New Organizations to Support Astroinformatics and Astrostatistics

TL;DR

The paper discusses the emergence of new organizations and collaborative efforts in astroinformatics and astrostatistics, driven by rapid changes in data analysis environments in astronomy.

Contribution

It highlights the formation of international working groups and societies supporting interdisciplinary research in astroinformatics and astrostatistics.

Findings

Increased cross-disciplinary collaboration in astronomy.

Support from major societies for astroinformatics and astrostatistics.

Growth of online resources and portals for the community.

Abstract

In the past two years, the environment within which astronomers conduct their data analysis and management has rapidly changed. Working Groups associated with international societies and Big Data projects have emerged to support and stimulate the new fields of astroinformatics and astrostatistics. Sponsoring societies include the Intenational Statistical Institute, International Astronomical Union, American Astronomical Society, and Large Synoptic Survey Telescope project. They enthusiastically support cross-disciplinary activities where the advanced capabilities of computer science, statistics and related fields of applied mathematics are applied to advance research on planets, stars, galaxies and the Universe. The ADASS community is encouraged to join these organizations and to explore and engage in their public communication Web site, the Astrostatistics and Astroinformatics Portal (http://asaip.psu.edu).