Dr Nicky Nicolson

My role is to develop a research team focussing on intelligent data analysis. Throughout Kew's history we have assembled significant global-scale datasets: we are now using these as training data inputs for machine learning applications. In addition to these data resources, we also have scientific expertise to pose relevant questions, and to interpret and validate results. This research strand contributes to Kew's strategic priorities for science: "to curate and provide data-rich evidence from Kew’s unrivalled collections as a global asset for scientific research" - by providing more efficient data mobilisation and decision support.

I am currently working on a data mining research project using data from digitised herbarium specimen collections mobilised via the GBIF network and scientific name publication data from the International Plant Names Index. The products of this data mining research are used in two ways: to advance data understanding through the development of predictive models, and to facilitate data curation via efficiencies in digitisation and linking allied data. I have a background in scientific software development and am also interested in building open source tools and techniques to make data curation more efficient and to make research reproducible. 

• BSc (Hons), Botany, University of London, 1995
• MSc, Computer Science, University of Kent, 1997