On September 20, the Faculty of Mathematics hosted the Math + X Inter-Faculty Research Workshop. More than 40 researchers from all six Waterloo faculties gathered to discuss the theme of “Data + Computation for the 5 Global Futures” and explore how they could collaborate to harness the power of data in their respective fields.
The workshop opened with an address from President Vivek Goel, who emphasized both the pressing nature of the problems facing the globe as well as Waterloo’s resources for helping to solve them. He emphasized the importance of data analysis to research, noting that “My own work has always been at the intersection of data science, public health, and health research.”
Complementing this message, Mark Giesbrecht, dean of the Faculty of Mathematics, riffed on the mathematical concept of the Erdős number, as well as the game “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.” “Collaboration is essential to the mathematical endeavor,” he emphasized, noting that interdisciplinary projects such as this workshop are “allowing us to step beyond the constraints of our areas.”
Hans De Sterck introduces the morning's speakers
After these welcomes, attendees enjoyed two blocks of ten-minute presentations from researchers across the university. These presentations covered current and potential applications of data and computation to subjects as diverse as climate science, geriatric care, and performance art. The workshop also provided information on the new provost-funded Interdisciplinary Master's Fellowship in Computation and Data (i-Comp-Data), which promotes cross-Faculty co-supervision of master's students.
Finally, attendees gathered for lunch and a panel discussion with several authorities on data science: Bernie Duncker (associate vice-president, research and international), Mu Zhu (director of Data Science graduate programs for Math), Amanda Green (senior advisor at Mitacs) and Helen Chen (professor of practice, School of Public Health Sciences).
Hans De Sterck, chair of the Department of Applied Mathematics, was one of the organizers of the event, alongside Applied Math professor Anita Layton. “The workshop demonstrated the important role data and computation can play in a variety of research questions that aim to help shape a better future for humanity and the planet,” he says. “There is great potential for Math + X research collaboration across the UWaterloo campus.”
You can learn more about the interdisciplinary data research already happening at Waterloo on the Computational Mathematics website and on the Data Science website.