When did the term "data science" come into existence, and who is credited with coining it?

The term "data science" emerged prominently between 2009 and 2011, with DJ Patil and others playing crucial roles in defining the field. DJ Patil, in particular, is often credited for popularizing the term, especially through his work in the context of big data and its implications for business and academia. During this period, the field began to gain recognition as a distinct discipline, merging statistics, computer science, and domain expertise to analyze and derive insights from large and complex datasets.

The options pointing to earlier decades, such as the 1960s or 1990s, do not align with the historical timeline when "data science" began to gain traction as a recognized term. Though the foundations of data analysis existed long before, the specific terminology and its current meaning became relevant in the years noted, reflecting the evolution of data-related roles and responsibilities in the wake of increasing data availability and technological advancements.