Science has fully entered a new mode of operation. Data science
is advancing inductive conduct of science driven by the greater
volumes, complexity and heterogeneity of data being made
available over the Internet. Data science combines of aspects of
data management, library science, computer science, and physical
science using supporting cyberinfrastructure and information
technology. As such it is changing the way all of these
disciplines do both their individual and collaborative work.
Data science is helping scienists face new global problems of a
magnitude, complexity and interdisciplinary nature whose
progress is presently limited by lack of available tools and a
fully trained and agile workforce.
At present, there is a lack formal training in the key cognitive
and skill areas that would enable graduates to become key
participants in escience collaborations. The need is to teach
key methodologies in application areas based on real research
experience and build a skill-set.
At the heart of this new way of doing science, especially
experimental and observational science but also increasingly
computational science, is the generation of data.