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QCRI Seminar Speaker to Discuss Computing and Policy Analysis

RAND's Dr. Siddhartha Dalal to describe advanced methods to overcome the "curse" of too much policy data

Doha, Qatar-- December 5, 2011--Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, today announced that Dr. Siddhartha Dalal, the chief technology officer of RAND Corporation and RAND-Qatar Policy Institute, will present the next lecture in the QCRI Seminar Series, "Revolutionizing Policy Analysis with Information Analytics."

Dr. Dalal's talk will be held at 6 p.m. on December 12, 2011, in the auditorium on the mezzanine level of Al Nasr Tower A, the West Bay tower that houses the QCRI headquarters.

"When it comes to data, there really can be too much of a good thing," said Dr. Ahmed Elmagarmid, executive director of QCRI. "As Qatar moves from a carbon-based economy to a knowledge-based economy, its policymakers need the most advanced methods of analyzing vast amounts of data. This seminar will help point the way to better policymaking."

Policymakers are challenged by what Dr. Dalal calls the "curse of dimensionality," which he describes as "the vastness of available information, the need for increasingly detailed and delicate analysis, and the speed with which new analysis is needed and old analysis must be refreshed."

Decision makers expect that all digital data will be taken into account in policy analysis, but that is not possible with standard methods of analysis. Computers must be used to leverage the vast amounts of digital data available.

Dr. Dalal will reveal methods he has used at RAND to convert enormous amounts of existing information into the knowledge needed for policy analysis. These methods draw on social interaction models, information analytics, and web technologies that have already revolutionized research in other areas. Dr. Dalal's presentation will emphasize initial applications of this approach to current RAND research projects and their applications. Approaches to develop partnerships that crosscut RAND's broad research agenda will also be discussed.

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About QCRI
A member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, Qatar Computing Research Institute conducts world-class multidisciplinary computing research that is relevant to the needs of Qatar, the wider Arab region, and the world, leveraging Qatar's unique historical, linguistic, and cultural heritage. The institute focuses its research on five areas: Arabic language technologies, social computing, scientific computing, cloud computing, and data analytics. QCRI disseminates the results of its research through community outreach and technology transfer activities.

Qatar Foundation - Unlocking Human Potential
Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development is a private, non-profit organization that is supporting Qatar on its journey from carbon economy to knowledge economy by unlocking human potential for the benefit of not only Qatar, but the world. Founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Amir of Qatar, QF is chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser.

QF carries out its mission through three strategic pillars: education, science and research, and community development. QF's education pillar brings world-class universities to Qatar to help create an education sector in which young people can develop the attitudes and skills required for a knowledge economy. Meanwhile, its science and research pillar builds Qatar's innovation and technology capacity by developing and commercialising solutions through key sciences. Finally, its community development pillar helps foster a progressive society while also enhancing cultural life, protecting Qatar's heritage and addressing immediate social needs in the community.

For more information on Qatar Foundation please contact:
Tariq Al Sada
Press Office Unit Head
Qatar Foundation
Tel: +974 4454 0991
Email: talsada@qf.org.qa

Anwar El-Shamy
Press Office Coordinator
Qatar Foundation
Tel: +974 55904407
Email: aelshamy@qf.org.qa

© Press Release 2011