Data Science and Physics: A Curious Case of the Ouroboros

See our very own associate dean for academic affairs, Dr. P. Neel Guptasarma, present “Data Science and Physics: A Curious Case of the Ouroboros” as part of the NMDSI (Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute) speaker series on Friday, April 7.

Early on, physicists and astronomers figured out that applying mathematical and statistical methods to large data sets can reveal deep insight not otherwise accessible to the five senses, or to human intuition. Initial developments in data science and data analytics outgrew these techniques developed by physicists to make sense of “big data” from accelerators, observatories, and labs.

Despite such a founding relationship with data science, the emergence of information science, predictive analytics, and neural networks found physicists holding courtside seats, but not jumping all-in. This has shifted significantly over the past decade. The presentation will explore this ouroboros type relationship between physics and modern data science – why physicists didn’t initially jump in, and what has recently changed.

About Dr. Guptasarma

Dr. Guptasarma’s research has resulted in over 135 peer-reviewed publications, including in very high-impact journals, over 90 invited lectures in different countries, and several million dollars in federal funding. The research lab he directs at the Kenwood Interdisciplinary Research Complex (KIRC) on UWM’s main campus hosts scientists, Ph.D. candidates, and undergraduates. Dr. Guptasarma loves to teach at all levels. Outside of work, his interests include learning new languages, music, and theater.