To celebrate Newcastle University’s world-renowned computing and mathematics expertise, the University is joining the Alan Turing Institute.
The Alan Turing Institute, founded in 2015 and based at the British Library, is the UK’s national institute for data science, which focuses on multi-disciplinary mathematics, statistics, computing and engineering research from a network of universities, industry partners and government associates. The Institute aims to use data science research advances to innovate at a sustainable rate. The group is named after Alan Turing, who was a key early contributor to the development of data science as a subject area.
"This development reinforces Newcastle University’s status as a world-leading institution in the field of data science following numerous recent developments."
Alan Wilson, CEO of the Alan Turing Institute, said that, “We are delighted to be in discussions with [Newcastle and four other universities] about joining the Institute network.”
Professor Brian Walker, PVC Research Strategy and Resources at Newcastle University, described how “This is a special chance for leading universities to join forces across the UK, creating a critical mass of expertise, experience and energy to support the Turing’s influential data science research.”
Joining the Institute allows the University to utilise its assets in the field, including expertise, financial assets and technology, to work alongside other organisations to support the Institute’s data science research.
Current estimates suggest that Newcastle University will be working in collaborative research alongside the Institute from early 2018, which Alan Wilson says “will enable the UK to undertake the most ambitious, impactful research possible.”
This development reinforces Newcastle University’s status as a world-leading institution in the field of data science following numerous recent developments. In August, the University’s £58m Urban Sciences Building official opened its doors, whilst in November it was ranked as a top university world-wide for its renowned computing science faculty.
The University has also been awarded the UK’s National Innovation Centre for Data and the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Cloud Computing for Big Data, worth a collective £35m.
Professor Paul Watson, Director of Newcastle University’s Digital Institute, spoke of the global influence of data science developments.
“Extracting value from the vast quantities of data now being collected in all areas of society and industry has the potential to transform the economy while improving our health and quality of life: Newcastle University is at the heart of world-wide efforts to achieve this.”