Big Data Call

There is an NSF solicitation out for Big Data with a deadline of June 9. It has emphasis on Foundations, so beyond the fact that the theory community is made for Big Data (I mean, we improve algorithms by looking at instances as n \rightarrow \infty), this seems even more on target. Simons theory center at Berkeley had their Big Data program, I blogged about the Big Data panel in database theory, and there are many, many other efforts to stimulate discussions and identify challenges in Big Data theory (one in IISc Bangalore is interesting). So, this solicitation seems like a place to propose concrete next or long term steps for research. As an aside, check out discussions on "urban data" from NYC and related efforts. Pretty viz.