WORKSHOP ON THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF BIG DATA ANALYTICS
Hosted by the Centre for Mathematical and Computational Sciences and the DST/NRF Centre of
Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Sciences at Wits University
07 December 2015 – 11 December 2015
INTRODUCTION
The newly established Centre for Mathematical and Computational Sciences (CMACS) funded by the
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg and the DST/NRF Centre for Mathematical and
Statistical Sciences (CoE-MaSS), hosted by the University of the Witwatersrand, aim to organise
regular workshops under the theme: “New Trends and Future Directions in Mathematics”. One of
the immediate objectives is a focus on the Theoretical (Computational, Mathematical and Statistical)
Foundations of Data Sciences. This is motivated by the heightened awareness and interest in Big Data
Analytics. Reports commissioned by, amongst others, the Board of Mathematical Sciences and their
Applications of the National Research Council have highlighted that data-intensive science will drive
significant and revolutionary advances in the mathematical and statistical sciences over the next two
decades. Simultaneously, mathematical and statistical sciences will a fundamental and leading role in
future developments of the emerging discipline of data sciences.
OBJECTIVES
The main objectives of the workshop are to
1. Highlight some of the basic topics of the mathematical and statistical sciences, normally
introduced at the undergraduate level or even high school mathematics, that form
foundational pillars for further work in data sciences. Examples of these may include matrix
algebra; graph theory and combinatorics; topology; harmonic analysis; statistical inference;
probability; numerical analysis; modelling; simulation; optimisation; etc.
2. Introduce some of the advanced topics that give rise to open problems at the frontiers of
research in the emerging discipline of data sciences which may include dimension reduction;
randomised linear algebra; convex optimisation; persistent homology; stochastic analysis;
Monte Carlo sampling; compressed sensing; network science; etc.
3. Discuss some of the fundamental methodological questions of mathematics, statistics and
computer science and challenges posed by Big Data with applications to finance, molecular
biology, climate change, retail and logistics, energy, telecommunications, social networking;
etc.
The workshop will consist of survey lectures around some of the themes and topics identified above
(and others). There will be a one-day planning mini-workshop which will discuss some of the key topics
that could be covered in a semester-long graduate course on Computational, Mathematical and
Statistical Methodology for Big Data Analysis.
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WHO SHOULD APPLY?
This workshop is open all members of the mathematics and statistics communities in South Africa.
The target audience will be researchers from the mathematical, statistical and computational sciences
who may be interested to learn more about the theoretical underpinnings of the emerging
discipline of Data Sciences and may want to incorporate into their research some aspects of this and
in the process broaden their perspectives of mathematics; postgraduate students who might want to
undertake a doctoral project in this area, and data sciences practitioners from public or private sector.
A typical day will consist of two lectures in the morning, each of 90 minutes duration. Depending on
interest, there will be hands-on workshop on the applications of some of the standard and commonly
used software packages either proprietary by SAS, IBM, SAP, Tableau, or open-source, for example R.
The workshop is funded by the University of the Witwatersrand and the Centre for Mathematical and
Computational Sciences will offer full support to postgraduate students and young academics who
may be interested in attending. A selection process will take place from the applications that are
received as this financial support will be limited to no more than 15 people.
HOW TO APPLY?
If you are interested in attending this workshop, please complete the Application Form on page 3 and
submit it to Ms Precious Shabalala at precious.shabalala@wits.ac.za and copy the CMACS Director,
Professor Loyiso Nongxa loyiso.nongxa@wits.ac.za for consideration by 15 November 2015
APPLICATION FORM
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Please complete all sections of the form. Please delete all answer options that do not apply. Thank you.
Surname
Name(s)
Email
Phone
Research interest
Institution
Faculty
Department
Position
Gender?*
Nationality?*
What is your highest
level qualification?
Do you have an interest
in studying for a higher
degree?
Meals?
Do you require funding
assistance with regard
to travel costs to
Johannesburg?**
Male/Female
Honours-NQF8 / Masters-NQF9 / PhD-NQF10
Yes / No / Not applicable
If yes, if what area/field/topic?
Regular / Vegetarian
Yes / No
If yes, what amount might be required?
(Please attach a quote / screenshot of online prices / etc.)
** Wits can either pay the transport provider directly, or reimburse the delegate’s Institution. Reimbursements into individual’s bank
accounts will not be possible. T&Cs apply. Please enquire further if needed.
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