Business analytics firm SAS is on the hunt for the UK and Ireland's top data scientist, who can best demonstrate the breadth of skills used in the field of analytics.
The search is open to entrants from both the academic and business world, who will be able to access a defined set of open data sources that are available for analysis within the SAS Academic Cloud.
Using the UK Government's open data, participants will be charged with producing an innovative forecast of energy demand in terms of the number of terawatt hours of electricity consumed in the UK by 2020.
According to SAS, the judges are looking for written submissions and a video presentation, with points being awarded for the use of visual representations and how interesting the submission is, as well as accuracy and the use of a wide range of skills.
The winner will be named SAS UK & Ireland Data Scientist of the Year and will receive a unique 3D model of their results, a trip to a SAS conference in America and the opportunity to present to the UK SAS Professionals Conference next year.
Laurie Miles, head of analytics at SAS UK & Ireland, who will be part of the judging panel, said: "We are looking for data scientists with great ideas and projections, to show us the impact data can have on infrastructure, power usage and the growing use of devices."
The competition is being held in the light of a 2013 report from SAS that showed demand for big data specialists within business is increasing, with a 243 per cent rise in demand expected between the publication of the report and 2017.
However, there is a significant skills gap in this area, with 60 per cent of organisations claiming they were having difficulties filling these positions.
Liam Fox, former cabinet minister and member of the Top Data Scientist Panel, said: "Understanding data trends will provide the UK with unrivalled opportunities to address some of the most critical issues facing our society, whether that's the economy, supporting an ageing population or how to tackle the energy crisis.
"This competition is important not only to identify key talent within data science but also to force the debate around vital areas like the future of energy," he concluded.
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