Behavioural Economics Seminar: The BERTHA Big Data Centre for Environment and Health: Opportunities and Challenges

Open seminar with professor Clive Eric Sabel, Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University.

Abstract

The BERTHA Big Data Centre for Environment and Health at Aarhus University, Denmark, aims to muster the huge potential opportunities from the Big Data revolution to help us understand the complex interactions between environmental pollutants and human health. Spatial lifecourse epidemiology and the exposome, are seminal concepts that underpin the centre, as we aim to recreate the lifecourses of the entire Danish population.

Key to this overarching aim is bringing together an interdisciplinary team of environmental and data scientists and clinicians to assemble, link and analyse diverse, rich (Big) datasets, develop algorithms and intelligent data analytics, all applied to our specific health outcomes that include cardiorespiratory and mental health.

Significant computational challenges include Big Data collection and linkage from diverse data sources that vary over space and time. Data sources include national health registries, nationwide environmental exposures at fine spatial and temporal resolution; social media; personalised sensors; and individual biomarkers from blood bank, cardiac and physical activity cohorts. A further challenge involves developing Big Data analytics to extract pattern or trends from this complex set of data, a truly Big Data mining initiative.

The presentation will highlight the exciting possibilities and challenges of working with such rich data.

Practicalities

The seminar is open to all. You are welcome to bring your lunch.
There is limited seating.