Tony Hey, corporate vice president of external research for Microsoft, will speak about “The Fourth Paradigm: Data-Intensive Scientific Discovery” from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, at the McKissick Theater in the Hendrix Student Center at Clemson University.

Hey will talk about how increases in data volume, processing speed, network speed and data storage capability have transformed the way formal research is done, and how researchers can gain the computing skills needed to take full advantage of the potential.

“Given his busy schedule and the demand for his time, we are honored that Dr. Hey asked for the opportunity to visit Clemson,” said Jim Bottum, Clemson's vice provost and chief information officer.

Prior to the open presentation, Hey will participate in a faculty roundtable discussion.

“A significant part of Dr. Hey's responsibility is to help Microsoft develop public-private partnerships that will shape the company's future directions,” Bottum said. “Clemson faculty are scheduled to share overviews of some of Clemson's strategic research and technology directions which may be of interest to Microsoft. Dr. Hey’s visit is our opportunity to discover these potential partnerships.”

Hey is responsible for worldwide external research collaboration for Microsoft. He leads the company's efforts to build long-term public-private partnerships with global scientific and engineering communities, academic and research institutions, related government agencies and industry partners.

Before joining Microsoft, Hey served as director of the e-Science Initiative in the United Kingdom, managing the government's efforts to provide scientists and researchers with access to key computing technologies. Before leading this initiative, he was head of the School of Electronics and Computer Science and dean of engineering and applied science at the University of Southampton, where he helped build the department into one of the most respected computer science research institutions in England.

Hey is a fellow of the United Kingdom's Royal Academy of Engineering, and has served on several national committees, including those of the U.K. Department of Trade and Industry and the Office of Science and Technology. He is a fellow of the British Computer Society, the Institute of Engineering and Technology, the Institute of Physics and the U.S. American Association for the Advancement of Science.

The Clemson University Provost’s office, the College of Engineering and Science, the offices of vice president for research and vice president for economic development, the Clemson libraries and Clemson Computing and Information Technology are sponsoring Hey’s visit.