Creating a Win-Win Partnership for Training Environmental Statisticians

• Activity Number: 50
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Sunday, August 11, 2002 : 4:00 PM to 5:50 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistical Education*
• Author(s): William Hunt, Jr.*+ and Kimberly Weems
• Affiliation(s): North Carolina State University and North Carolina State University
• Keywords: environment ; statistics ; partnership ; training

Abstract

How could a win-win strategy be used to train students in environmental statistics and at the same time analyze environmental data for federal, state, and local agencies? This presentation will discuss two courses that have been developed to train undergraduate students in environmental statistics. The objectives are: (1) to provide a consulting opportunity for the students; (2) focus on the application of the student's technical skills to a real problem; and (3) develop their communication skills. The students learn how to prepare a final report, brief clients at the client's office, present poster papers at technical conferences and write papers for publication. Students have done work for eight clients, including the USEPA, the NC Agency, and Environment Canada. They presented papers at thre professional meetings, three university-sponsored undergraduate research symposia and five technical meetings. After three years, six students have started their graduate school programs in statistics; two are currently applying to graduate school, three are currently employed in the private sector as environmental statisticians, and fove worked part time at the USEPA. This prototype works.