  The days of the lone astronomer with his optical telescope and photographic
plates are long gone: Astronomy in 2025 will not only be multi-wavelength, but
multi-messenger, and dominated by huge data sets and matching data rates.
Catalogues listing detailed properties of billions of objects will in
themselves require a new industrial-scale approach to scientific discovery,
requiring the latest techniques of advanced data analytics and an early
engagement with the first generation of cognitive computing systems.
Astronomers have the opportunity to be early adopters of these new technologies
and methodologies: the impact can be profound and highly beneficial to
effecting rapid progress in the field. Areas such as SETI research might
favourably benefit from cognitive intelligence that does not rely on human bias
and preconceptions.
