For global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, early simulations of possible scenarios are essential, and demand the latest data science tools. In the first talk of the new academic year for the Hong Kong Institute for Advanced Study (HKIAS) Distinguished Lecture series, Way Kuo, the president and university distinguished professor of City University of Hong Kong (CityU), and a senior fellow of HKIAS, explored how data science can be harnessed to improve global pandemic management. The talk demonstrates the commitment of HKIAS to promote the role of science in addressing broader societal issues.