Unlocking the potential of analytics for people who make the world a better place

At the 2025 INFORMS Analytics+ Conference, Professor Dr. Dick den Hertog gave a keynote where he talked about more than optimization theory — he showed how advanced analytics is already feeding millions, cleaning oceans, and expanding healthcare across the globe. In his keynote, “Analytics for a Better World,” Professor den Hertog issued a bold challenge: prioritizing solving real-world problems through impactful projects over publication counts. From optimizing food aid across 88 countries to deploying healthcare where needed most, this is analytics with a purpose.

The 2025 INFORMS Analytics+ Conference was a time to highlight the impact a transdisciplinary community united by analytics for social and planetary good can have. We are proud to announce that the project "Optimizing the Path Towards Plastic-Free Oceans" won third place in the Innovative Applications in Analytics Award! Curious about the impact? Read our the update and learn all about how the developed models optimize cleanup routes using ocean current data, plastic dispersion models, and advanced optimization.