DOST-ASTI’s DATOS Project holds 2nd Data Brew, partners w/ SGV
Makati City, Ph -- The Remote Sensing and Data Science (DATOS) Help Desk, in partnership with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV) & Co., Philippines organized the second installment of Data Science Kapihan (nicknamed Data Brew) last 14 February 2019 at the SGV Development Center.
Recognizing the importance of engaging a larger data science community to exchange information towards a better understanding of industry trends and needs, DOST-Advanced Science and Technology through the DATOS Project is organizing Data Brew series to cater to the players in the country’s data science community.
Data Brew: DOST-ASTI Data Science Kapihan is a discussion forum that brings together stakeholders in the data science community. The idea is to foster knowledge- and expertise-sharing on how data science affects our various industries and visions of its future in the Philippines—all over a cup of coffee (or more).
For this second iteration of Data Brew, DOST-ASTI partnered with SGV & Co., who brought their own pool of clients to the event. Attended by almost 200 participants from different sectors, Data Brew 2 met its goal of engaging the lay public and scientific researchers in the roles of data science in the country.
Ms. Stephanie Sy, the Lead Data Scientist and Chief Executive Officer of Thinking Machines Data Science, was the keynote speaker for the event. In her speech, she encouraged the data science community to engage in a positive and open ecosystem through mentoring and assisting similar scientists around the world -- as “scientists are the superheroes of the fourth industrial revolution”.
In the data science community, your success is my success.
Mr. Carlo Kristle Dimarucut, Senior Director of SGV also gave a speech that focused on the Data Privacy Issues in the Philippines. He emphasized that personal information is now a “personal asset” and [it should be] treated as such. He aptly discussed the risks that come with security controls and other relevant information on security initiatives.
The Data Brew was also divided into four parts that included three (3) panels consisting of five (5) members each, and a set of lightning talks.
The first panel discussed the Challenges in Making Data Science Mainstream. The panelists talked about multidisciplinary aspects of Data Science and the availability and access of data. They encouraged that data scientists should train students, find partners, and encourage people and show them the possibilities and opportunities that data science can bring.
The second panel delved deeper into the Big Data in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and how the public can take advantage of it. Dr. Jay Sabido of Stratpoint Technologies, incidentally the former Director of DOST-ASTI, briefly discussed the assimilation of technology into the fabric of the enterprise. He talked about creating new products and services that drive more revenue.
The panel also addressed the long-standing problem of organizations and their decision-makers. It was presented that they need to ensure that technology solutions should address the necessary and specific gaps within organizations in the business sector, such as the use of machine learning to detect money laundering.
The third panel talked about the Spatial Applications of Data Science. Among the invited speakers were representatives of OpenSteetMap Philippines, Cropital, UP Diliman’s School of Urban and Regional Planning, and DOST-ASTI’s PEDRO and DATOS teams.
The panel discussion revolved around how the speakers’ organizations use geospatial data combined with data science in their respective fields.
Data Brew also catered to individuals and practitioners who wanted to share their data science initiatives. The so-called lightning talks were on diverse topics where speakers were given 3-5 minutes to talk about the application of data science in Agriculture, Digital Economy, Shelf Retail Analytics using Machine Vision, Mining of Tweets, Generative Designs, Numerical Weather Prediction, Hedging Program, PM 2.5 Modelling, and even Australian Awards.
The event also served as an avenue for DOST-ASTI to showcase its own relevant projects that use tools for data science (i.e., Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, among others), as well as its available scientific facilities and services.
About the DATOS Project:
The Remote Sensing and Data Science Help Desk (DATOS Project) is a Research and Development Project under the DOST's Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI). DATOS takes advantage of the advancement in computing and space technologies and applies it to mapping and Disaster applications.