[ASA] Machine Learning in Australian Astronomy - zoom meeting 11am AEST 25th August 2022

[Sarah Brough]

Dear ASA Members,

I last contacted you in June regarding bringing together a Machine 
Learning in Australian Astronomy community. We now have a slack 
workspace with ~50 members (if you are interested and yet to join please 
use this link that will be valid for 30 days: 
https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/FBrmCANpgjC9YNVOQIG8yto?domain=join.slack.com 
).

As flagged in the earlier email, we will meet via zoom next Thursday 
25th August at 11am (AEST; 9am AWST) for some initial conversations 
about how to support this community - zoomlink: 
https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/cqKfCBNqjlCVo7AKGH6d_Nx?domain=unsw.zoom.us
     Password: 607619

We would use this opportunity to hear what people are interested in 
getting from (or giving to!) this community, and any practical 
suggestions for achieving that. Below I have included my personal list 
as a starting point and I am very happy to hear from you all too!

I’m keen for Australian astronomers working in this space to know:

1. that they’re using the right tools for the problem that they’re 
trying to solve -> this could take the form of (regular?) beginners 
workshops on how to start in AI/ML as well as (monthly?) short 
presentations on people’s work in progress with discussion time.

2. who in the community is already working in that area/with that 
technique so they know who to discuss problems with -> this is partly 
achieved by the slack#introductions 
<https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/l97dCD1vlpTBP5MA9sAozay?domain=mlaa-workspace.slack.com>channel, and the 
slack#general 
<https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/pcL9CE8wmrtWP3nx7FP45BO?domain=mlaa-workspace.slack.com>channel can also 
be used for discussion of problems, and reinforced by (monthly?) short 
presentations on people’s work in progress.

3. Suk Yee Yong also mentioned the value of hearing about 
failed/successful attempts/approaches - can we apply the same ML methods 
to solve similar tasks? partly achieved by the slack# 
<https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/l97dCD1vlpTBP5MA9sAozay?domain=mlaa-workspace.slack.com>failschannel

4. for those who are thinking about moving into more data 
scientist/machine-learning focussed roles it would be valuable to hear 
from people who have already done that about what that transition looks 
like and what is required -> this is partly achieved by 
the#introductions 
<https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/l97dCD1vlpTBP5MA9sAozay?domain=mlaa-workspace.slack.com>channel, but 
could be reinforced by including this aspect in regular short presentations.

Regards, Sarah

On 29/6/22 2:59 pm, Sarah Brough wrote:
>
> Dear ASA Members,
>
> I have been considering how to bring together astronomers (students, 
> postdocs, faculty) in Australia working on Machine-Learning/Artificial 
> Intelligence-type problems. The number of people working in this space 
> is growing and the field is rapidly developing. I have been wondering 
> how we should support one another in our research, ensure best 
> practice and support current astronomers considering 
> Machine-Learning/Artificial Intelligence/data science as alternate 
> career paths.
>
> Following initial discussions at the ASA ASM I have set up a Machine 
> Learning in Australian Astronomy (MLAA) slack workspace to encourage 
> conversations. You are welcome to join this slack space with the 
> following link: 
> https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/aWWHCGv0oyCJg1q47skLQLx?domain=join.slack.com 
> (link will be active for 29 days)
>
> There are other groups working on building machine learning 
> communities within universities so I am keen not to re-invent the 
> wheel, or cause more work for our busy community, so the slack space 
> also welcomes you to share information on existing #resources and 
> existing #events that are relevant to Australian astronomers working 
> in this space.
>
> We will meet via zoom Thursday 25th August at 11am (AEST; 9am AWST) 
> for some initial conversations, more details on this meeting will be 
> advertised through the MLAA slack.
>
> Everyone in our community is welcome to join the conversation so 
> please share this email with your colleagues.
>
> If you have questions, comments or would like to get more involved 
> please feel free to email me.
>
> Cheers, Sarah
>
> -- 
> ----------------------
> Professor Sarah Brough
> Australian Science Lead for LSST
> AD: #130, Old Main Building (K15) | UNSW Sydney | NSW 2052 | Australia
> PH: +61 2 9065 2579
>
> I am sending this message now because it suits me.  I don’t expect that you will read, respond to, or action it outside of your regular working hours.
>
> ----------------------

-- 
----------------------
Professor Sarah Brough
Australian Science Lead for LSST
AD: #130, Old Main Building (K15) | UNSW Sydney | NSW 2052 | Australia
PH: +61 2 9065 2579

I am sending this message now because it suits me.  I don’t expect that you will read, respond to, or action it outside of your regular working hours.

----------------------
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.sydney.edu.au/pipermail/asa/attachments/20220819/26a89840/attachment.html>