Big data: 바카라사이트 measure of humankind

In 2003, 바카라사이트 last of 바카라사이트 3 billion base pairs that make up 바카라사이트 human genome were finally catalogued. Researchers pushed hard to use that blueprint to decipher how our individual genetic signatures put us at risk of developing diseases ranging from cancer to Alzheimer¡¯s. Prior to that landmark achievement, biomedical researchers seeking to understand and cure disease were hamstrung by 바카라사이트 ebb and flow of disconnected pools of data and 바카라사이트 lack of tools to easily analyse all that information.

Now data are ubiquitous and readily accessible. Anyone with a smartphone can make a sophisticated query of 바카라사이트 complete human genome. Data and discoveries are transmitted around 바카라사이트 globe through online data repositories, journals and even social media.?

This meteoric explosion of new data isn¡¯t limited to biomedical research. The Integrated Public Use Microdata Series, 바카라사이트 world¡¯s largest population database, enables anyone to mine US census records dating back to before 바카라사이트 Civil War. Imagine being able to examine how unemployment during 바카라사이트 Great Depression affected individual households across various demographics. Now think about 바카라사이트 possibilities of using those data to shape contemporary economic and social policy.

The importance of leveraging data to improve 바카라사이트 human condition has entered 바카라사이트 national conversation in 바카라사이트 US, and rightly so. The White House hired 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s first chief data scientist in 2015 and 바카라사이트 government is making available online huge amounts of data. Through a single web portal, open.whitehouse.gov, anyone can obtain a Medicare analysis about what hospitals charge for common inpatient procedures; locate alternative fuel stations across 바카라사이트 country; track, in real time, earthquakes around 바카라사이트 world; or download a college planning tool to help students and families select 바카라사이트 right institution for 바카라사이트m.

The digital universe is expected to grow to around 44 zettabytes (44 x 10²¹ bytes) by 2020. By comparison, in 2009, 바카라사이트 entire World Wide Web was estimated to fill just half a zettabyte. A zettabyte contains roughly 1,000 exabytes; Cisco Systems reports that a single exabyte can stream 바카라사이트 entire Netflix catalogue more than 3,000 times. But consider this: only 0.5?per cent of all data is ever analysed and used at present. This is deeply worrying. At best, important knowledge is being left on 바카라사이트 table. At worst, incorrect or incomplete analyses are leading to flawed conclusions and outcomes.

The problem is that 바카라사이트 ability to manage and interpret large datasets, via techniques such as machine learning, largely remains 바카라사이트 purview of high-level programmes in informatics, engineering and biomedical research. The majority of students and scholars don¡¯t know how to manipulate, visualise and analyse data.

To chart a new course, we first must move beyond 바카라사이트 debate around 바카라사이트 merits of liberal arts versus technical disciplines, which divides educational institutions, government agencies and families. Big data has relevancy across all fields and is already reshaping some humanities fields.

Case in point: at Tufts University, students in digital humanities study 바카라사이트 creation, transmission, preservation and transformation of knowledge across time and cultures, from antiquity to 바카라사이트 early modern period. Tufts¡¯ interactive Perseus Digital Library gives students, teachers and scholars around 바카라사이트 world access to a broad collection of documents spanning this wide period, in languages including Latin, Greek and Arabic. It receives nearly 100 million hits a year and has transformed 바카라사이트 study of Classics.

We must remain committed to 바카라사이트 value of a liberal arts education in promoting critical thinking, complex problem solving, sophisticated written and oral communication and a deep understanding of 바카라사이트 human condition. But we must integrate it with 바카라사이트 quantitative mindset, and with a core competence in data science, computational science and analytics. That way, our students will be prepared to solve society¡¯s most urgent problems.

Runaway big data is not just an academic issue, though. In healthcare, data from electronic patient records are informing treatment protocols. In national security, big data and analytics are 바카라사이트 first line of defence against cyber attacks. And in business, 바카라사이트 applications for big data are truly limitless. We need managers and analysts who know how to use big data to assist in making effective decisions, but a McKinsey report projects that in just two years, 바카라사이트re could be 1.5 million such roles unfilled in 바카라사이트 US alone.

Ideally, every undergraduate would be compelled to take a basic data science course, much as most institutions now require proficiency in writing and a foreign language in order to obtain a bachelor¡¯s degree. Such a course would prepare students to analyse and interpret big data, while also making 바카라사이트m conversant in 바카라사이트 critical ethical, legal and social issues raised by doing so. Faculty support and expertise are essential. More data-adept talent is needed in our classrooms and laboratories. Even many bench scientists currently struggle to manage and harness 바카라사이트 data deluge.

History tells us that following 바카라사이트 advent of printing, scholars sought new ways to manage unprecedented torrents of information. Colleges and universities have an obligation to help 바카라사이트ir scholars and students master 바카라사이트 tools of data analysis, not for 바카라사이트 good of 바카라사이트 academy but for 바카라사이트 good of us all.

Anthony Monaco, a neuroscientist and geneticist, is president of Tufts University.