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Active Travel England has commissioned the Alan Turing Institute to create software and data science techniques to support local authority delivery of walking and cycling schemes. The institute, based out of the British Library in London, is the UKs national data science and artificial intelligence institute.

The collaboration will run for two years at a total cost of $250,000 and enable the development of new functionality in the Active Travel Infrastructure Platform (ATIP), which helps councils to map out proposed schemes and see the impact they could have locally.

These new tools will be paired with existing data sources, such as OpenStreetMap, to create solutions that will help build the evidence needed to meet the national governments stated objectives on active travel, including for 50% of short trips in urban areas to be made by walking, wheeling and cycling by 2030.

The new software engineering and data science techniques will complement data collection and analysis work done by Active Travel Englands head of data Dr. Robin Lovelace.

The partnership with Alan Turing Institute is hugely important, Lovelace told Forbes.com.

Transport models and datasets represent leverage points in the transport planning system, he stressed.

The lack of data and robust analysis of active modes has led to them not being taken seriously. New datasets can ensure that investment goes where its most needed.

Active Travel Minister Jesse Norman said the partnership will enable local councils to draw on the latest technology and maximize active travel's environmental, economic and health benefits.

Meanwhile, the government he represents last month revealed swingeing cuts to Englands active travel budget.

According to the Walking and Cycling Alliance (WCA), a body made up of cycling and walking organizations including British Cycling, Living Streets, Ramblers and Sustrans, the cuts means a two-thirds cut to promised capital investment in walking and cycling.

It is heartbreaking to see vital active travel budgets wiped away in England, at the exact time when they are most essential to U.K. economic, social and environmental prospects, said a WCA statement.

It is incredibly disappointing that the active travel budget has seen such extensive cuts at a time where we need to really make progress on decarbonisation and when people need cheap transport choices, said a joint statement by Conservative MP Selaine Saxby and Labour MP Ruth Cadbury, co-chairs of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cycling and Walking.

They added: We understand that there are pressures on the public purse but active travel schemes frequently have much higher benefit:cost ratios than road building schemes, many of which are still going ahead despite falling value for money for taxpayers.

I was Press Gazette's Transport Journalist of the Year, 2018. I'm also an historian my most recent books include "Roads Were Not Built for Cars" and "Bike Boom", both published by Island Press, Washington, D.C.

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Active Travel England Partners With Alan Turing Institute To Leverage Data Into Investment - Forbes

Data science is an expeditiously growing field that involves analyzing, interpreting, and making predictions based on large sets of data. As the field continues to expand, these programs have become progressively popular as a way for individuals to validate their skills and knowledge. In this article, we will understand various types of data science programs available, the benefits of obtaining a certification, and factors to consider when selecting a program.

Data science programs come in different types and are offered by various providers. The most common types of certification programs are vendor-specific, industry-specific, and vendor-neutral.

Vendor-specific certification programs are offered by technology companies, such as Microsoft and Amazon, and are designed to validate an individuals proficiency in their specific technologies. Industry-specific certification programs, on the other hand, are tailored to a particular industry, such as healthcare or finance. Vendor-neutral certification programs, such as those offered by the Data Science Association and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), are not tied to a specific technology or industry. Ed-tech platforms like Great Learning also offer well-curated programs in association with world-class universities.

The requirements for certification programs vary depending on the provider and the type of program. Some programs require passing an exam, while others require completing a course or submitting a project.

There are several benefits to obtaining a data science certification. Here are some of the most significant benefits:

Certification programs provide recognition and credibility to individuals, validating their skills and knowledge in the field. This recognition can be particularly valuable for job seekers, as it demonstrates to potential employers that they have the necessary qualifications for the job.

Many certification programs offer additional resources, such as online forums, workshops, and study materials, which can help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in the field.

A data science certification provides tangible evidence of your knowledge and expertise in the field. Employers and colleagues can see that you have invested time and effort into gaining a deep understanding of the subject matter.

Data science certifications can also open up new career opportunities and advancement paths. Individuals with certifications are often preferred by employers, which can lead to promotions, salary increases, and other benefits.

Certification programs can also help individuals enhance their skills and acquire new ones. The coursework and exams required for certification can help individuals develop new skills and deepen their understanding of the field.

Certification programs can also provide networking opportunities. Individuals in certification programs can connect with other professionals in the field, allowing them to expand their network and potentially find new job opportunities.

Learning data science can lead to higher salary potential. According to a study, certified professionals in the IT field can earn up to 12% more than their non-certified peers.

When selecting a data science certification program, its essential to consider several factors, including:

When choosing a certification program, it is important to consider all of these factors in order to select the best program for your needs. Research the provider, determine the requirements, and consider the cost to ensure you are making the right decision for your future.

In conclusion, pursuing post-graduation in data science can provide significant benefits to individuals looking to enhance their skills. They can provide the opportunity to develop data science expertise and apply it to a specific industry. Furthermore, they offer the chance to learn the latest technologies and techniques, as well as become a certified data scientist. Certificate programs provide a great way to gain recognition and credibility in the workplace, as well as to further your career. Therefore, if you are looking to break into the data science field or simply want to expand your existing knowledge, looking into data science programs could be the perfect choice for you.

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Data Science Certification Programs and Their Benefits - IndiaCSR

This Q&A has been edited and condensed.

What is your job title and where do you work?

I am Principal Product Manager at Opendoor, which buys and sells homes and makes instant cash offers online. I work at the headquarters in San Francisco.

What does a day in your role look like and how do you approach new projects?

On a day-to-day basis, I work with a diverse group of stakeholders to execute the product vision Ive developed to further the companys growth. My responsibilities include identifying new opportunities aimed at driving profitability and growth, making sure stakeholders are aligned on product vision, working with design and engineering teams to plan and deliver initiatives, partnering with analytics/data science teams to measure impact and presenting the projects outcomes and long-term mission to leadership.

I approach new projects by first understanding the problem space, customer needs, and why the project matters to Opendoor. Once I build a good understanding, I then start writing product memos, plan the kick-off of the project and perform the pre-mortems.

Is there something about your professional journey that people would find surprising?

I have been a product manager since day one of my career and have been building products for over a decade. Building consumer products in different industries has left me with a unique edge that allows me to quickly connect the dots and ship products quickly. I have always found new ways to improve myself and have been open to feedback. Learning and trying new technologies (for example, currently working on an AI project leveraging GPT3) has enabled me to keep improving at my craft.

Tell us about your path from graduation to your current job.

Immediately after graduating from Smith, I joined Home Depot as a product manager and shipped highly impactful products that brought in record revenue and that got me promoted to senior product manager. In that role, I managed two product areas. One of them was risk and fraud. I gained vast expertise in product strategy and combating bad actors in the digital world. To gain more knowledge in my field, I decided to take a job as payment and risk product manager at Eventbrite, where I was responsible for creating products that reduced risk and fraud-related losses and along the way I started building monetization products. After success at Eventbrite, I was offered a job at Opendoor. I accepted because it was a chance to leverage my years of product management experience with solving complex problems, enabling me to make a difference for millions of homebuyers and sellers in the U.S.

Are you where you thought you would be in your career? What are your goals?

Yes, Im where I thought I would be. At this stage of my career, I wanted to directly impact critical outcomes for a business and be at the forefront of solving complex problems that sit at the intersection of technology, data science and user experience. My goal is to create solutions and products that make a meaningful difference in peoples lives at Opendoor and that is what we are doing.

What Smith resources or relationships did you leverage for your career?

The Smith School curriculum is very well designed and that enriched my learning experience. I was able to build a deep connection with some of the faculty who mentored me and were always open to discussing ideas. These relationships helped me secure funding for startups I co-founded, helped me hire students to assist with research projects and provided recommendations for career opportunities.

How has your Smith education helped with your career? Were there specific classes, experiential projects, team projects or internships that have been especially helpful to you?

Ive seen great value in applying concepts in the real world that I learned from my coursework at Smith. At different times in my career, Ive gone back to the slides taught by Professor Siva Viswanathan when I needed to brush up on theories and fundamentals applicable to driving profitability and growth to consumer and marketplace technology companies. Also, getting to run two startups while I was at Smith set me off on a successful path.

Why did you decide to get a business degree and why did you choose Smith?

I decided to earn a Master of Science in Information Systems degree from Smith because the coursework sharpened my skills in digital strategy, data science, and business strategy. These are all critical for my career.

What about your personal journey has led to your success?

I have always been a curious person who liked helping people. As a kid, I used to love the Captain Planet character in a cartoon I watched (Captain Planet and the Planeteers). He was responsible for saving the world. I have always wanted to use my skills to make the lives of people around me better, whether it was helping someone with their studies, career coaching or creating products that make a meaningful difference in peoples lives.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Everyone has something they can bring to the table due to the unique experiences they had growing up. I would say from my experience and echoing the University of Marylands brand tagline Fearlessly Forward, one should try to discover their Ikigai (life purpose) and spend the rest of their lives perfecting that which will make this world a little better for their being in it.

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Finding Life Purpose in Turning Vision Into Reality | Maryland Smith - Robert H. Smith School of Business

How Does Data Governance Impact Healthcare Organizations?

Data is omnipresent in healthcare organizations. The more accessible and reliable it is, the more likely you are to develop insights from it, says Jonathan Shannon, associate vice president of healthcare strategy at LexisNexis. On the other hand, he adds, your entire business suffers in various ways when data governance policies are poor.

Krishnan describes three telltale signs of poor governance:

Its one thing if a patient gets the same marketing materials twice, she says. (That can happen if, say, there are records for Sam Smith and Sam S. Smith at the same mailing address.) But I dont want my diagnosis to be wrong because physicians dont have access to all of my records.

More broadly, poor data governance in healthcare can have significant business implications. Shannon points to the referral process. There are multiple benefits to referring patients to in-network providers: Patients avoid the high cost of seeing physicians not covered by their insurance plan, and organizations keep patient defections to a minimum.

If provider directories are inaccurate and data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services indicates that 49 percent of them are then its that much harder to make in-network referrals, he says. Very important procedures may be sent up the road and out of the network because someone didnt know.

Finally, poor governance poses security and regulatory risks. The 21st Century CURES Act requires organizations to make data available to other healthcare stakeholders, including patients. This requires a delicate balance between security and availability, Shannon says.

Now, theres more pressure to make data more accessible, he says, primarily with open application programming interfaces. Without data governance, you cant support open access with APIs.

DISCOVER: How Community Medical Centers powers operations with data.

When it comes to addressing data governance, healthcare organizations tend to fall into one of three buckets, Krishnan says. Some are just getting started and need help putting a general framework in place. Others have a framework but also have many data silos; this is especially tricky when data is on-premises and in both public and private cloud environments.

Still others have made progress but worry about the implications of duplicate records within newly unified data sets, whether its difficulty with regulatory compliance or a lag time to get business-ready data to the teams that need it. These organizations want help to scale for new applications, Krishnan says. They want to be enterprise-ready and future-proof.

A common starting point is what Shannon refers to as a one-time cleanup of the organizations data repository.

By definition, data grows and changes over time. If your organization has been in business for decades, youve been accumulating data for decades, he says.

When technology upgrades are on the horizon, its both expensive and counterproductive to move millions of unnecessary records those that are duplicates, incomplete, from deceased patients, and so on. Through a combination of referential and probabilistic modeling methods, Shannon says a repository with data from 7 million patients could be trimmed to 1 million patient records. As a result, the repository is more accurate, less expensive to maintain, and well suited for use with next-generation applications for decision support, population health management, and predictive analytics and modeling.

For Money, addressing organizational culture is fundamental to improving data governance.

You cant buy data governance off the shelf, she says. It has to be understood from the highest level of the organization to the bottom. It should be invisible. No matter the organization, what youre doing is producing quality, usable, effective products, and data governance is a tool to make that happen.

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What Is the Role of Data Governance in Healthcare? - HealthTech Magazine