Algorithms and Statistical Models for Scientific Discovery in the Petabyte Era

Brian Nord; Andrew J. Connolly; Jamie Kinney; Jeremy Kubica; Gautaum Narayan; Joshua E. G. Peek; Chad Schafer; Erik J. Tollerud; Camille Avestruz; G. Jogesh Babu; Simon Birrer; Douglas Burke; João Caldeira; Douglas A. Caldwell; Joleen K. Carlberg; Yen-Chi Chen; Chuanfei Dong; Eric D. Feigelson; V. Zach Golkhou; Vinay Kashyap; T. S. Li; Thomas Loredo; Luisa Lucie-Smith; Kaisey S. Mandel; J. R. Martínez-Galarza; Adam A. Miller; Priyamvada Natarajan; Michelle Ntampaka; Andy Ptak; David Rapetti; Lior Shamir; Aneta Siemiginowska; Brigitta M. Sipőcz; Arfon M. Smith; Nhan Tran; Ricardo Vilalta; Lucianne M. Walkowicz; John ZuHone

arXiv · 1911.02479

Algorithms and Statistical Models for Scientific Discovery in the Petabyte Era

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Abstract

The field of astronomy has arrived at a turning point in terms of size and complexity of both datasets and scientific collaboration. Commensurately, algorithms and statistical models have begun to adapt --- e.g., via the onset of artificial intelligence --- which itself presents new challenges and opportunities for growth. This white paper aims to offer guidance and ideas for how we can evolve our technical and collaborative frameworks to promote efficient algorithmic development and take advantage of opportunities for scientific discovery in the petabyte era. We discuss challenges for discovery in large and complex data sets; challenges and requirements for the next stage of development of statistical methodologies and algorithmic tool sets; how we might change our paradigms of collaboration and education; and the ethical implications of scientists' contributions to widely applicable algorithms and computational modeling. We start with six distinct recommendations that are supported by the commentary following them. This white paper is related to a larger corpus of effort that has taken place within and around the Petabytes to Science Workshops (https://petabytestoscience.github.io/).

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Brian Nord, Andrew J. Connolly, Jamie Kinney, Jeremy Kubica, Gautaum Narayan, Joshua E. G. Peek, Chad Schafer, Erik J. Tollerud, Camille Avestruz, G. Jogesh Babu, Simon Birrer, Douglas Burke, João Caldeira, Douglas A. Caldwell, Joleen K. Carlberg, Yen-Chi Chen, Chuanfei Dong, Eric D. Feigelson, V. Zach Golkhou, Vinay Kashyap, T. S. Li, Thomas Loredo, Luisa Lucie-Smith, Kaisey S. Mandel, J. R. Martínez-Galarza, Adam A. Miller, Priyamvada Natarajan, Michelle Ntampaka, Andy Ptak, David Rapetti, Lior Shamir, Aneta Siemiginowska, Brigitta M. Sipőcz, Arfon M. Smith, Nhan Tran, Ricardo Vilalta, Lucianne M. Walkowicz, John ZuHone. 2019-11-05. Algorithms and Statistical Models for Scientific Discovery in the Petabyte Era. https://arxiv.org/abs/1911.02479

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