Te Herenga Waka hosts innovative NZ Data Science workshop
Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington hosted the first workshop on the eight Data Science programmes funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment’s (MBIE) Strategic Science Investment Fund and Catalyst fund.
Due to COVID restrictions, this event was held virtually on 19 November 2021. The workshop provided the opportunity to hear from programme leaders and key members on the data science programmes funded by MBIE. These programmes enable an active partnership between government and research organisations to deliver government science priorities.
Workshop attendees included those from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, MBIE, The University of Auckland, University of Waikato, Māori Television, Massey University, Landcare Research, Cawthron Institute, University of Otago, Plant and Food Research, Auckland University of Technology, University of Canterbury, Scion, Beca, MetService, Dragonfly Data Science, MetOcean Solutions.
The event was opened by Te Herenga Waka’s Kaiārahi Rangahou Māori Terence Hikawai; Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Science, Health Engineering, Architecutre and Design Innovation Professor David Harper; and MBIE’s Principal Investment Manager Catherine Hunter. During the opening, Professor Harper announced that Wellington’s University is planning to establish an Institute of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.
Eight programme leaders presented in the morning session to discuss their major progress, key members, achievements, and challenges, followed by a question and answering session.
The first topic for discussion was about the experience and challenges in recruiting postdoctoral and postgraduate students, and researcher skill development.
Mātauranga was a key topic at the workshop, including how to work toward a better understanding of mātauranga Māori principles in the science system, build long term relationships and goals, and provide all researchers with training.
Other topics included discussion of opportunities for cooperating and collaborating with different partners, an update from Catherine Hunter on the mid-term review of the Strategic Science Investment Fund programmes, and a discussion led by the University of Waikato’s Professor Albert Bifet on the White Paper ‘Aotearoa New Zealand Artifical Intelligence – A Strategic Approach’.
“New Zealand AI and machine learning is very well known overseas, however New Zealanders do not understand this. We are strong in research, we have huge potential, and researchers are keen to collaborate and deliver impact,” says Professor Bifet.
Key workshop organiser Professor Mengjie Zhang from Te Herenga Waka said the workshop was a success in bringing people around the country together to discuss and share information about their programmes.
"It is important for all people who are carrying out research in data science, AI and machine learning in New Zealand to come together so we can understand what others are doing and work together to find ways to help the country’s primary industries, addess climate change, and explore high-tech and high-value manufacturing, biomedical and health applications,” says Professor Zhang.
“We are very happy to have worked together with MBIE and all eight MBIE Strategic Science Investment Fund and Catalyst programmes to make this workshop happen. It has allowed us all to share our achievements and common challenges, and move forward together to enhance our economic, environmental, health, medical and social impact. We will continue to work with MBIE, the AI Research Association, and the AI Forum to achieve this goal.”
“This workshop worked as well as we could of hoped for—some people even said it was better than face to face. I look forward to the 2022 event hosted by The University of Waikato,” says Catherine Hunter.