Facilitator
David Lovell (CSIRO Transformational Biology Initiative, CSIRO Mathematical and Information Sciences)
Abstract
This Birds of a Feather session is motivated by some simple questions including:
- How can we use eResearch to enable researchers to participate in national and international bioscience research consortia?
- How can we use eResearch to enable researchers to spend less time managing bioscience data and more time analysing it?
- How can we use eResearch in the biosciences to promote collaboration and avoid reinvention?
The “we” in these questions primarily refers to those of us working in the biosciences within (or in collaboration with) Australian research institutions because it is primarily up to us
- To use the opportunities that eResearch currently affords
- To make the most of Australia’s investment in eResearch
- To help inform the development of eResearch to better support bioscience.
As a collective, “we” face some challenges including:
- Dealing with new measurement platforms and preparing for further technological change
- Settling upon standards or consistent approaches to simplify collaborative bioscience research
- Bridging gaps and crossing barriers between “wet” and “dry” science (including differences in language, skills and culture)
- Communicating with a very diverse set of researchers.
This session is aimed at people working in the biosciences and people who want to see eResearch used to greatest effect in the biosciences. The intended format is to use case studies to promote discussion and exploration of how eResearch can, should (and might?) be used to enable Australian bioscience.
About the facilitator
David Lovell co-leads Transformational Biology, an initiative to help transform CSIRO’s approach to biological research, and to help CSIRO’s research transform biology itself.
An electrical engineer by training, David has been involved in a variety of roles related to the analysis of high-dimensional and large data, and a variety of roles related to managing this, and other kinds of research.
After receiving his PhD from the University of Queensland, David completed postdoctoral research in perinatal risk predication at Cambridge University before joining CSIRO’s Analysis of Large and Complex Datasets Group in 1998.
In addition to this research role, David has also been Executive Officer to the CEO, and a member of CSIRO’s Corporate Information Technology Management team. He is also an alumnus of the Macquarie Graduate School of Management.
David returned to CSIRO Mathematical and Information Sciences in 2004 as leader of Statistical Bioinformatics for Agribusiness, then leader of the Division’s Bio Research Program in 2007, and was appointed co-leader of Transformational Biology in 2008. An important part of his current role is to increase the level and coordination of CSIRO’s linkage to allied institutions, facilities and initiatives, both within Australia and internationally, and he is particularly keen to see Australian bioscience deliver greater benefit by embracing eResearch.