What Horticulture IoT (and spite) Can Teach Us About Data Science
Corey Thuen
S4x24 - ICS Security Conference · Day 3 · Main Stage
Corey Thuen's S4 conference talk, "What Horticulture IoT (and spite) Can Teach Us About Data Science," offers a refreshingly unconventional perspective on data science, security, and the human element. Thuen masterfully weaves an extended analogy between the seemingly mundane task of growing tulips and complex cybersecurity challenges, arguing that fundamental principles of data analysis, critical thinking, and human psychology apply across disparate domains. The talk emphasizes how **spite**, often considered a negative emotion, can be a powerful motivator for challenging entrenched, unscientific practices and driving innovation, particularly when confronted with the "bias of experience."
AI review
Corey Thuen's talk masterfully uses a horticulture IoT experiment to expose critical flaws in how we approach data science and security. By challenging long-held, unscientific practices and leveraging 'spite' as a motivator, Thuen delivers a compelling argument for rigorous data collection, thoughtful metric selection, and an acute awareness of human factors that often derail technical solutions. This is a refreshing, data-driven call to action that forces practitioners to re-evaluate their assumptions and move beyond mere compliance.