>> Academic background of team members Michael and Trevor were both born and educated in South Africa to Master of
Science level. Michael then did his doctorate in statistics at the Université de Paris-6, France, and Trevor did his doctorate in statistics at Stanford
University, USA. At present Michael is Professor of Statistics at the
Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, and Trevor is Professor of Statistics
and Biostatistics at Stanford.
>> Current research interests related to Elsevier Grand Challenge:
Michael is interested in the analysis of large data sets, data visualization,
communication and interpretation of complex data for non-specialists.
Trevor's research is in statistical learning, data mining, bioinformatics and
statistical computing.
>> Why were you inspired to enter the Grand Challenge? We are interested in scientific publishing, not only as scientists
seeking an outlet for our ideas, but also in the production side of
publishing such as format, style, and especially the communication of
numerical data to the reader.
>> What do you see as the greatest challenge in finalizing your Grand
Challenge? (whether substantive, logistical, team composition, working
solo etc.)
The biggest challenge for us is getting researchers and publishers to realize
that online electronic publishing can be more than just posting a PDF file of
the printed article. There are many more innovative ways of understanding
data and communicating statistical results, especially through graphics, and
we hope to demonstrate this.
>> What would you do with the prize money? We plan to give 20% of our prize money to the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund in our home country, South Africa, and then unashamedly
spend the rest on a dream holiday in Turkey next summer for our families, who
have been friends for almost 30 years. Some of them are scattered on different
continents, so this would be a wonderful possibility for us all to reunite.
>> Does your team have a name? What would best personify your
Grand Challenge equip? We are "Elsetwee" -- as the song goes: "Just the two of us, we can make it if we try"
