Big Data’ CDTs Kick off in Cardiff
LIVDAT is one of eight new CDTs created as part of a £10m investment by the STFC, training over a hundred PhD students at nineteen universities across the UK. Research at the LIVDAT CDT is structured across three themes: Monte Carlo and Model Definition; Deep Learning and HPC; and Data Analysis. Quasar projects include “Physics and Biology of Proton Beam Therapy” and “Development of Enhanced Models of Plasma-Beam Interaction”.
A kick-off event took place in Cardiff on the 25-27 October 2017 bringing together students from the eight CDTs, including members of the Quasar group, for a three-day training event.
Workshops covered Python programming (presented by UoL Senior Lecturer and LIVDAT deputy director David Hutchcroft), advanced computing and data analysis skills, code profiling and optimisation, Data Science and Machine Learning in E-Commerce and Retail. There were also sessions on science communication, outreach and engagement and careers. Fellows were able to attend the workshops most relevant to their research project.
Evening sessions consisted of receptions, poster sessions and a formal dinner on the Thursday.
The Quasars clearly enjoyed their time at a packed event and wished they could have had more time to explore the city of Cardiff itself.