BC3, in partnership with the United Nations Statistics Division, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation, the Basque Government, the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE) and the Basque Statistics Institute (EUSTAT), will organise the 8th International Conference on Big Data and Data Science for Official Statistics on the 10-14th of June 2024 in Bilbao, Spain. This conference aims to address pressing global challenges, including Climate Change (including risk assessment), Biodiversity Loss, Sustainability of Tourism, and Food Systems. Addressing these key themes necessitates the consideration of various policy levers that span economic, social, and environmental dimensions, acknowledging the interconnected nature of these issues.

The 5-day event will bring together experts from the statistical, data science, geospatial, and modelling communities to discuss and share insights on critical themes. By emphasizing these, the conference highlights how integrated policies can amplify collective efforts. 

A key focus area of the conference will be on innovative integration streams, such as combining statistical and geospatial information, localising Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and leveraging advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and data interoperability. For instance, the ARIES platform hosted at BC3, which since 2022 has been a Sector Hub within the United Nations Global Platform, will play a role as an example of a knowledge integration hub to foster global knowledge-driven collaboration and synergy.

“For sustainability, we have already written the book of knowledge. But the book is written in too many languages. We don’t need new scientific discoveries to save the world, we just need to be able to read the book that’s already been written.” (Ferdinando Villa, Ikerbasque Professor, BC3)

The conference aims to foster collaboration and drive the production of integrated scientific, statistical, and geospatial information crucial for informed decision-making through high-level panels, technical sessions, and workshops. 

“This event represents a unique opportunity for experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to unite in creating effective, data-driven policies for sustainable development.” (María José Sanz, Scientific Director, BC3)