Big Data Better Answers: Optimization at Scale with Courtney Paquette

Big Data Better Answers: Optimization at Scale with Courtney Paquette

Author: UCTV January 28, 2026 Duration: 22:48
Large-scale optimization and machine learning shape modern data science, and Courtney Paquette, Ph.D., McGill University, studies how to design and analyze algorithms for large-scale optimization problems motivated by applications and data science. Paquette draws on probability, complexity theory, and convex and non-smooth optimization, and examines scaling limits of stochastic algorithms. Speaking with Saura Naderi, UC San Diego, Paquette describes an unconventional path from finance to pure mathematics and explains how persistence and comfort with uncertainty support long-term research. She highlights the challenge of building missing foundations while advancing through graduate training, and she connects that experience to the realities of doing original work. Paquette also reflects on rapid progress in machine learning and frames AI systems as tools that can be used thoughtfully. Series: "Science Like Me" [Science] [Show ID: 41119]

Ever wonder what's happening inside the laboratories, studios, and lecture halls of one of the world's most renowned public university systems? University of California Video Podcasts (Video) opens that door, offering a direct line to the minds shaping our future. Produced by UCTV, this series bypasses the headlines to bring you the raw, unfolding work of UC faculty and researchers. You'll find yourself immersed in detailed documentaries on global challenges, witness candid conversations from specialized symposiums, and enjoy performances that showcase extraordinary artistic talent-all sourced from across the ten unique campuses. This isn't a curated summary; it's front-row access to the process of discovery itself. Each episode in this video podcast stands as a deep dive into a specific idea, allowing you to see the data, hear the questions, and grasp the nuances that often get lost in translation. Whether it's a physicist breaking down a new cosmological theory or a historian presenting unearthed archives, the content prioritizes substance and clarity. Tune in to engage with complex topics made comprehensible, to satisfy a personal curiosity, or simply to experience the breadth of intellectual and creative pursuit thriving within the University of California. This podcast serves as a permanent, public archive of knowledge, entirely free and accessible.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

University of California Video Podcasts (Video)
Podcast Episodes
PET-Directed Radiation for Oligometastatic Disease [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:20
As part of the 2026 UCSF Patient Conference on Prostate Cancer, Dr. Will Chen discusses PET-directed radiation for Oligometastatic Disease. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 415…
Prostate Cancer: Diet and Exercise [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:51
As part of the 2026 UCSF Patient Conference on Prostate Cancer, Stacey Kenfield, ScD, discusses diet and exercise. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41555]
Sexual Health for People with IDD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:56
As part of the 2026 Developmental Disabilities Conference, Robin Wilson-Beattie, Disability and Sexual and Reproductive Health Educator, discusses sexual health. Series: "Developmental Disabilities Update" [Health and Me…
Radiation Therapy for Localized Prostate Cancer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:18
As part of the 2026 UCSF Patient Conference on Prostate Cancer, Dr. Julian Hong discusses radiation therapy. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41551]
The Causes of Autism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:54
Understanding the causes of autism matters for families, public health, and public trust in science. Jonathan Sebat, Ph.D., UC San Diego, explains what research actually shows about the causes of autism and how scientist…
Prostate Cancer: Biochemical Recurrence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:49
As part of the 2026 UCSF Patient Conference on Prostate Cancer, Dr. Peter Carroll discusses biochemical recurrence. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41556]