Around the world, the airline industry is continually seeking new methods to improve operations and enhance the customer experience. And increasingly, it’s using big data and data analytics to do it. For Immersion 2016, DataScience@SMU invited Steve Shaffer External link , CIO of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport External link  (DFW), to share his thoughts on ways to find meaning in data in relation to the airline industry. Here, we’ll highlight the opportunities and advantages for big data and analytics in airport optimization that Shaffer sees — as well as how other players in the industry are aligning with such efforts.

Students in the Master of Science in Data Science program at Southern Methodist University are required to take the Data and Network Security course as part of their core coursework. This course focuses on the fundamental concepts, mechanisms and protocols for data and network security. We asked our students to reflect on the topics covered in this course and how the course has impacted the development of their data science skills. 

When people think of data science they correctly associate it with big data and usually think of Silicon Valley. But the alternatives to “The Valley” are surprising, and trends in this field (like many others) are skewing to disruption. Smart students and motivated professionals of all ages are finding that earning a master’s degree in data science allows them to transition into a new field, or grow in their current one, in many different parts of the United States.

Q&A with Carrie Garcia, DataScience@SMU student. Balancing school with her professional and growing family life, Garcia has little time to spare in her schedule. Carrie disscusses how an online data science program is helping her to make more data-driven decisions in the world of marketing. 

Many students want the opportunity to interact with peers, faculty and industry leaders in person – and relax in a beautiful campus environment. That’s why DataScience@SMU offers SMU Immersion, a unique component of our curriculum that helps students improve their skills and knowledge – and become better job candidates in the process. This year’s event took place July 21–24 and made a big impact on those who attended.

Q&A with Moorthy Manickam, DataScience@SMU student. Working from home for the last nine years, Manickam knows how to draw the line between his professional life and his personal life. Manickam discusses why he prefers the online classroom to the on campus classroom. 

Q&A with Kevin Durham, DataScience@SMU student. Durham discusses his career shift to fill his lack of fullfillment and how earning a Master of Science in Data Science is preparing him for his future goals.

The natural language programing paradigm builds on the premise of getting machines to read and understand natural human language, like English. These form the basis for the advanced form of computing called cognitive computing.

Bryan Hudson earned an M.S. in experimental psychology from Northeast Louisiana University in 1999, married his college sweetheart and moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where he has worked as the manager of a mental health study, a business consultant/analyst, a computer programmer and developer, database administrator, and data scientist. Bryan is currently enrolled in the DataScience@SMU program.

It’s the best job this year. Scoring number one in Glassdoor’s recent rankings of best jobs in America for 2016, data scientist made the top of the list based on a composite score of median reported salary, job openings and career opportunities.