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The\u00a02026\u00a0Big Data Analytics Symposium, hosted by the\u00a0College of Sciences\u2019\u00a0School of Data, Mathematical, and Statistical Sciences (SDMSS), brought together students, faculty, alumni, community\u00a0members\u00a0and industry professionals for a full day of discussion on the growing role of data in real-world decision-making.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Held in the Pegasus Grand Ballroom, the event welcomed hundreds of attendees and highlighted how data analytics is shaping industries ranging from\u00a0transportation systems, aviation\u00a0safety\u00a0and workforce development.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year\u2019s symposium also marked\u00a0the first time the event was hosted under\u00a0the newly established\u00a0school.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
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In opening remarks,\u202fDr. Florencio \u201cEloy\u201d Hernandez, interim director of SDMSS,\u202femphasized the significance of the moment and the school\u2019s broader mission.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSDMSS was officially established last semester but today marks the first time the Big Data Analytics Symposium is being hosted under our new school,\u201d he says. \u201cOur goal is to unify mathematics, statistics and data science while cultivating a community dedicated to solving complex, real-world problems.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Throughout the day,\u00a0sessions highlighted\u00a0how data is actively informing decisions across high-impact sectors, from aviation safety to transportation systems and workforce analytics.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The symposium featured keynote presentations from industry leaders who shared\u00a0insights\u00a0on how data shapes strategy,\u00a0innovation\u00a0and operational decision-making.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Associate Professor of Statistics and Data Science Hsin-Hsiung \u201cBill\u201d Huang presented his research on developing early warning systems using large-scale, global time series data. He explained how his team analyzes sparse, rapidly updating datasets to forecast\u00a0emerging\u00a0events, emphasizing that combining statistical methods with machine learning leads to more reliable and\u00a0accurate\u00a0predictions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
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\u201cWe\u2019re working with global, real-time datasets that are very large, but also sparse and noisy,\u201d he says. “Deep learning models are powerful, but on their own\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0not always reliable when patterns change. By combining them with statistical methods and careful feature selection,\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0able to make more stable predictions and better detect\u00a0important events.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The work, already in use by national agencies,\u00a0demonstrates\u00a0how combining AI with statistical rigor can enhance decision-making in dynamic, global environments.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the afternoon keynote, speaker\u00a0Deep Patel from Robinhood presented \u201cReal-Time at Scale: How Modern Platforms Turn Data Streams into Decisions,\u201d explaining how companies like Netflix and Amazon use real-time data streams to drive rapid, large-scale operational and strategic\u00a0decisions. Extending\u00a0these ideas into scientific discovery,\u00a0Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering Paula do Vale Pereira\u00a0discussed\u00a0the connection between space\u00a0exploration\u00a0and data.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUCF is America\u2019s space university,\u00a0and big part of that mission is using data to help answer some of our biggest questions like whether we\u00a0are not alone in the\u00a0universe,\u201d she says.\u00a0\u201cThrough planetary exploration,\u00a0NASA and other space agencies\u00a0are sending missions to places like\u00a0Jupiter to\u00a0better\u00a0understand the planet and its moons.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
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Examining one of these missions more closely, Vale Pereira, a former visiting research student at NASA, says the Juno mission uses data to\u00a0determine\u00a0when to collect imaging, but researchers are looking for a solution to make this process more efficient.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou want to collect as much data as you can, but you are strapped because you have latency and you have low data rates,\u201d she says.\u00a0\u201cThere is a strong push for spacecraft autonomy, including onboard AI, data analysis, and data reduction on board.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Industry engagement\u00a0remained\u00a0a central focus of the symposium, with professionals sharing how analytics is used in practice across corporate and government settings. These interactions provided students with direct exposure to potential career paths while reinforcing the importance of collaboration between academia and industry.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Career development and evolving pathways in data science were further explored during the Women in Data Science panel, moderated by Director of Advancement for COS, Chelsea Dalager.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur conversation today is about helping students understand not just where data analytics can take them, but how to navigate that journey\u2014because the workforce they\u2019re entering is evolving just as quickly as the technology itself,\u201d\u00a0she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\u00a0panelists included Data Analyst and UCF MSDA-AI student April Beer, Early-Career Data and AI Professional Jania Fernan, Disney Experiences Director of Analytics Alicia Hawkins and Senior Statistical Modeling Analyst for AAA National Janice White McLaughlin.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Together, they reflected on non-linear career journeys, the growing role of AI and data governance, and the increasing importance of communication and trust in analytics. Panelists emphasized that while tools have made generating insights easier, the real value lies in\u00a0validating\u00a0results, understanding data\u00a0quality\u00a0and translating findings into actionable business decisions,\u00a0skills that are critical for students preparing to enter an evolving workforce.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speakers also emphasized that success in data science extends beyond technical skills, highlighting\u00a0the importance of communication, critical\u00a0thinking\u00a0and the ability to translate complex analyses into actionable insights, especially in environments where conditions are constantly changing\u00a0and unpredictable.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n This unpredictability\u00a0is a persistent\u00a0challenge in airport operations,\u00a0where\u00a0flights, passenger\u00a0flow\u00a0and ground\u00a0logistics\u00a0are constantly\u00a0changing.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chief Operating Officer of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA), Theadore \u201cTed\u201d Kitchens,\u00a0explained\u00a0how\u00a0GOAA is\u00a0addressing\u00a0these issues by integrating predicative analytics into its operations.\u00a0Rather than reacting\u00a0to\u00a0disruptions as they happen,\u00a0the\u00a0goal\u00a0is to predict these disturbances\u00a0in advance\u2014leading to fewer delays and stronger coordination across day-to-day operations.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the final keynote, Laura Demeo Chace, president and CEO of ITS America, emphasized the role of digital infrastructure in advancing transportation, highlighting shifts toward more proactive, interoperable systems that support safety,\u00a0mobility and growth.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond the keynote sessions, panel and roundtable discussions, attendees also connected\u00a0with industry professionals from companies\u00a0at\u00a0the forefront of big data analytics such as Lockheed Martin, The Florida Department of Transportation, Mitsubishi Power, Robinhood and ITS America.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n As SDMSS continues to grow, events such as the Big Data Analytics Symposium play a key role in fostering collaboration, advancing\u00a0research\u00a0and preparing the next generation of data-driven professionals.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cToday\u2019s\u00a0conversations reflect the mission of the School of Data, Mathematical, and Statistical Sciences\u2014to advance quantitative sciences through innovative research, rigorous education and collaboration,\u201d Hernandez says. \u201cThe work happening within our school is shaping student success, driving industry innovation, and creating meaningful impact across our communities.\u201d\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Industry leaders,\u00a0researchers\u00a0and students gathered for a day of panels, keynotes and networking exploring how data is shaping decisions across\u00a0transportation, aviation, and workforce\u00a0sectors.\u00a0 Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published:\u00a0April 13,\u00a02026\u00a0 The\u00a02026\u00a0Big Data Analytics Symposium, hosted by the\u00a0College of Sciences\u2019\u00a0School of Data, Mathematical, and Statistical Sciences (SDMSS), brought together students, faculty, alumni, community\u00a0members\u00a0and industry professionals for a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":250,"featured_media":35262,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[38,6,13,6525,28],"tags":[736,1284,6550,3457],"class_list":["post-35250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-breaking-news","category-events","category-news","category-sdmss","category-top-news","tag-college-of-sciences","tag-florencio-hernandez","tag-school-of-data-mathematical-and-statistical-sciences","tag-ucf"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Five](\"https:\/\/sciences.ucf.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2026\/04\/DSC05091-1024x683.jpg\")
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