Blog: A supervisor's experience

The Data Science Academy (DSA) was launched in 2019, aiming to produce highly skilled graduates in fields like data science, AI, and cybersecurity.

The DSA connects students with industry partners and internal schools to work on real-world projects, often aligning with MSc dissertation requirements.

Over the past five years, the number of projects has grown significantly. During the 2022/23 academic year, one project led by Dr. Andrea Folia from the School of Chemistry demonstrated the impactful collaboration between DSA students and academic research.

Project Background

Dr. Folia's project focused on improving materials for hydrogen production from water, a greener alternative energy source essential for achieving net-zero carbon emissions. Although the body of research in this area spans decades, variations in study design make it challenging to compare materials directly.

To address this, Dr. Folia sought the help of data science to develop an algorithm capable of analysing 40 years of research data, identifying trends, and advancing the development of green hydrogen materials.

Initially, Dr. Folia was unsure if a Data Science student could effectively contribute to a chemistry-based project. However, after collaborating with the DSA and receiving a highly engaged MSc Data Science and Analytics (DASA) student, his concerns were alleviated. The students quickly familiarized themselves with the chemistry concepts, allowing the project to progress smoothly.

The supervision model involved regular meetings, with students demonstrating commitment to understanding the project’s complex chemistry aspects. Dr. Folia emphasized that the students’ initiative in seeking peer support and collaborating with their academic peers helped overcome any challenges that arose during the project.

Results and Outcomes

The project was divided into two phases. The first student began work in June 2022, followed by a second student who continued the project in September. Together, they developed an algorithm capable of analysing decades of research to identify promising materials for green hydrogen production. The outcome has led to significant progress in the field, with Dr. Folia now having a database of research-backed materials to inform future experiments.

Additionally, a PhD student under Dr. Folia’s supervision is currently synthesizing some of the materials identified by the algorithm, further advancing the research into green hydrogen production.

Dr. Folia described his experience as a DSA supervisor as highly beneficial. He appreciated the students’ dedication and found that regular communication and a well-structured project with a clear dataset were key to the project’s success. He believes that DSA projects have the potential to benefit a wide range of disciplines, encouraging more academics to participate.

Looking ahead, Dr. Folia plans to submit another project proposal, this time involving multiple students, and he is excited about the continued collaboration with the DSA. He also plans to present the project’s outcomes to the Net Zero Innovation Institute, further expanding the impact of this collaboration.

For more information about the Data Science Academy or submitting project proposals, contact the DSA team at dsa@cardiff.ac.uk.