Introduction to the ‘Big Data Science' Symposium

The symposium is co-organized by the American Fisheries Society (AFS) and the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH), two professional groups that share mutual interests in the conservation and management of fish biodiversity. As an inaugural topic, the symposium focuses on ‘Big Data Science,’ with particular emphasis on the production of massive amounts of data, as promoted by technological and analytical advances, and how this is transforming fisheries related research and management. One potential recognition is that more data are generated than can easily and efficiently be analyzed, and methodologies are presented that can hopefully ease this transition. Furthermore, academia is continually being challenged to educate the next generation of biologist by defining and developing curricula that can transect biological, statistical, mathematical and computational disciplines. The symposium highlights case studies that are now being addressed by harnessing novel analytical tools. It also provides a horizon scan of future possibilities as well as expected challenges that will occur within the next decade.