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Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics
University of California, Los Angeles Data Visualization and its Role in the Practice of Statistics
The Second Annual Undergraduate
[ Printable flyer ]
Mark Hansen (UCLA)
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| Statistics: The Science of Data |
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Today, almost every aspect of our lives is "rendered"
in data. New data collection technologies have made it easy to record
continuous, high-resolution measurements of our physical
environment (weather patterns, seismic events,
the human genome).
We're also constantly monitoring
our movements through and interactions with
our physical surroundings (automobile and air traffic, large-scale
land use, advanced manufacturing facilities).
In computer-mediated settings, our activities either depend
crucially on or consist entirely of complex digital data (networked games,
peer-to-peer technologies, Web site and Internet usage).
As a reflection of the
diversity and variety of the "systems" under study, these data-based
descriptions of our world tend to be massive in size, dynamic in
character, and replete with rich structures. The advent of these
enormous repositories of information presents us with an
interesting challenge: how can we represent and interpret such
complex, abstract and often socially important data?
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| The role of visualization |
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The theme of our Summer Program is visualization and its role
in the practice of statistics. Visualization and statistical graphics are
at the core of
exploratory data analysis, and in turn shape how we think about a particular
application, the models we entertain and the kinds of theory we
propose. Over the course of our seven day program, we will highlight a
number of statistical
applications, and with each we will consider novel approaches to
visualization that help guide our insight about the underlying statistical
questions. Through computer lab sessions that draw on each day's application,
students will receive
a basic introduction to statistical computing, providing them with
the skills to perform simple data manipulations, conduct exploratory analyses
and create informative visualizations.
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| The program |
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The seven day workshop is designed so that students get a sense of how statisticians approach large, complex problems. Several different topics will be presented over the course of the week. So far, the topics include
Importantly, students will also get a chance to work with
some of the data. In the process, students will gain a basic
understaning of computing and visualization tools.
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| Join us! |
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Students will receive a grant to cover their travel expenses to attend the workshop as well as full room and board at the Doubletree Hotel in Westwood. Meetings will take place in the Mathematical Sciences Building on the UCLA Campus. Our short proram is geared toward undergraduates who are sophomores or juniors in the 2005-2006 academic year. They are expected to have some basic quantitative skills, including a background in calculus. A beginning course in probability and/or statistics would be helpful, but is not required. Quantitatively-inclined undergraduates majoring in engineering, computer science, physics, biology, mathematics, statistics and the behavioral or social sciences are all encouraged to apply. Given space constraints, we can admit only 25 students. Completed application forms are due April 21, 2006 and should include the following:
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