IAS Public talk – Big Data, Big Universe

Our third talk of 2026 the Society is delighted to welcome Kevin Nolan who will present “Big Data, Big Universe”  at 7:30pm on  Monday 30th March (see details below).  It will take place at our usual venue in Beech Hill, UCD, Eircode D04 P7W1.

The talk will also be available on Zoom. Please join the Zoom Meeting by clicking this link a few minutes before the start time.

Please note this talk is part of the Irish Astronomy Week, you can find other events across Ireland this week!

Description:

In “Big Data, Big Universe,” Kevin Nolan will explore how modern astrophysics and cosmology now generate extraordinary volumes of data. Today’s telescopes can collect in a single night what once took entire surveys a decade to gather. Real-time analysis and advanced machine learning are now essential tools for understanding the Universe. Beyond sheer scale, astronomical data also presents unique challenges — including biased datasets and measurement noise — placing astronomy at the forefront of machine learning research. This lecture will highlight how astronomical applications are driving innovation in data analysis, outlining key challenges and recent advances inspired by the study of the cosmos.

Speaker Bio:

Kevin Nolan is a Lecturer in Physics at Technological University Dublin, an expert on the planet Mars, and author of the popular science book “Mars: A Cosmic Stepping Stone.” He brings both research expertise and extensive public engagement experience to this seminar.

Zoom meeting: https://ucd-ie.zoom.us/j/69570576310

This Event: https://irishastrosoc.ie/event/big-data-big-universe_mar2026

Previous IAS talks: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF-D1wyYOy3HINp0THSBOAdpoqcTKfE1Y