Barry L. Nelson to present 'Sometimes You Have to Fake It' in the Douglas C. Montgomery Distinguished Lecture Series

Barry L. Nelson, a distinguished professor emeritus at Northwestern University, will present the next lecture in the Douglas C. Montgomery Distinguished Lecture Series on Tuesday, March 4.

Nelson, a leading figure in the field of industrial engineering and computer simulation, will discuss the power and relevance of computer simulations in the world of data analytics.

Nelson’s talk, titled "Sometimes You Have to Fake It," promises to captivate attendees with its engaging and thought-provoking content. The title, while provocative, speaks to a powerful method used in data science: the use of simulated data. In situations where real data is unavailable — such as exploring the financial viability of a hypothetical air taxi service in a city — computer simulations create relevant "fake" data by combining existing information with carefully designed models. This process bridges the gap between existing systems and new, untested scenarios.

"I believe that computer simulation is essential for modeling systems that don’t yet exist and is a perfect example of where industrial engineering and statistics intersect," Nelson said. “This talk will explore how simulated data can be leveraged to answer questions that otherwise might remain unanswered and demonstrate how modern computing is making this process more powerful than ever.”

Nelson’s lecture will offer an accessible introduction to stochastic computer simulation through a real-world example, ensuring that the content is understandable to undergraduates, graduate students, and even faculty in engineering and statistics. He will discuss two current challenges in the field: optimizing large-scale simulated systems using modern parallel computing and the rise of simulation as a "digital twin" — a virtual model used for real-time decision-making. These emerging challenges have opened new doors for statistical exploration, which Nelson will explain in simple terms for those unfamiliar with advanced statistics.

"This talk should be both informative and engaging for anyone interested in the intersection of data science, engineering, and statistics," Nelson said. "It's an opportunity to explore how simulation is reshaping the way we approach data analysis."

The event will take place at 3:30 p.m. March 4 in the Holtzman Alumni Center auditorium, and it will also be available virtually via Zoom. This lecture is free and open to the public, though attendees are requested to register in advance.

Nelson is a professor emeritus in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences at Northwestern University. His research spans the design and analysis of computer simulation experiments on models of discrete-event, stochastic systems, including methods for simulation optimization and output analysis. He is the author of numerous papers and three influential books, including "Foundations and Methods of Stochastic Simulation: A First Course." Nelson is a fellow of both INFORMS and the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers.

This lecture is part of the ongoing Douglas C. Montgomery Distinguished Lecture Series, a collaborative effort between the Department of Statistics in the College of Science and the Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering in the College of Engineering. The series is generously supported by Douglas C. Montgomery, a renowned expert in statistical quality engineering.

Montgomery, who has a deep appreciation for the collaboration between the two departments, hopes that the series will continue to bring together scholars and professionals from diverse fields to explore the synergies between industrial engineering and statistics.

“I look forward to seeing how this series sparks more conversations between disciplines,” Montgomery said. “It’s crucial for both students and faculty to explore how statistics and industrial engineering can work together to solve complex problems.”