The University is constantly looking for innovative ways for our research to make a difference to the wider world.
- Anna Vignoles
The Cambridge Centre for Data-Driven Discovery (C2D3) will harness the knowledge of academics in data science, ethics, and from a wide range of disciplines, to research all aspects of this complex and expanding area.
The Centre will be truly interdisciplinary, allowing experts in technical, mathematical and topic knowledge to work together on tackling the methodological and practical challenges presented by handling big data.
The Centre is to be funded by a series of collaborations with partners in business and industry which have an interest in using big data for the benefit of their customers and their organisations.
The first founding partner is to be Aviva, Britain’s biggest insurer. Aviva will sponsor a research fellowship and support PhD students to help investigate some of the ethical, political and operational questions surrounding the use of big data.
The relationship will combine world-class research with frontline practice. It will help Aviva develop new ethical approaches to advising customers through evidence-based science. It will enable University researchers to develop methods and tools to address real-world problems and to influence the wider debate about how organisations address the difficult methodological, practical and ethical challenges of big data.
Professor Anna Vignoles, co-chair of the Cambridge Centre for Data-Driven Discovery, said: “The University is constantly looking for innovative ways for our research to make a difference to the wider world, as well as opportunities for our students to gain valuable experience of industry.
“Working with Aviva will give our researchers the opportunity to solve some ‘real world’ challenges, ranging from how to securely, ethically, efficiently and effectively store and use their customers’ data and to identify what health interventions are most likely to help their customers live a longer and healthier life.”
Image Bull Dutch National Supercomputer
Credit: Dennis van Zuijlekom
Reproduced courtesy of the University of Cambridge