The Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) recently hosted the 2023 Shenzhen International Conference on Frontiers of Statistics and Data Science, with the event taking place at the University’s Convention Center from December 1 to 3.

The conference was hosted by the Department of Statistics and Data Science (STAT-DS) at SUSTech, and co-organized by the National Center for Applied Mathematics Shenzhen (NCAMS), Shenzhen International Center for Mathematics, and the Chinese Associate for Applied Statistics-Transition of the Professional Committee on Multivariate Analysis Applications.

Nearly 300 experts and scholars from various universities, research institutes, and industries, both domestically and internationally, attended the conference, which included Xueming YANG, Vice President of SUSTech, Shuhong YU, Dean of the College of Science, heads of relevant departments, and representatives of faculty members and students.

In his remarks, Xueming YANG underscored the important role of data as a strategic resource in current national economic development. He emphasized the increasing reliance of scientific and technological innovation and industrial development on data.

He hopes that this conference would further propel the development of the Department of STAT-DS at SUSTech, fostering in-depth exchanges among universities, research institutes, and industry, conducting forward-looking and pioneering basic research in the field of data, and injecting significant momentum into the areas of science and technology.

Shuhong YU acknowledged that, as the youngest department in the College of Science, the Department of STAT-DS has achieved noteworthy milestones in advancing the transformation of basic research and translating scientific and technological achievements into practical applications.

He expressed his aspirations for the department to make even more significant contributions to social and economic development through talent training and scientific research.

Qi-Man SHAO, Head of the Department of STAT-DS, said that he would continue to strengthen the supporting role of statistics and data science in basic research.

He aims to explore a path of interdisciplinary integration and development, aligning with the distinctive characteristics of SUSTech, and offering talent and intellectual support for the economic and social development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and advancing the field of statistics and data science in China.

Ten distinguished scholars delivered keynote speeches at the conference, including Peter Bühlmann, Professor at ETH Zurich; Jian HUANG, Professor at Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Xihong LIN, Professor at Harvard University; Zhiming MA, Researcher at the Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science (AMSS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Annie Qu, Professor at the University of California, Irvine; Kavita Ramanan, Professor at Brown University; Aad van der Vaart, Professor at Leiden University; Lan WANG, Professor at the University of Miami; Zongben XU, Professor at Xi’an Jiaotong University; and Hongyu ZHAO, Professor at Yale University.

In addition, three young scholars delivered keynote reports, sharing the latest cutting-edge advancements in the field of statistics and data science.

Since 2020, the Shenzhen International Conference on Frontiers of Statistics and Data Science has convened four times.

The conference aims to facilitate in-depth discussions on scientific research, technological innovation, application promotion, opportunities, and challenges in statistics, data science, artificial intelligence, computer science, and related disciplines. It is dedicated to promoting the exchange and cooperation between statistics, data science, and other disciplines within the context of big data.