How can big data change people’s lives? In what ways will it disrupt the world? The University of Sydney (UOS) brought a high profile and interdisciplinary team to Shanghai last night and held a seminar on Future Proofing Your Career in a Data Driven World.

Trevor Hambley, Dean of Science of UOS, chairs the event and stresses the importance of STEM.

At the event, Trevor Hambley, Dean of Science of UOS, together with a panel of experts from the Centre for Translational Data Science, School of IT and School of Physics, discussed the impact of digital disruption on the future workforce, the importance of studying data science and its multiple applications across all sectors through integration with geology, life sciences, social science, astronomy and genomics. Associate Prof. Uwe Roehm, also a Master of Data Science, gave a vivid example of urban planning thanks to the application of data integration: Analysis on a city’s Walkability Score can help 3rd-party apps provide citizens with a more walkable and convenient living environment.

Associate Prof. Uwe Roehm, School of IT of UOS, introduces data science’s application in urban planning.

After that, Prof. Trevor Hambley added data scientists require more than skills in only one discipline. Instead, they have to master interdisciplinary skills to integrate all different fields together. At the end of the event, the panel answered several questions raised by the audience. When asked by a parent about how a high school student should prepare for a data science career, Prof. Sally Cripps from the Centre for Translational Data Science said, “Keep an open mind and be curious.”

Prof. Sally Cripps from the Centre for Translational Data Science talks about data science’s application in medical care.

Prof. Geraint Lewis from the School of Physics introduces the Sydney Informatics Hub at UOS.

In the 21st century, the application of data and algorithm in agriculture, medical care, transportation and urban governance has been beyond expectation. Huge technological advances have created a world driven by data, and that is also why data science has been named “the sexiest job of the 21st century” by a Harvard Business Review report. It’s worth noting that the University of Sydney has established degrees in Data Science at the undergraduate, postgraduate coursework and research levels, as a world leader in this space. The aim of the seminar was to introduce to Chinese students the university’s degrees which include data science.

Also notable is that among the audience of the event, there were some workers from various industries, except for high school students and parents. One of them even quit her job to pursue STEM studies at UOS. It follows that in today’s data-dominated world, data science has been increasingly attractive.

　　21世纪最有吸引力的工作是什么？悉尼大学专家告诉你

　　大数据能给人们的生活带来什么？又将怎样颠覆我们所熟悉的世界？3月22日晚，来自悉尼大学的高级别跨学科团队来到上海，围绕Future Proofing Your Career in a Data Driven World (“数据驱动的世界：如何适应未来职业趋势”)这一主题，举办了一场专题讨论会。

图片说明：悉尼大学理学院院长Trevor Hambley主持会议，并讲述STEM学科的重要性

　　在会上，悉尼大学理学院院长Trevor Hambley联合悉尼大学转化数据科学中心、信息技术学院和物理学院的专家讨论了数字化颠覆对未来劳动力的冲击和学习数据科学的重要性，并结合生动的案例讲述了数据科学与地质学、生命科学、社会科学、天文学和基因组学融合之后，在各个领域的多重应用。其中，信息技术学院数据科学硕士兼副教授Uwe Roehm以数据集成后得出的城市步行指数为例，描绘了一个令人向往的城市生活图景：经过对城市步行指数（Walkability Score）的分析，第三方应用程序可以帮助人们选择更加步行友好、周边设施便利的居住环境。

图片说明：悉尼大学信息技术学院副教授Uwe Roehm向观众介绍数据科学在城市规划领域的应用

　　专家发言后，Trevor Hambley教授总结道，数据科学家要具备的技能不仅限于某一门学科，而是跨学科的技能，必须做到不同领域的融会贯通。随后，针对观众提出的问题，各位专家也给出了专业的解答。在回答一位家长关于高中生如何为未来投身数据科学领域做准备的问题时，悉尼大学转化数据科学中心教授Sally Cripps回答道：“保持开放的心态，并拥有一颗好奇心。”

图片说明：悉尼大学转化数据科学中心教授Sally Cripps讲述数据科学在医疗领域的应用

图片说明：悉尼大学物理学院教授Geraint Lewis向观众介绍悉尼大学的信息学中心

　　进入21世纪，数据和算法在农业、医疗、交通、城市治理等领域的应用早已超出我们的预期，科技进步正在创造一个数据驱动的世界。正因如此，数据科学被《哈佛商业评论》称为“21世纪最有吸引力的工作”。悉尼大学是数据科学教育领域的领先者，在本科、硕士和高等研究阶段都设有学位。此次举办研讨会，也是旨在向中国的学生推介包括数据科学的学位课程。

　　当晚，记者也注意到，观众中除了高中生和家长，还有来自各行各业的职场人士，甚至有辞职出国学习STEM专业的。可见，在“数据为王”的当下，越来越多的人对数据科学产生了浓厚兴趣。