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The Birth of a New Era in Data Science: The University of California, San Diego’s School of Computing, Information, and Data Sciences (SCIDS)
The University of California, San Diego’s (UCSD) new School of Computing, Information, and Data Sciences (SCIDS) is making waves in the world of data science. With the merger of the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) and the Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute (HDSI), SCIDS is poised to become a leader in the field of data science and artificial intelligence (AI).
Researching the Unresearched
According to Rajesh Gupta, the interim dean of SCIDS and a distinguished professor of computer science and engineering at the university, the school is committed to researching topics that are not yet in textbooks, such as AI and generative AI. "AI and generative AI fall into that category, where the most recent advances are maybe six months old," he said. "Attention [i.e. the ‘Attention Is All You Need’ paper] is two or three years old, Transformers a bit more, CNNs a bit older, but reborn."
Staying Ahead of the Curve
Gupta emphasized the importance of staying ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving field of data science. "The people who are advancing the state-of-the-art in AI and GenAI aren’t in the university. Some don’t even have college degrees," he said. "I have been a professor for 30 years. We are constantly keeping in touch with what’s going on. But if you talk to me about the latest cloud stack or the GenAI stack, or a blockchain with authentication built in or KYC [know your customer] built in and so on – that’s not in any university."
Collaboration is Key
Frank Würthwein, the director of the SDSC and a professor at HDSI, believes that collaboration is key to staying ahead of the curve. "The SDSC was founded about 40 years ago. Throughout this 40-year history, we’ve become and have always been excellent in translating computational science, data science into practical applications. We’re fairly agnostic about the domain. We’re very, very broad across… all domains."
The Future of Data Science
Würthwein believes that the merger of SDSC and HDSI is timely, as the potential for translational science has never been higher. "Just give you one example, the total volume of money spent by the Gates Foundation is roughly the same, within 10% or so, of the National Science Foundation," he said. "That’s a staggering number."
Conclusion
The University of California, San Diego’s School of Computing, Information, and Data Sciences (SCIDS) is poised to become a leader in the field of data science and artificial intelligence. With its commitment to researching topics that are not yet in textbooks, staying ahead of the curve, and embracing collaboration, SCIDS is well-positioned to make a significant impact in the field.
FAQs
Q: What is the University of California, San Diego’s School of Computing, Information, and Data Sciences (SCIDS)?
A: SCIDS is a new school at the University of California, San Diego, formed by the merger of the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) and the Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute (HDSI).
Q: What is the focus of SCIDS?
A: SCIDS is focused on researching and applying techniques that are not yet in textbooks, such as AI and generative AI.
Q: How does SCIDS stay ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving field of data science?
A: SCIDS stays ahead of the curve by constantly keeping in touch with what’s going on and by collaborating with experts in the field.
Q: What is the role of collaboration in SCIDS?
A: Collaboration is key to staying ahead of the curve, and SCIDS is committed to working with anyone who is seeking solutions to tough challenges.
