Title: Analytics for a Better World

Speaker: Prof. Dick den Hertog

Summary:

In this talk, Dick will describe two Analytics applications that contribute to one or more of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. The first application is an optimization model to optimize the steering of boats of The Ocean Cleanup to faster remove plastic from the oceans. The second application is an optimization model to optimize healthcare facility locations in Timor-Leste and stroke centre locations in Vietnam. This project is carried out in collaboration with the World Bank. If time permits, he will shortly describe the current and future activities of the recently initiated Analytics for a Better World Institute (Analytics enable nonprofits to help people and planet – Analytics for a Better World (analyticsbetterworld.org)).

Biography:

Dick den Hertog is a professor of Operations Research at the University of Amsterdam. His research interests cover various fields in prescriptive analytics, in particular linear and nonlinear optimization. In recent years his main focus has been on robust optimization, and recently he started research on Optimization with Machine Learning. He is also active in applying the theory in real-life applications. In particular, he is interested in applications that contribute to a better society. He received the INFORMS Franz Edelman Award twice: in 2013 for his research on optimal flood protection, and in 2021 for his research on optimizing the food supply chain for the UN World Food Programme. Currently, he is doing research to develop better optimization models and techniques for cancer treatment together with researchers from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, USA), and he is involved in research to optimize the locations of healthcare facilities in Timor-Leste and Vietnam together with the World Bank. He has been Visiting Professor at MIT for several years now. He is the Science-to-Impact Director of the Analytics for a Better World Institute, which he co-founded in 2022.

MEETING ID: 873 1557 5255; PASSWORD: 778635

WED 12 July 16:00-17:00 (AEST, Melbourne Time) – online only