Steampunk Data Science

Abstract: How did scientists make sense of data before statistics and computing? This talk will explore this question by focusing on the discovery of vitamins, which occurred in the early 20th century just before the advent of modern statistical methodology. I will describe the varied practices in experimentation and reporting and highlight the sorts of insights required to uncover what “works.” Through this discussion, I will draw connections to contemporary data science tools to illustrate their pros and cons in facilitating discovery.

Bio: Benjamin Recht is a Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley. His research has focused on applying mathematical optimization and statistics to problems in data analysis and machine learning. He is currently studying histories, methods, and theories of scientific validity and experimental design.