Uncertainty Quantification -- the Theme at SAMSI This Year

Uncertainty is something that we deal with in our daily lives.

When it comes to mathematical modeling, analysis, and algorithms, which are used in complex decision-making, the design of systems, and the operation of networks in the modern world, as well as the understanding of the environment and resources, uncertainty is a reality but may be challenging to quantify.

This year, the Statistical and Applied Mathematical Sciences Institute (SAMSI), which is a partnership of Duke University, North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the National Institute of Statistical Sciences, in collaboration with the William R. Kenan, Jr. Institute for Engineering, Technology and Science, has as its theme: Uncertainty Quantification.

SAMSI is part of the Mathematical Sciences Institutes program of the Division of Mathematical Sciences at the National Science Foundation.

SAMSI is organizing a yearlong series of events under this theme and I am delighted to be taking part in its Engineering and Renewable Energy Workshop next month.

I have been asked to deliver a keynote entitled, Sustainability, with a focus on methodology.

The program leaders are a great group consisting of:

Amy Braverman

Roger Ghanem

David Higdon

Christine Shoemaker

Jeff Wu.

As the SAMSI website emphasizes: The intellectual content of computational modeling comes from a variety of disciplines, including mathematics, statistics, probability, operations research, and computer science. Despite a wide diversity in methodology and applications, there are a variety of common challenges in developing, evaluating and using complex computer models of processes.

It should be a very exciting year at SAMSI. I look forward to engaging with various thought leaders on this topic.