#01 2017
Foreword
Features
Outcomes of the 4th Ministerial Meeting of the SKA African partner countries
Roscosmos satellite laser and radio ranging system inaugurated
Pioneering research and data management in Africa
Students complete AVN training
SKA SA participates in Expo 2017 in Kazakhstan
Staff members present at Engineering Meeting
Big Data project launched in Ghana
2017 Jansky Lectureship Awarded to Bernie Fanaroff
AR 1.5 presented to Minister of Science and Technology
Outreach
Career Awareness Day in Mamelodi
SKA SA hosts SA’s 2016 top matriculants
IAU and SKA SA promote science communication
ASSET Mathematics and Science Holiday Programme
Profile
Pioneering research and data management in Africa: a dual first
SARAO News #01 2017
The first Big Data Africa Summer School on the African continent was held in Cape Town from 2-12 April 2017.
This unique initiative, also the first partnership between the Square Kilometre Array South Africa (SKA SA) and the Medical Research Council (SAMRC), exposed students from various academic backgrounds to the fundamentals of big data research by applying their knowledge to practical areas in astronomy, bioinformatics and health sciences; and the transfer of knowledge in the area of data science that builds on a multi-disciplinary approach.
“The challenge of managing big data sets is going to become increasingly important as we move into the age of omic and personalised medicine,” says Dr Richard Gordon, Executive Director of the SAMRC Grants Innovation and Product Development unit.
“We consider the big data summer school as equipping African scientists with technologies that will place them at the forefront of research and data management.”
The proliferation of data across various sectors increases the demand for individuals, in South Africa and globally, who can manipulate, analyse and visualise complex data systems. The school is poised to contribute to creating critical data science skills in all areas of science research and aims to find solutions to the next data challenges facing all research disciplines.
“South Africa can and should play a leading role in the global big data economy, and can and should be a world-leading centre for research and machine learning and cognitive computing. At SKA SA we believe that the key to becoming a world leader in big data and cognitive computing is to train our best young people in these areas,” says Dr Rob Adam, SKA SA Managing Director.
To place the data challenges of the ground-breaking radio telescope in context, it is predicted that data collected by the SKA in a single day would take nearly two million years to play back on an iPod.
The SAMRC featured its precision medicine programme as part of the curriculum. This progressive programme aims to build innovative tools and capabilities to create a precision medicine environment.
“Precision medicine affords us the skill and ability to analyse data across broad spectrums to enhance our understanding of patient health and well-being,” says President and CEO of the SAMRC, Professor Glenda Gray. “The accuracy associated with this new approach to prognosis will benefit the South African health care system as it has the potential to expedite health care service delivery,” Gray concluded.
The Summer School brings to life the reality of a data-driven society that is able to better plan and use its resources through effective and accurate data modelling. Exploring new innovative ways of data modelling will give new insights into challenges that society currently faces. The Summer School targeted undergraduate and Master’s degree students who are at an early stage of their research careers. The knowledge and skills acquired will propel their careers as early career researchers.
Katlego Sehemo (21), a final year BSc Data Science student at the Sol Plaatje University, has attended the Big Data Africa events hosted by SKA SA since its inception. He attended both Big Data Careers Day events held by SKA SA in Cape Town 2015 and Kimberley in 2016.
“The Big Data Summer School was really a great experience as it was my first time attending something like this, it was informative and challenging, and a really big learning moment for me. I learned the true meaning of teamwork and the accomplishment that comes with it,” he says. “It was really a great privilege to attend such a mind blowing event.”
Edward Roman, British Consul General, Dr Rob Adam, SKA SA Managing Director; and Professor Richard Gordon, SAMRC Executive Director, at the Big Data Africa Summer School welcome event held in Cape Town on Sunday, 2 April 2017.
Last Updated on September 7, 2017
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