Jackson State University’s College of Science, Engineering and Technology is forging ahead with its focus on Big Data by welcoming to the campus this spring some of the nation’s brightest minds in research and application.
So, what is Big Data?
It’s a White House priority directing government and the nation to improve society’s technological capabilities by using vast and rich data resources. Such innovation would lead to cures for medical breakthroughs and engineering innovations.
Dr. Thomas A. DeFanti, a research scientist at the Qualcomm Institute in San Diego, Calif., will be the first presenter for JSU’s CSET Big Data Thought Leaders Colloquium Series at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, in the auditorium of the engineering building.
Representing Qualcomm’s telecommunications and information technology division, he will discuss “Big Virtual Reality for Big Data – the Next Wave,” focusing on shaping the future of research with the next generation of high resolution, 3D and high-speed data visualization. With digital cinema, for example, technology will help improve animation and visual arts used by Hollywood.
DeFanti is also a distinguished professor emeritus of computer science at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Dr. Richard A. Aló, dean of JSU’s CSET, said, “The better we learn to manage Big Data the more useful knowledge we create for various industries. We are thrilled that these giants in Big Data are supporting what we do here at JSU.”
In addition, Dr. Gordon Skelton, director of the Computational Data Enabled Science and Engineering (CDS&E) programs at JSU, said, “This strategy of applying Big Data will lead to major societal benefits such as cures for cancer, new engineering designs, advances in cybersecurity and better weather prediction for example.”
Dr. Tor A. Kwembe, professor and chair of the Department of Mathematics and Statistical Science, said, “JSU students and faculty will be exposed to the latest trends and industry leaders. This learning environment complements our expanding efforts around Big Data.”
Other presenters will include:
- Dr. Geoffrey Fox (Feb. 4): professor of computer science, informatics and physics at Indiana University; director of the Community Grids Laboratory of the Pervasive Technology Laboratories; focus areas: Big Data analytics, visualization, Big Data computing grand challenges, MSI outreach
- Nathan Slater (Feb. 25): vice president of Cloud Services/Data Center Solutions at C Spire, software development and project management in IT. He’s a JSU alum of computer science.
- Dr. Maxine Brown (March 10): director of the Electronic Visualization Lab at University of Illinois at Chicago; focus areas: 3D Big Data Visualization and developing new technologies for single camera use
- Dr. Sastry Pantula (March 11): dean of the College of Science at Oregon State University, served as director of the National Science Foundation’s Division of Mathematical Sciences; focus areas: Time Series Analysis and Econometric Modeling, with a broad range of applications
- Dr. Malek Adjouadi (March 31): professor of electrical and computer engineering and biomedical engineering at Florida International University, founding director of Center for Advanced Technology and Education, co-leader of the joint neuro-engineering program between Florida International University and Miami Children’s Hospital; focus area: Vision-based Guidance Systems, Machine Vision Applications, biomedical imaging and diagnostics
- Dr. Falko Kuester (TBA): professor of visualization and virtual reality at the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2) at the University of California, San Diego, director of Calit2 Center of Graphics, Visualization and Virtual Reality (GRAVITY); focus area: big data analytics (integration, volume, visualization, validity, variety and veracity)
- Dr. Larry Smarr (TBA): distinguished professor of physics, founding director of California Institute of Information Technology (Calit2)
focus areas: telecommunications and developer of cyber infrastructure, telemedicine, applications to public health, personalized health management, personalized genomics
To register for the CSET Big Data Thought Leaders Colloquium Series, visit www.jsums.edu/science.