About the Big Data Senior Steering GroupBig Data is a term applied to data sets whose size is beyond the ability of commonly used software tools to capture, manage, and process the data within a tolerable elapsed time. Big data sizes are a constantly moving target currently ranging from a few dozen terabytes to many petabytes of data in a single data set. – Wikipedia, May 2011Big Data Senior Steering GroupBDSSG ID-08077e92-09d1-4e34-80e4-2e3833c092aeThe Big Data Senior Steering Group (BDSSG) was formed to identify current big data research and development activities across the Federal government, offer opportunities for coordination, and identify what the goal of a national initiative in this area would look like. Subsequently, in March 2012, The White House Big Data R&D Initiative was launched and the BDSSG continues to work in four main areas to facilitate and further the goals of the Initiative. U.S. Networking and Information Technology Research and Development ProgramTo facilitate and further the goals of the White House Big Data R&D Initiative. ID-6564f967-90f7-4277-b531-7fc1b1f042e7Subcommittee Focus Areas ID-12286fd6-e739-4d08-8de7-45e36bd6758f1Core TechnologiesAdvance the scientific and technological means of managing, analyzing, visualizing, and extracting useful information from large, diverse, distributed and heterogeneous data sets ID-66b8fdd5-f653-4994-aade-3567a562b8e61.1An interagency Big Data Solicitation is ongoing at: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504767 ...The Core Techniques and Technologies for Advancing Big Data Science & Engineering (BIGDATA) solicitation aims to advance the core scientific and technological means of managing, analyzing, visualizing, and extracting useful information from large, diverse, distributed and heterogeneous data sets so as to: Scientific Discovery & Innovationaccelerate the progress of scientific discovery and innovation ID-df9fc0c5-8175-4a7b-add5-84e93c87579d1.1.1Fields of Inquirylead to new fields of inquiry that would not otherwise be possible ID-d517926b-9b67-4fcd-94a4-bea7db7266e21.1.2Tools & Algorithmsencourage the development of new data analytic tools and algorithms ID-c6d04e3a-1d5b-4fde-bb30-a53543345a171.1.3Data Infrastructurefacilitate scalable, accessible, and sustainable data infrastructure ID-988729a4-0a51-4362-82d8-062a6a2e23381.1.4Social Processes & Interactionsincrease understanding of human and social processes and interactions ID-906437ce-c75e-4222-b23c-936eae085a4d1.1.5Economic Growth, Health & Quality of Lifepromote economic growth and improved health and quality of life. ID-10b0644d-4287-4d31-a780-9ca2810839d11.1.6The new knowledge, tools, practices, and infrastructures produced will enable breakthrough discoveries and innovation in science, engineering, medicine, commerce, education, and national security -- laying the foundations for US competitiveness for many decades to come. Domain Research ProjectsIdentify common data infrastructure challenges that would benefit from additional research ID-386bb43b-c9e0-4ef1-a064-236b6b25f61b1.2Specific research projects that involve the use of big data and interagency collaboration have been identified. The group is currently working to identify common data infrastructure challenges that would benefit from additional research. Challenges & CompetitionsBuild understanding of how to make diverse and heterogeneous data sets more homogeneous and usable ID-6c6db236-2190-4be0-868c-252ddfaf25e01.3 A Big Data Ideation Challenge began in October 2012 as the first in a series of contests that will build understanding about “taking diverse and heterogeneous data sets and making them more homogeneous and usable”. The information derived from this series will inform recommendations on big data research. Workforce DevelopmentIdentify workforce development programs that include or could be evolved to include big data training ID-9c8a3f79-c7b9-461e-bd25-df2b6c28658a1.4 Current Agency workforce development programs that either include, or could be evolved to include, big data training have been identified. Currently, a publicly accessible web portal to disseminate this and other information on Federal resources such as access to computing, networking, and storage capacity, is underway. Information is also being collected on current models for creating public-private partnerships which could lead to new program recommendations. Major Activities ID-0db4e645-4f76-41d8-91b4-33658038570c2The National Big Data R&D Initiative ID-70fd058c-e667-4a7f-bf63-15ba40c495c52.1Aiming to make the most of the fast-growing volume of digital data, in March 2012, the Obama Administration announced the “Big Data Research and Development Initiative.” By improving our ability to extract knowledge and insights from large and complex collections of digital data, the initiative promises to help solve some the Nation’s most pressing challenges. The Big Data Senior Steering Group continues to work with the White House Office of Science and Technology along with several Federal departments and agencies to help further the goals of the Initiative which strive to:Core TechnologiesAdvance state-of-the-art core technologies needed to collect, store, preserve, manage, analyze, and share huge quantities of data. ID-2fce68ae-801c-4163-8a69-83e12e40d4542.1.1Discovery, National Security, Teaching & LearningHarness these technologies to accelerate the pace of discovery in science and engineering, strengthen our national security, and transform teaching and learning ID-afe15b25-9689-4d25-aa13-e9bd1a4b4f372.1.2WorkforceExpand the workforce needed to develop and use Big Data technologies. ID-c389b4e7-dddb-4ad9-a7fc-2fcf6083e76e2.1.3Data to Knowledge to Action ID-0804576c-2253-40b7-8818-739bc68386f22.2Calls, Presentations, Workshops, and Events ID-f2ab5a2a-e1f0-4e39-ad05-699a5e2d31a22.3Beginning in the second year of the National Big Data Initiative, the Administration is encouraging multiple stakeholders including federal agencies, private industry, academia, state and local government, non-profits, and foundations, to develop and participate in Big Data innovation projects across the country. The Administration is particularly interested in projects and initiatives that: Technology AdvancementAdvance technologies that support Big Data and data analytics ID-c472839b-4a62-48d7-be9a-57af45fc1b3f2.3.1WorkforceEducate and expand the Big Data workforce ID-62e5f583-1dfa-4c1d-af49-d969c67106af2.3.2Demonstrations & EvaluationDevelop, demonstrate and evaluate applications of Big Data that improve key outcomes in economic growth, job creation, education, health, energy, sustainability, public safety, advanced manufacturing, science and engineering, and global development ID-b7879f7b-be91-4f6d-82a3-5715767f4f452.3.3Prizes & ChallengesDemonstrate the role that prizes and challenges can play in deriving new insights from Big Data ID-f1d1e399-121a-44b7-bc9d-17fd346193c32.3.4Regional InnovationFoster regional innovation ID-b52f7751-0d50-4cbf-98df-58dc9bf800272.3.52014-01-21http://www.nitrd.gov/nitrdgroups/index.php?title=Big_Data_(BD_SSG)#titleOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net