) which are widely used by practitioners and students in multiple countries. His forthcoming book Making Sense of Data (World Scientific, 2025) explores opportunities and challenges of an increasingly data-driven world. Subhajit’s has many research publications in frontline venues. Subhajit has a Ph.D. and an M.S. in computer science from the Florida State University, United States of America, and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Jadavpur University, India.