The new Data Science Institute in the UTIA School of Natural Resources held its inaugural fall conference from Sept. 12-13 in Knoxville. More than 25 people from member companies and potential member organizations attended.

The conference featured keynote speakers from UT, Minitab, JMP, and R Software along with workshops on software applications.

The Data Science Institute was established in the School in January 2024. It has five member companies: Egger Wood Products, Hexion Chemical, Huber Engineered Woods, Louisiana-Pacific Corp., and Roseburg Forest Products.

The Institute aims to promote and advance the education and research of data science, machine learning, and AI for companies engaged in forest management, cellulosic fiber utilization for forest products manufacturing, and biomaterials processing. It operates as an expansion of a company’s innovation group by providing access to the most current technologies in the evolving fields of data science, machine learning, and AI.

Member benefits include weekly webinars, direct support by email, discounts on ongoing in-person training programs, and the annual fall conference.

You can find information about the Data Science Institute on its website or by contacting Don Hodges at dhodges2@utk.edu or 865-974-2706.