The second installment of the Data Science Kapihan or Data Brew was held recently in recognition of the significance of engaging a larger data science community.
Having these installments, while drinking a cup of coffee, allow for the exchange of information towards a better understanding of the industry trends and needs.
As reported, the Department of Science and Technology-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI), through the DATOS Project, is organising the Data Brew series to cater to the players in the country’s data science community.
What is Data Brew?
For this installment, the Agency partnered with a multidisciplinary professional services firm, which brought their own pool of clients.
It brought together stakeholders in the data science community, reaching almost 200 participants.
The event aims to foster knowledge and share expertise on how data science affects their various industries, over a cup of coffee.
It also discussed the visions of the data science future in the Philippines.
The keynote speaker is the Lead Data Scientist and Chief Executive Officer of a data science consulting company.
She encouraged the data science community to engage in a positive and open ecosystem through mentoring and assisting similar scientists around the world.
The speech given by the company’s Senior Director focused on the Data Privacy Issues in the Philippines, highlighting on personal information as being a “personal asset” and should be treated as such.
Risks that come with security controls and other relevant information on security initiatives were also discussed.
The Data Brew was divided into four parts. The first three parts were panel discussions led by five members each. The last part was allotted for a set of lightning talks.
The Panel Discussions
The first panel discussed the Challenges in Making Data Science Mainstream.
It delved on the multidisciplinary aspects of Data Science and the availability and access of data.
According to the panelists, data scientists should train students, find partners, encourage people and show them the possibilities and opportunities that data science can bring.
The second panel examined Big Data in the Fourth Industrial Revolution deeper and how the public can take advantage of it.
The panel also addressed the long-standing problem of organisations and their decision-makers.
They said that decision-makers need to guarantee that their technology solutions would address the necessary and specific gaps within organisations in the business sector.
Machine learning, for instance, is a technology solution that can be used to detect money laundering.
The third panel discussed the Spatial Applications of Data Science.
The speakers shared how their organisations make use of geospatial data, combined with data science, in their respective fields.
Lightning Talks
Aside from stakeholders from the data science community, Data Brew also catered to individuals and practitioners who wanted to disclose their data science initiatives.
The lightning talks segment was on a diverse range of topics, wherein speakers were given 3-5 minutes to talk about how data science can be used in different sectors.
The different sectors include Agriculture, Digital Economy, Numerical Weather Prediction, and even Australian Awards, to name a few.
DOST-ASTI projects
The Agency also used the event to showcase its own relevant projects.
The projects they shared are those that make use of tools such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and deep learning, among others.
Moreover, the Agency’s available scientific facilities and services were discussed.
OpenGov Asia earlier reported on how DATOS Project utilises data science techniques for geospatial outputs.
DATOS project applies AI, machine learning, and other data science techniques to remotely sensed data.
It also uses Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) to produce geospatial outputs that can be used for disasters, agriculture and other purposes.