Given the trajectory we are on with ever increasing amounts of biotech, Internet, particle physics and other types of data, it seems clear that a lot of folks may want to put more time and effort into learning how to be comfortable with manipulating large data sets. Think about developing the needed skills at a University or through other life-long learning or on-the-job training opportunities because growing masses of data are creating a huge need for knowledge workers. Economic opportunities exist since those petabytes are not going to organize themselves (at least for the moment … don’t get me started on AI). It is great to really know your way around a PC, but companies like IBM and Google want students to think BIGGER! In a NY Times article today entitled Training to Climb an Everest of Digital Data, one researcher is quoted as saying “Science these days has basically turned into a data-management problem.”
On a related note, you may be interested in learning about the Consortium for Enterprise Systems Management which was set up by IBM, Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, and the University of South Carolina (the original IBM Press Release can be found here).