Centre for Medical Ethics & Law
REDSSA
Data Science Team
Purpose:
The aim of the Data Science Team is to provide input as data science researchers and practitioners into the focus of the REDSSA project. The team will consider the various stages of the data cycle with respect to ethical and social considerations, and grapple with the impact of these considerations to technological and methodological innovations.
Kanshu Rajaratnam
Professor Kanshukan Rajaratnam is the Director of the School for Data Science and Computational Thinking and an associate professor in the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science at Stellenbosch University (SU). Prior to his joining SU, he was in the Department of Finance and Tax at University of Cape Town. There, he also held leadership positions such as strategic projects manager, Deputy Dean and Acting Dean of the Faculty.
Bruce Watson
Bruce is the Capitec Chair of Applied AI and Chair of Computational Thinking for AI (part of the national Centre for AI Research) – all in the School for Data-Science & Computational Thinking at Stellenbosch University. His research focus is on the design of ethical, correct, fast, secure, and elegant algorithms for solving data-science and AI problems, particularly those relevant to emerging economies of the Global South, such as long-Covid, disease surveillance, and optimization of biocultures. Additionally, these techniques are applicable in securing the cyber vulnerable, critical infrastructure, and decision-making processes (also known as knowledge security). Watson's first Ph.D is in computing science and engineering from Eindhoven, after studying discrete mathematics and computer science in Waterloo (Canada). He later returned to Eindhoven as chair of Software Construction. Watson's second Ph.D is from the University of Pretoria. Parallel to his academic career, he worked as a compiler engineer at several companies (e.g. Microsoft), followed by engineering and architecture work on pattern recognition for security (e.g. for Cisco). He is rated as an internationally acclaimed researcher by the NRF.
