What’s New to ODSC East 2021

With 2020 almost in the history books (thankfully!) it’s time to start looking towards a brighter 2021. ODSC APAC wrapped up our last event for the year, and now we’re planning for ODSC East 2021 coming up March 30 – April 1 2021. Just as our virtual events this year focused on hands-on training, so too will this event. Here’s a bit more on what to expect.

Why Virtual Training?

In these trying times, it’s important to look ahead. We know that many people are getting burnt out from virtual conferences and that we all miss meeting in-person to learn and network, but learning doesn’t take a break. The field of data science continues to expand and the demand for individuals with expertise in data, machine learning, and deep learning will continue to grow. The conference will feature all of the same things you’d get at an in-person event: trainings, networking, career advice, and more.

Sessions

What separates ODSC events apart from other virtual conferences is the diversity of content offered. Our speakers come from various industries – both professional and academic – to showcase their expertise in anything machine learning, deep learning, NLP, and more.

The ODSC East 2021 Virtual Conference will have something for everyone: from ML and DL to business applications and case studies, and from beginner to advanced. Regardless of where you are in your data science career, there’s a path for you. Some focus areas include:

Machine Learning & Deep Learning | NLP | Research Frontiers | Data Science Kick-start | Machine Learning for Programmers | Data Visualization | MLOps & Data Engineering.

Speakers

With 80 training sessions and workshops, and over 300 hours of original content, there’s something for everyone. Here are a few of the many speakers attending:

• Dr. Kirk Borne | Principal Data Scientist | Booz Allen Hamilton
• Jared Lander | Chief Data Scientist, Author of R for Everyone, Professor | Lander Analytics, Columbia Business School
• Paige Roberts | Open Source Relations Manager | Vertica
• Sarah Aerni, PhD | Director of Data Science and Engineering | Salesforce
• Leonardo De Marchi | Head of Data Science and Analytics | Badoo (now MagicLab, which owns several apps)
• Matt Brems | Global Lead Data Science Instructor | General Assembly
• Oren Etzioni, PhD | CEO | Allen Institute for AI 

These are only a few of the many speakers who will present at the event. Aside from the specific focus areas, you’ll learn about important topics like recommendation systems, transfer learning, machine vision, unsupervised learning, and more, in addition to the countless tools that data scientists use daily like frameworks, libraries, and other in-demand skills.

Virtual Conference Format

What’s online training like?

It’s Modular

All training sessions are modular, meaning everything is structured in an easy-to-follow format designed to balance instruction, hands-on training, and then a Q&A session. This ensures that you get the information you need, followed by a practice run and actual implementation of the new code, then a chance to ask questions related to what you just learned. 

It’s in the Cloud

By using Jupyter Notebook and Codelab, most training sessions will be on open-source, cloud-based documents to host and share code, visualizations, text, and other important information needed for your training session.

It’s Live

All of these sessions are in real-time, and function as if you’re at a conference in-person. The presenter will walk through everything right then and there.

Each session will have its own communication channel, too, meant for real-time discussion with other participants and for the Q&A part of each module.

It’s easy to switch between tracks, too. Everything will be viewed in an easy-to-use dashboard, so it’s simple to switch between focus areas. Halfway through the current machine learning session but want to learn more about NLP? You can easily switch to that one and catch the first half on-demand.

It’s On-Demand

On-demand videos will be made available for each session. Need to rewatch one that you participated in live? Had to choose between two talks that you were interested in? These videos will be available for you immediately. The module format will make it easy for you to follow, especially if you only need to refresh your memory for one section of a session.

Materials are all online

Everything will be right there for you in each session. While it’s recommended that you set up as much as possible before each session, such as downloading required programs and familiarizing yourself a bit with the topic, all session materials will be made available to you right there. Any subsequent materials (such as something mentioned in a Q&A session) can be shared via the unique communication channel, too.

Networking opportunities During ODSC East 2021

A popular component of conferences is the networking aspect. Some people may be concerned that a virtual event may not allow them to connect with others as they normally would. However, the ODSC East 2021 Virtual Conference will have a virtual lounge where you can connect with people from all over the world. Whereas an in-person event allows you to meet someone local, a virtual event will give you the opportunity to meet people that you may never meet otherwise.

To quote an attendee, Michael T., “Folks at ODSC making this year’s #ODSCVirtual event feel almost…not virtual.”

By connecting with other data scientists from around the world, you get the chance to explore how different cultures, universities, and organizations work with AI. What does an AI lab do differently from one in Europe? How does an English business implement AI differently from one in China? The connections formed at a virtual event will create an eye-opening experience for those who attend.

Other Events During ODSC East 2021

Ai x Summit: With 10 tracks, 60 solution partners, 70 business sessions, and 2000 companies represented, the Ai x Summit March 30-April 1, co-located with ODSC East, will be your destination for AI solutions for business. Get answers to the notorious “build or buy” dilemma and hear about case studies that showcase the success other businesses have seen.

Expo Hall: In the Virtual AI Expo, you’ll be able to visit 30+ booths to learn the latest solutions in AI for your organization. Hear more about the topics you need to get ahead like AutoML, data labeling, DevOps, DataOps, Deep Learning, BI Platforms, and more. Watch demo sessions on these hot topics and find out what’s the best fit for you.

Career Expo: The Virtual AI Career Expo will be the best place to find a career in data science with our hiring partners, get advice on how to plan your career through our Mentor & Career Talks, and see what your life could be like as a data scientist in another city – or even country.

Contests: We encourage participation! By watching talks & workshops, interacting in our chats, posting on social, and checking out partner booths, you’ll be automatically entered in a chance to win awesome prizes.

Women’s Ignite Session: This session comprises multiple 5-7 minute lightning talks by women in data science on technical topics, such as highlighting research, describing an important tool, or showcasing a unique case study.

Register for ODSC East 2021

If virtual training sounds good to you, and you’re ready to learn about the latest topics, frameworks, and tools in data science, then register for the ODSC East 2021 Virtual Conference this March 30 – April 1. Tickets are 70% off for a limited time, so be sure to grab your ticket now before it’s too late!