Image by atul prajapati from Pixabay February’s Enterprise Data Transformation Symposium, hosted by Semantic Arts, featured talks from two prominent members of pharma’s Pistoia Alliance: Martin Romacker of Roche and Ben Gardner of AstraZeneca. It’s been evident for years now that the Pistoia Alliance, organized originally in 2008 by Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis for industry… Read More »The extensive scope of knowledge graph use cases
A Look into the Future of Pharma and Data Transformation
During February’s Enterprise Data Transformation Symposium, Martin Romacker of Roche and Ben Gardner of AstraZeneca, prominent members of the pharma’s Pistoia Alliance, shared their insights into how data transformation is shaping the future of the pharmaceutical industry. The Pistoia Alliance, established by Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis in 2008, has brought about significant developments in this sector.
Implications and Future Developments
Data Transformation Revolutionizing Pharma
The ongoing advancements in data transformation methods are projected to drastically alter the pharmaceutical landscape. The innovations spearheaded by Pistoia Alliance companies highlight the potential for improved drug development efficacy, more effective data analysis, and enhanced patient care.
Increased Adoption of Knowledge Graphs
Knowledge graphs represent an extensive scope of use cases, offering hands-on possibilities for data analysis and driving predictive outcomes in the healthcare industry. As a result, we can anticipate the increased adoption of knowledge graphs in pharma research and development.
Potential Ethical and Data Privacy Issues
As data transformation continues to evolve, so do the complexities surrounding it. The growing intertwining of medical information with complex data structures may lead to added scrutiny over ethical considerations and data privacy issues. Pharmaceutical companies must reconcile advancements with ethical boundaries and privacy regulations attune with the digitization trend.
Actionable Advice
Prepare For Revolutionary Change
Pharmaceutical companies should invest in data transformation technologies to improve drug development processes and patient care. This technological revolution requires organizations to adapt quickly to change and leverage data-driven insights for future innovations.
Leverage Knowledge Graphs
Pharmaceutical companies should utilize knowledge graphs to improve their data analysis capabilities. These comprehensive visual diagrams can help in organizing complex data structures, leading to better predictive outcomes and contributing substantially to research and development projects.
Prioritize Data Ethics and Privacy
While exploiting the benefits of data transformation, pharmaceutical companies must always prioritize data ethics and privacy. This is a crucial aspect in maintaining trust with patients and stakeholders, as well as adhering to regulatory compliance. Having a robust policy and stringent procedures for data privacy will be instrumental in this digitization age.
Embracing the data transformation journey is essential for pharmaceutical companies in this data-centric era. While this path comes with its unique challenges, handling them with dexterity can unlock new frontiers of possibilities.
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Nadejda Sero, the founder of the R Ladies Cotonou chapter, shared with the R Consortium her experiences learning R, the challenges of running an R community in a developing country, and her plans for 2024. She also emphasized the importance of considering the realities of the local R community when organizing an R User Group (RUG).
Please share about your background and involvement with the RUGS group.
My name is Nadejda Sero, and I am a plant population and theoretical ecologist. I have a Bachelor of Science in Forestry and Natural Resources Management and a Master of Science in Biostatistics from the University of Abomey-Calavi (Benin, West Africa). I discovered R during my Master’s studies in 2015. From the first coding class, I found R exciting and fun. However, as assignments became more challenging, I grew somewhat frustrated due to my lack of prior experience with a programming language.
So, I jumped on Twitter (current X). I tweeted, “The most exciting thing I ever did is learning how to code in R!” The tweet caught the attention of members of the R Ladies global team. They asked if I was interested in spreading #rstats love with the women’s community in Benin. I was thrilled by the opportunity and thus began my journey with R-Ladies Global.
The early days were challenging due to the novelty of the experience. I did not know much about community building and social events organization. I started learning about the R-Ladies community and available resources. The most significant work was adjusting the resources/tools used by other chapters to fit my realities in Benin. My country, a small French-speaking developing African country, had poor internet access and few organizations focused on gender minorities. (We are doing slightly better now.) On top of that, I often needed to translate some materials into French for the chapter.
As I struggled to make headway, the R-Ladies team launched a mentoring program for organizers. I was fortunate enough to participate in the pilot mentorship. The program helped me understand how to identify, adjust, and use the most effective tools for R-Ladies Cotonou. I also gained confidence as an organizer and with community work. With my fantastic mentor’s help, I revived the local chapter of R-Ladies in Cotonou, Benin. I later joined her in the R-Ladies Global team to manage the mentoring program. You can read more about my mentoring experience on the R-Ladies Global blog.
Happy members of R-Ladies Cotonou sharing some pastries after the presentation. At our first official meetup, the attendees discovered and learned everything about R-Ladies Global and R-Ladies Cotonou.
I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of the R-Ladies community these last six years. I also discovered other fantastic groups like AfricaR. I am particularly proud of the journey with R-Ladies Cotonou. I am also thankful to the people who support us and contribute to keeping R-Ladies Cotonou alive.
Can you share what the R community is like in Benin?
R has been commonly used in academia and more moderately in the professional world over the past 2-3 years. For example, I worked with people from different areas of science. I worked in a laboratory where people came to us needing data analysts or biostatisticians. We always used R for such tasks, and many registered in R training sessions. The participants of these sessions also came from the professional world and public health. I have been out of the country for a while now, but the R community is booming. More people are interested in learning and using R in different settings and fields. I recently heard that people are fascinated with R for machine learning and artificial intelligence. It is exciting to see that people are integrating R into various fields. There are also a few more training opportunities for R enthusiasts.
Can you tell us about your plans for the R Ladies Cotonou for the new year?
More meetups from our Beninese community, other R-Ladies chapters, and allies.
We are planning a series of meetups that feature students from the training “Science des Données au Féminin en Afrique,” a data science with R program for francophone women organized by the Benin chapter of OWSD (Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World). We have three initial speakers for the series: the student who won the excellence prize and the two grantees from R-Ladies Cotonou. The program is an online training requiring good internet, which is unfortunately expensive and unreliable. If you want good internet, you must pay the price.
R-Ladies Cotonou supported two students (from Benin and Burkina Faso) by creating a small “internet access” grant using the R Consortium grant received in 2020.
The meetup speaker is taking us through a review of the most practical methods of importing and exporting datasets in R. The attendees are listening and taking notes.
This next series of meetups will focus on R tutorials with a bonus. The speakers will additionally share their stories embracing R through the training. The first speaker, Jospine Doris Abadassi, will discuss dashboard creation with Shiny and its potential applications to public health. I hope more folks from the training join the series to share their favorite R tools.
I believe these meetups will assist in expanding not only the R-Ladies but the entire R community. I particularly enjoy it when local people share what they have learned. It further motivates the participants to be bold with R.
About “Science des Données au Féminin en Afrique“, it is the first time I know that a data science training is free for specifically African women from French-speaking areas. Initiated by Dr. Bernice Bancole and Prof. Thierry Warin, the program trains 100 African francophone women in data science using R, emphasizing projects focused on societal problem resolution. The training concluded its first batch and is now recruiting for the second round. So, the community has expanded, and a few more people are using R. I appreciate that the training focuses on helping people develop projects that address societal issues. I believe that it enriches the community.
As I said in my last interview with the R consortium, “In some parts of the world, before expecting to find R users or a vivid R community, you first need to create favorable conditions for their birth – teach people what R is and its usefulness in professional, academic, and even artistic life.” It is especially true in Benin, whose official language is French. English is at least a third language for the average multilingual Beninese. Many people are uncomfortable or restrained in using R since most R materials are in English. I hope this OWSD Benin training receives all the contributions to keep running long-term. You can reach the leading team at owsd.benin@gmail.com.
Our other plan is to collaborate with other R-Ladies chapters and RUGS who speak French. If you speak French and want to teach us something, please email cotonou@rladies.org.
Otherwise, I will be working on welcoming and assisting new organizers for our chapter. So, for anyone interested, please email cotonou@rladies.org.
Are you guys currently hosting your events online or in-person? And what are your plans for hosting events in 2024?
We used to hold in-person events when we started. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and we had to decide whether to hold events online. Organizing online events became challenging due to Cotonou’s lack of reliable internet access or expensive packages. As a result, we only held one online event with poor attendance. We took a long break from our activities.
Going forward, our events will be hybrid, a mix of in-person and online events. In-person events will allow attendees to use the existing infrastructure of computers and internet access of our allies. It also offers an opportunity to interact with participants. Therefore, I am working with people in Cotonou to identify locations with consistent internet access where attendees can go to attend the meetups. Online events will be necessary to accommodate speakers from outside of the country. It will be open to attendees unable to make it in person.
Any techniques you recommend using for planning for or during the event? (Github, zoom, other) Can these techniques be used to make your group more inclusive to people that are unable to attend physical events in the future?
The techniques and tools should depend on the realities of the community. What language is comfortable for attendees? What meeting modality, online or in person, works best for participants?
As mentioned earlier, I was inexperienced, and organizing a chapter was daunting. My mentoring experience shifted my perspective. I realized that I needed to adjust many available resources/tools. Organizing meetups became easier as I integrated all these factors.
For example, our chapter prioritizes other communication and advertisement tools like regular emails and WhatsApp. The group is mildly active on social media, where the R community is alive (X/Twitter, Mastodon). It is easier to have a WhatsApp group to share information due to its popularity within our community. We recently created an Instagram account and will get LinkedIn and Facebook pages (with more co-organizers). I would love a website to centralize everything related to R-Ladies Cotonou. Using emails is an adjustment to Meetup, which is unpopular in Benin. Getting sponsors or partners and providing a few small grants for good internet would help tremendously our future online events.
Adjusting helps us to reach people where they are. It is imperative to consider the community, its realities, and its needs. I often asked our meetup participants their expectations, “What do you anticipate from us?” “What would you like to see in the future?” Then, I take notes. Also, we have Google Forms to collect comments, suggestions, potential speakers, contributors, and preferred meeting times. It is crucial to encourage people to participate, especially gender minorities less accustomed to such gatherings.
I have also attempted to make the meetups more welcoming and friendly in recent years. I always had some food/snacks and drinks available (thanks to friends and allies). It helps make people feel at ease and focus better. I hope the tradition continues for in-person meetups. It is valuable to make the meetups welcoming and friendly. How people feel is essential. If they come and feel like it is a regular lecture or course, they may decide to skip it. But, if they come to the meetup and learn while having fun, or at the very least, enjoy it a little, it benefits everyone.
These are some of the key aspects to consider when organizing a meetup. It is critical to consider the people since you are doing it for them. Also, make sure you have support and many co-organizers if possible.
All materials live on our GitHub page for people who can’t attend physical events. Another solution would be recording and uploading the session on the R-Ladies Global YouTube or our channel.
What industry are you currently in? How do you use R in your work?
I am now a Ph.D. student in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
R has no longer been my first programming language since I started graduate school. I still use R for data tidying data analysis but less extensively. I worked a lot with R as a master’s student and Biostatistician. It was constant learning and growth as a programmer. I had a lot of fun writing my first local package. However, I now work more with mathematical software like Maple and Mathematica. I wish R were as smooth and intuitive as this software for mathematical modeling. I like translating Maple code to R code, especially when I need to make visualizations.
I am addicted to ggplot2 for graphs. I love learning new programming languages but am really attached to R (it’s a 9-year-old relationship now). I developed many skills while programming in R. R helped me become intuitive, a fast learner, and sharp with other programming languages.
My most recent project that utilized R, from beginning to end, was a project in my current lab on the evolutionary strategies of plants in stochastic environments. We used R for demographic data tidying and wrangling. Data analysis was a mix of statistical and mathematical models. It was a good occasion to practice writing functions and use new packages. I enjoy writing functions for any task to automate repetitive tasks, which reduces the need for copying and pasting code. I also learned more subtleties in analyzing demographic data from my advisor and colleagues who have used R longer.
How do I Join?
R Consortium’s R User Group and Small Conference Support Program (RUGS) provides grants to help R groups organize, share information, and support each other worldwide. We have given grants over the past four years, encompassing over 68,000 members in 33 countries. We would like to include you! Cash grants and meetup.com accounts are awarded based on the intended use of the funds and the amount of money available to distribute.
Potential Long-term Implications and Future Developments in Data Science Community Building
In a recent interview, Nadejda Sero, the founder of the R Ladies Cotonou chapter in Benin, West Africa, shared her experiences learning the R programming language and organizing a local R User Group (RUG). As part of the broader global R community, Sero has navigated the challenges of leading data science initiatives in a developing country and has set ambitious plans for the future.
As such, her story provides critical insights into contributing factors for successful community development and offers invaluable lessons to the broader data science community.
Lessons from the R Ladies Cotonou Experience
The experiences of Sero and the R Ladies Cotonou could pave the way for future growth of data science communities, particularly in developing countries. Their strategies on overcoming language and technological obstacles have proven successful and can provide a roadmap for others facing similar challenges.
The necessity of adapting resources to local needs is paramount. Sero has emphasized how improvising with available tools and adjusting them to suit local realities can be beneficial. This mindset could encourage other organizers to think creatively about their resources.
The effort to promote diversity and inclusive participation, particularly within gender minorities, is another noteworthy effort. It demonstrates that fostering an inclusive environment is central to a thriving data science community.
Finally, ensuring events are enjoyable and not just educational can boost attendance and involvement. A positive and fun atmosphere creates a more attractive community for potential members.
Future Developments: Bringing Data Science to More Communities
With data science as an increasingly sought-after skill across various industries, communities like R Ladies Cotonou serve a critical role in advancing technology inclusion, particularly in areas with limited resources. Initiatives that focus on local languages, such as French in Benin, can increase accessibility for non-English speakers and therefore broaden the reach of data science training.
Looking ahead, remote learning initiatives will likely continue to be a crucial part of community-building in data science. Good internet access is often an ongoing challenge, so strategies for boosting online participation will play an essential role in community growth. Hybrid events that mix in-person and online learning could be a promising solution.
Taking Action: Advice Based on These Insights
Based on the insights shared by Sero, here are some actionable steps relevant to anyone interested in establishing or developing a data science community:
Adapt resources to suit local conditions: Existing resources may not fit perfectly into every setting. Be prepared to customize them to suit the unique needs of the local community.
Promote inclusiveness: Exert deliberate efforts to create an inclusive environment that encourages participation from all sections of society, particularly those underrepresented in tech.
Make it fun: Create an engaging atmosphere where members do not just learn but can also enjoy themselves.
User-friendly online infrastructure: Considering the increasing reliance on remote participation, good online infrastructure should be a priority. This includes stable internet access and user-friendly platforms for online meetings.
Encourage voluntary involvement: Foster a sense of collective ownership by encouraging members to contribute freely. This can enhance community cohesion and sustainability.
In conclusion, community building in data science requires consideration of local realities, commitment to inclusive participation, creative use of resources, and strategic use of online platforms. By harnessing these insights effectively, budding communities can thrive and contribute to the broader goal of creating a diverse, global data science network.
Learn a modern approach to stream real-time data in Jupyter Notebook. This guide covers dynamic visualizations, a Python for quant finance use case, and Bollinger Bands analysis with live data.
Examining the Art of Streamlining Real-time Data in Jupyter Notebook
Improvements in real-time data processing methodologies are changing the landscape of various industries, including finance. An innovative approach pursued in this area concerns the usage of Jupyter Notebook for dynamic visualizations, Python for quantitative finance use cases, and Bollinger Bands analysis with live data. Understanding these concepts in detail can empower businesses to make informed decisions rapidly and accurately.
Long-Term Implications and Future Developments
The use of Jupyter Notebook and Python for quantitative finance has wide-reaching implications. With increasing complexities in financial markets, businesses are recognizing the need to access real-time market data and streamline their financial analyses. The intersection of Python programming with Jupyter Notebook opens the door to perform complex mathematical computations on live datasets, bringing benefits such as real-time updates and visualizations.
Future development in this area will likely focus on integrating additional tools to streamline machine learning models or statistical analysis for more accurate financial predictions. Moreover, further advancements may allow real-time data accessibility from diverse platform sources, promoting even more comprehensive financial analysis.
Actionable Advice
Given these key points, businesses looking to enhance their financial analysis are advised to:
Invest in Python Programming: This is a powerful tool for financial modeling and machine learning applications. By mastering Python, businesses can implement these strategies more effectively.
Embrace Jupyter Notebook: This system simplifies the visualization and documentation of data, allowing for clear, easy-to-understand reports based on real-time data.
Explore Bollinger Bands Analysis: This innovative technique is well-suited for analyzing price volatility and trading patterns, presenting potentially profitable investment opportunities.
Stay Ahead with Continuous Learning: With the dynamic nature of technology and financial markets, it’s critical to stay updated with the latest trends and developments.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the use of Jupyter Notebook and Python in streamlining real-time data presents an exciting opportunity for those engaged in financial analysis. By leveraging the benefits of these tools and staying nimble in this rapidly-evolving field, businesses can gain a competitive edge in the marketplace.
Elevate your email marketing with custom no-code software development. Streamline design, enhance engagement, and drive results effortlessly!
Precision Email Marketing Unveiled: The Future of Engagement
There’s a monumental shift underfoot in the world of email marketing. Businesses are poised to tap into the potential of custom no-code software development to automate, streamline, and personalize their strategies to unprecendented levels. The true promise of this emerging trend? Design and deployment becomes achievable even without a coding background.
The Game-changing Paradigm
“Elevate your email marketing with custom no-code software development. Streamline design, enhance engagement, and drive results effortlessly!”
It’s a clarion call to businesses — big and small — to reshape and redefine their approach towards email marketing. But what does this imply in the longer term? More importantly, how could future developments evolve under this premise?
Long-term Implications
With no-code software development, businesses can expect marketing democratization: anyone on your team can develop proficiency in the creation of high-performing email campaigns. This points towards increased email marketing productivity and cost-effectiveness as specialized coding training may no longer be required.
The use of custom no-code tools also holds the promise of diversity in design. The availability of customizable templates caters to a multitude of audience preferences, thus potentially boosting the engagement rate. Plus, with the ability to integrate with existing software solutions such as CRM tools or analytics programs, marketers stand to gain a holistic view of campaign performance.
Possible Future Developments
The emergence of AI-powered no-code software tools signifies a robust future trajectory. We can envisage advanced AI driving unprecedented personalization of emails, making ‘spray and pray’ approaches obsolete. It could even enable automated real-time responses depending on user behavior, presenting a game-changing leap forward in customer interaction.
As such, the blend of no-code software and AI technology can translate into powerful, Q&A-style, dynamic emails tailored to individual recipients. We may also see an explosion in the use of interactive content, further enhancing email engagement rates.
Actionable Advice
Challenge Status Quo: Businesses should shed the comfort of traditional methodologies and prepare to embrace the incoming no-code software wave. This transition might require effort but will offer significant dividends in optimizing and automating email marketing procedures.
Invest in Training and Adoption: To extract total value from your custom no-code software investment, consider training your staff. This could be an effective step towards lowering the skills barrier and promoting software adoption within your team.
Secure Data Integration: Ensure that your no-code tool can seamlessly blend with your current digital infrastructure for smooth data integration. Increased interoperability enhances the tool’s practical value and relevance.
Keep an Eye on Emerging Trends: Keep yourself updated on advancements in AI & no-code technology to leverage innovative features and stay ahead of the competition.
If harnessed correctly, no-code software offers an immense opportunity to revolutionize email marketing strategies. While this requires a shift from traditional practices, the long-term benefits — increased productivity, better engagement, improved return on investment — undeniably make it a worthy proposition.
Clickbait headlines like “AI’s Hottest Job” have promised a career that anyone who knows how to chat with AI could pay a six-figure salary with no computer background. But is this reality, or just another internet pipe dream? Let’s ditch the sensationalism and delve into the actual job market data to find out.
Understanding the AI Job Market Reality Versus the Hype
The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has generated a torrent of hype, with headlines like “AI’s Hottest Job” and promises of six-figure salaries even for those without a technical background. So what’s the reality behind these attention-grabbing headlines, and where does the AI job market actually stand?
Analysing the AI Job Market
The continued advancement of AI and machine learning technologies have created an undeniable demand for skilled professionals in these fields. While the idea that anyone who can chat with AI can land a high-paying job might be an appealing notion, the current job market data tells a different story.
“The reality is that while there are high paying AI jobs available, these typically require advanced technical skills, in-depth knowledge of algorithms, and a strong mathematical background.”
This does not mean that non-technical professionals have no place in the burgeoning AI industry. On the contrary, as AI continues to evolve and be integrated into various industries, there will be a growing demand for professionals who can translate complex AI concepts and findings into actionable insights for various business functions.
The Future of AI Job Market
In terms of future developments, AI is expected to remain a key driver for job creation across various sectors. However, the higher-paying jobs in this field are likely to continue to require advanced technical skills and knowledge. As such, those aspiring to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the AI boom should aim to acquire these skills.
Additionally, as AI further permeates various sectors, there will be an increasing need for ‘AI translators,’ those who can understand AI technologies and apply them to business contexts. This spells potential opportunities for non-technical professionals who are skilled in understanding and leveraging AI.
Actionable Advice
Invest in technical education: For those looking to land high-paying AI jobs, investing in obtaining relevant technical skills is essential.
Embrace the role of ‘AI translator’: For non-technical professionals, there are opportunities to serve as ‘AI translators’ who translate complex AI concepts into actionable business insights.
Stay updated: AI is a highly dynamic field. Staying updated with the latest developments and trends in AI can provide a competitive advantage.
Continuous learning: As technology continues to advance rapidly, continuous learning and upskilling will remain key to staying relevant in the AI job market.
In conclusion, while there is no shortage of opportunities in the AI job market, aspirants must equip themselves with the right skills and knowledge rather than relying on empty promises and hype.
Image by Ahmad Ardity from Pixabay The good news is that the data science community is taking more of an interest in knowledge graphs lately. But unsurprisingly, some data science folks exploring graphs themselves are barely scratching the surface of knowledge graph potential. Until data scientists view the root problem to be solved through the… Read More »What data scientists overlook when it comes to knowledge graphs
Understanding the Potential of Knowledge Graphs in Data Science
The data science community has shown an increasing interest in knowledge graphs. These interconnected data networks present a unique arena to explore and understand data, going beyond simple tables or charts. However, according to recent observations, some data scientists exploring graphs may not be taking full advantage of what knowledge graphs can offer.
What Do Data Scientists Overlook?
For some data scientists, the adoption of knowledge graphs seems to be mainly surface-level. While the usage of these graphs is indeed a constructive leap forward, it’s crucial to delve deeper into their full potential. The root problem that needs to be solved through knowledge graphs has yet to be fully explored by many data scientists.
Implications and Future Developments
The overlook on the part of some data scientists has significant long-term implications. For one, it limits the extent to which these professionals can tap into the potential capabilities of knowledge graphs. This restraint could ultimately hinder advancements in both specific studies and the broader field of data science.
However, this oversight also creates a promising opportunity for future developments. As more data science professionals fully grasp the depth of knowledge graphs’ capabilities, we can anticipate significant leaps in data interpretation and utilization. This, in turn, could result in more accurate predictions, greater insights, and ultimately, more informed decision-making processes across various sectors.
Actionable Advice for Data Scientists
Deeper Understanding: It’s essential not just to adopt but analyze the depth of these knowledge graphs’ functionalities and leverage them to solve root problems.
Continuous Learning: Keep up with the latest research and trends in knowledge graphs. This will allow for optimal application in various projects.
Collaboration: Connect with other scientists and specialists interested in the use of knowledge graphs. This encourages knowledge sharing and innovation in application.
The understanding and proper utilization of knowledge graphs can revolutionize the way data is interpreted and utilized, potentially leading to major advances in data science and related fields. As data scientists, it is incumbent on us to ensure that we are exploring the depths of these tools to their fullest extent.
