The value and impact of real-world data science showcased in new book

Its publication confirms the position of QUT as Australia's leading research institution for data science

Edited by Distinguished Professor Kerrie Mengersen, a global leader in Bayesian statistics and data science and a member of the QUT Centre for Data Science, From Campus to Collaboration: Postgraduate Data Science Projects with Industry Partners can be downloaded for free as an e-book.

Co-edited by Dr Kalpani Ishara Duwalage and Jessie Roberts, both from the QUT School of Mathematical Sciences, it brings together a series of chapters authored by postgraduate research students engaged in collaborative projects with industry, government, and non-profit organisations.

“From Campus to Collaboration: Postgraduate Data Science Projects with Industry Partners showcases real-world data science collaborations between QUT postgraduate students and industry partners, highlighting the tangible outcomes of our commitment to industry engagement and practical learning experiences,” Professor Mengersen said.

“It absolutely exemplifies the commitment of QUT to work-integrated learning and industry-engaged research in data science.

“The case studies contained within it highlight the depth and quality of QUT's postgraduate data science programs, along with successful models of university-industry collaboration, and the real-world impact of data science research and applications.”

Distinguished Professor Christopher Barner-Kowollik has written the forward for the publication.

“Our world is driven by data and our ability to translate fundamental research into real-world solutions has never been more important,” Professor Barner-Kowollik said.

“Research should not exist in isolation. While academic institutions provide the critical scaffolding – deep theory, methodological precision, and a culture of inquiry – it is through applied experiential learning that these skills are stress-tested, refined, and ultimately transformed into tools of genuine impact.

“This collection demonstrates that when students are invited beyond the walls of university into industry and government partnerships, they gain a richer experience and help shape our future.

“What makes these stories remarkable is the diversity of domains – from health and environmental science to public policy and elite sport performance – and the way each student navigated complex, often ambiguous challenges. They did not merely apply known techniques; they co-created new methods, tools, and insights with their partners.

“We need more of this, more research that is grounded in community need and collaboration that respects diverse forms of knowledge. More learning that stretches students beyond the familiar, into the fertile, generative space where real change begins.”

Professor Mengersen said the book aligned strongly with QUT's strategic priorities around work-integrated learning, industry partnerships, and research excellence, providing compelling evidence of the value postgraduate programs deliver to both students and industry partners.

From Campus to Collaboration: Postgraduate Data Science Projects with Industry Partners was published under a Creative Commons license. Download it at: https://qut.pressbooks.pub/from-campus-to-collaboration/

Main image: Distinguished Professor Kerrie Mengersen

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