Interview
Interview- H. V. Jagadish
H. V. Jagadish obtained his B. Tech in Electrical Engineering in 1981, and PhD from Stanford University in 1985. He is Bernard A Galler Collegiate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and Director of the Michigan Institute for Data Science.
Professor Jagadish is well known for his broad-ranging research on information management, and has approximately 200 major papers and 37 patents, with an H-index of 94. His popular MOOC on Data Science Ethics is available on EdX, Coursera, and Futurelearn.
He has been felicitated with the Distinguished Alumni Award 2020, under the Teaching and Research category.
In an interview with Dr Vanita Srivastava of the Communication Cell, IITD, Prof Jagadish talks about his days at IIT Delhi, his research areas and more.
Edited excerpts:
My years at IIT Delhi was perhaps the most formative period of my life. I grew a lot as a person: I joined as a kid and graduated as an adult. I was exposed to so many new experiences and feelings. I learned so much, both inside and outside the classroom. Particularly, I learned from my friends and other fellow students.
I believe there is an “IIT way” of thinking, which I certainly imbibed, and I have since then observed this in countless other graduates. It is extremely analytical, able to break down complex problems into manageable parts; it is also solution-oriented, trying to find ways to address any challenge faced. This way of thinking has helped me mange my problems over the years.
Your research has spanned many aspects of Big Data and Data Science. Can you please tell a bit about your research work?
I have worked on many aspects of data management in my career, building high performance systems, adding support for new types of data, making these systems easier to use, and facilitating various steps in the Big Data pipeline. In the recent years, I have been thinking about the responsibilities that a Data Scientist has to society and have been addressing several research questions in this regard. I have a MOOC on Data Science Ethics, available for free on both EdX and Coursera.
What does this award mean to you?
I have won many awards during my career. But recognition from my ‘home institution’ is really special. No other place has shaped me as much. So getting recognition from here is particularly meaningful.
What would you like to convey to the young students of IIT Delhi?
You will learn a great deal in your courses, and graduate well prepared to compete with anyone anywhere. You will find every door open to you for the future. You know these things. So, think also about what you want to do with your life and who you want to be. IIT Delhi will give you a strong start to help you get there.
What was the most important take-away from your stay at IIT Delhi?
How did the institute help in shaping your personality and career?