11 minute read
Maths & Data
The NUMBERS behind everything
You heard it here – maths and data skills are in demand for, yep, just about everything
Floods, fire, pandemics, climate change – it’s been a tumultuous few years and the cost to both society and the economy is huge. So just what is the damage? Ask mathematicians. Mathematicians tackle some of today’s biggest societal challenges, from predicting climate change and bushfire risk to understanding social trends, combating online bullying and so much more. It’s not just disasters where mathematicians (working in risk and insurance, banking, economy and policy) are super relevant. Think social good. Conservation. Health. Transport. Retail... Every industry sector has a strong need for people with maths skills. US job website, CareerCast has ranked maths-based careers among the “10 Best Jobs” for the past seven years.
the choices farmers make on their land have an impact on water quality”
kate helmstedt research fellow
Water wise
Water is vital to conservation and agriculture, and maintaining a good balance requires a lot of maths – just ask Kate Helmstedt
In Queensland, the chemicals used on farms can enter the water system and make their way to the Reef. Kate is a mathematician and senior lecturer at QUT and is researching how different regulations might influence farmers’ decisions and ultimately change their behaviour. “The choices farmers make on their land – such as how much fertiliser to use and what they do with their rubbish – have an impact on water quality and speed up the decline of the Great Barrier Reef,” says Kate. Kate works with a multidisciplinary team that includes social scientists, economists and behavioural scientists to model different policies. “There are lots of things society gets from land. We need to feed people, we need places to live, we need recreation,” says Kate. “We can use mathematics to trade off all those different objectives so we can balance our needs with biodiversity conservation.” – Chloe Walker
Career goals
thomas craddock management consultant Thomas Craddock works at major employer PwC, helping people in industry solve their problems
“I love my job because every day I come to work to solve problems, something my mathematics degree taught me to manage,” says Thomas. As a management consultant at professional services company PwC, the sheer scale of some of the industry projects is exciting for him. “I love the problem-solving environment and that every day presents a different set of questions and challenges.” The “real-world application exposure” Thomas received during his joint Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Mathematics at QUT was a huge bonus. “The emphasis on this practical style of learning combined with the support for finding internships and other work experience was my favourite part of QUT,” he says. “I felt confident that I was knowledgeable and employable.” – Heather Catchpole
Bachelor of Business / Bachelor of Mathematics, QUT Personal banker, ANZ Manager, Consulting at PwC Australia
Apply yourself
While maths theory has its own special beauty, the applications of maths are hugely varied and interesting. And QUT, with its focus on real-world applications, is the perfect uni to dive into these. In fact, it’s one of the top unis for applied maths – where maths is set to tackle real-world problems across a number of fields, including engineering, information technology, commerce, biology and medicine. One hundred per cent of maths graduates complete an industry-driven project in a work-integrated learning program. In your final year, you’ll apply your knowledge to a real-world project, delivering it to an industry client. QUT’s Bachelor of Mathematics offers three majors. Bachelor of Mathematics (Applied and Computational Mathematics) looks at the massive,
tricky problems in energy, the environment and health, using maths models to build computer simulations, testing ‘what if’ scenarios and making accurate predictions.
The Bachelor of Mathematics (Operations Research) is about optimising the design of systems relying on scarce resources. It could see you tackle challenging problems in transport, food, mining and defence.
Finally, the Bachelor of Mathematics (Statistics) sets you up with the Big Data capabilities to provide evidence-based decisions across a range of industries. The report Data Literacy: The Upskilling Evolution predicts that data literacy will be the most in-demand skill by 2030.
Want to combine maths with another interest through a double degree? There are some excellent maths + X combinations at QUT! Think maths + communications = decision scientist or policy advisor; or maths + interactive design = realistic game environments. With maths you will add in-demand skills to some of today’s most interesting careers. – Heather Catchpole
emma studerus bachelor of data science student
Remote learner
Think doing a data science degree from home is impossible? Think again! Emma Studerus is on the task
Emma has always been a numbers whiz, but diving into data to hunt for hidden solutions is what really makes her tick. “I love to make sense of data and use analysis to solve real-world issues,” she says. Emma discovered her love of data science after taking a unit in data analysis while she was studying IT. After working in IT and customer service for a few years, she took the plunge and decided to pursue a Bachelor of Data Science at QUT as an external student. “Flexible learning allows me to create that balance between work, family, and study,” she says. “Being able to attend different online workshops is very helpful if I miss one.” And, instead of sitting in peak-hour traffic just getting to the uni campus, Emma uses the time to study at home. One of her favourite things about studying at QUT is the focus on real-world skills and career development. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions during online classes – there are no silly questions,” says Emma. “Not only will you understand the subject better, but it will also encourage other students to engage more.” – Gemma Conroy
QUT
IT support engineer peer leader, QUT
research assistant, QUT
Bachelor of Data Science, QUT
building data-eating machines
Robotics expert Michael Milford uses data to fuel machine learning technology michael milford professor & joint director, qut centre for robotics
joint director, centrefor robotics, qut
professor of robotics, qut
founder, maths thrills
Building the ‘brains’ of drones, robots and autonomous vehicles is all in a day’s work for engineer Michael. As joint director of QUT’s Centre for Robotics, Michael and his team harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to create real-world solutions for industry and government. For example, he has worked on developing technology to help autonomous vehicles find their way underground at mining sites. “People refer to AI as the new ‘electricity’ or ‘oil’ to indicate what a universal, game-changing technology it is,” says Michael. Designing brainy machines is just one of the exciting career pathways that have emerged in our data-driven world. Jobs in data science grew by a massive 492% from 2015 to 2019 and are predicted to grow another 28% by 2026!
Data science + your passion
= dream job Working with numbers and data isn’t all spreadsheets and formulas; it can also fuel creativity and innovation. Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Creative Industries/ Bachelor of Data Science program learn how to use data, too. Music and sound majors learn about algorithms for
People refer to AI as the new ‘electricity’”
streaming platforms, while students majoring in fashion communication graduate with the skills to forecast market trends and analyse buyer behaviour.
Data science skills are also sought after in the healthcare industry, with the Bachelor of Health Information Management providing students with skills in health informatics and data management. The program offers plenty of opportunities to network and get to know the industry through work placements and visiting health information managers working at hospitals, not-for-profit organisations and government agencies.
Michael says there are several pathways working with data and the career opportunities are only going to grow.
“There are lots of ways to end up in a career that is exciting and fulfilling,” he says. “Plus, many of the jobs in the future don’t even exist now!” – Gemma Conroy
phd in robotics, the university of queensland
Bachelor of mechanical and spaceengineering, the university of queensland
Creating better cancer diagnosis and treatments
A team at the QUT Centre for Data Science is using massive genetic datasets and machine learning to explore how different types of cancer develop over time. The researchers are drawing on their data analytics know-how to better understand how cancer progresses in patients across different groups and cancer types. They are also using genetic data to predict a patient’s prognosis, improve diagnosis and ultimately identify which drugs will work best for each patient – an important step in improving personalised treatments.
Digital communicator
Sophia Slancar mashes up STEM, communications and creativity in her cool gig as a social media and marketing officer
If you use social media, you’re already on the path to a STEM career, just like Sophia. She is the social media and marketing officer for Limes Boutique Hotel and the Brisbane French Festival, working in social media management and strategy, content creation and digital marketing every day. Sophia became switched on to STEM in high school, through the creative media, design technology and engineering subjects she studied. But it was her gig working for the Brisbane French Festival that made her realise it could be a career win. “I joined the festival’s committee and became involved in the digital media, social media, marketing and PR side of the organisation,” she explains. “This ignited my interest in the social media and marketing field, which led me to applying for the Master of Digital Communication at QUT.” Through her Master’s, Sophia was able to explore a wide range of topics, including coding, social media data analytics, automation and transmedia storytelling. She believes the career opportunities in digital communication are huge, as it’s becoming more relevant every day. “I can work in almost any industry I wish, because nearly all of them need marketing, digital technology and social media to maintain relevance and connection to their audiences, and to share their products and services.” Her advice for those who want to combine STEM with what they love is to just go for it! “Make connections, do your research and take any opportunity to be involved in STEM that comes your way.” – Saskia Horgan-Catchpole
sophia slancar social media & marketing officer
Social Media, PR and Marketing Officer Secretary, Brisbane French Festival
Front Desk Receptionist and Social Media Marketing Officer, Limes Boutique Hotel Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Communication, University of Queensland
Master of Digital Communication, QUT
annabel platt senior health information manager Land a job before you graduate
senior health information manager Annabel Platt turned her clinical placement into a full-time career before she’d even completed her final uni assignments
Annabel works at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) – but while she’d always planned for a career as a doctor or nurse, she found she wasn’t cut out for the daily medical tasks: “I discovered I have quite a weak stomach when it comes to needles and blood!” Her aunt pointed her to an alternative: health information management. After an industry placement during her studies – and before she even had a chance to dust off her graduation gown – Annabel landed a sweet gig as a senior health information manager (HIM). In her role at the hospital, Annabel works with patient information and clinical data. “My job is to maintain data quality, transparently report on healthcare services and engage with clinical staff to streamline internal processes,” she says.
Make your place Placement is a great opportunity to get to know people who work in your industry. Annabel recommends jumping on the opportunity to ask for advice or start a conversation about possible job prospects.She’s grateful to QUT for the placement opportunity, as it really helped her make the most of what she studied in her degree. “It felt like the culmination of all my learning over the years was solidified.” – Gemma Conroy
Bachelor of Health Information Management, QUT Senior Health Information Manager, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
A future-proof career
Data science skills can be applied to almost any industry. You’ll find machine-learning engineers building chatbots to make online banking easier, data analysts crunching numbers to improve patient care in hospitals, and statisticians gathering data to help sports teams track performance and strategies.
QUT is the place to be if you dream of creating smart tech or doing maths to bring numbers to life to solve big, real-world problems. At the Centre for Data Science, researchers work on data-driven solutions for a range of big challenges in sports, government, business and the environment. The Centre also offers research and professional training opportunities to students who are keen to build their hands-on experience while they study.
Last year, QUT launched the Bachelor of Data Science, the first standalone undergraduate degree of its kind in Queensland. And in just two years, enrolments in QUT’s Master of Data Analytics almost tripled. Data science undergrads take a deep dive into processing, data acquisition, storage, management, analysis and visualisation.
MATHS AND DATA + STUDY
Bachelor of Data Science
Bachelor of
Mathematics (Applied and Computational Mathematics)
Bachelor of
Health Information Management
Bachelor of
Mathematics (Statistics)
Bachelor of
Biomedical
Science / Master of Data
Analytics
Bachelor of Communication / Bachelor of Data
Science
Bachelor of Creative Industries / Bachelor of Data
Science
Bachelor of Games
and Interactive
Environments / Bachelor of
Mathematics
MATHS AND DATA + JOBS
Bioinformatician
$50K–$86K*
Data scientist $64K–$135K
Health information manager
$61K–$122K*
Risk analyst $61K–$100K
Machine learning engineer
$56K–$128K
