Computational and data analytics capability in Western Australia will be boosted by the establishment of the Curtin Institute for Data Science (CIDS).
The CIDS builds on the major investments made by Curtin and its partners in the mega-science Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project and the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre, and will ensure that the growing computation and data analytics capability being built in WA is effectively deployed.
Professor Brett Kirk, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Development said the CIDS would focus on building research capability across discipline areas, engaging with industry on practical applications and on developing new computation and data analytics capacity for the future.
“The CIDS will bring a multidisciplinary and outcomes focused capability to industry based problems at a scale unprecedented in Western Australia,” Professor Kirk said.
“With all four faculties of the University contributing to the Institute, the CIDS will ensure translation of knowledge across multiple research domains and stronger industry engagement.”
The CIDS will be led by the inaugural Director, computational chemist, Professor Andrew Rohl who was instrumental in establishing the Pawsey Centre as a world leading supercomputing centre through his leadership of the iVEC unincorporated joint venture of the four WA universities and CSIRO.
Professor Rohl said he was excited about the opportunity that the CIDS would provide to better harness computational resources both in WA and internationally.
“We are entering a new horizon where large and complex data sets are providing new challenges and exciting opportunities for those who can harness the analytical and computational resources available,” Professor Rohl said.
“Not only will Curtin’s full multidisciplinary skills be made available to solve unique theoretical and applied problems, but we also have the opportunity to build tomorrow’s research workforce.”
The Curtin Institute for Data Science (CIDS) draws on over 80 researchers from across Curtin and will have core programs in big data analytics, modelling and optimisation, simulation, visualisation and education, and will provide uptake services for researchers. It will also provide capability for the recently announced Cisco Internet of Everything Innovation Centre – Australia.
For further information, please visit the website http://computation.curtin.edu.au.
