On the contrary, many of us were amused at the birth of the term "data science". With "political science" and "computer science" as examples, we felt that inclu

On the contrary, many of us were amused at the birth of the term "data science". With "political science" and "computer science" as examples, we felt that including the word "science" in a field name was a bit "The lady doth protest too much, methinks". Those who named "data science" don't share our sentiment. This was a deliberate effort to Balkanize statistics, form a new union, a franchise reboot. Had statistics instead been called "statistical science" you can be sure that "data science" would have chosen a different term. Words face in a direction. While many roll their eyes at a Ph.D. going by doctor (it shouts insecurity, a poker tell for a second-rate institution), one also needs to understand the experience of a young female attempting to command a classroom's respect. The Brits love titles and hierarchy; at some level this is just a fashion choice. Similarly, no one serious about food calls themselves a "gourmet", but the term has commercial value. "Data science" isn't named for us. It's named for the clients.