LISA 2020: How Stat Labs Can Make an Impact Now and in the Future

• Activity Number: 430
• Type: Invited
• Date/Time: Wednesday, August 6, 2014 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistical Consulting
• Author(s): Eric Vance*+
• Companies: LISA-Virginia Tech
• Keywords: statistical collaboration ; LISA ; LISA 2020 ; developing countries ; global impact ; statistical consulting

Abstract

LISA, the Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis, was created in 2008 at Virginia Tech to provide walk-in statistical consulting, statistical collaboration on interdisciplinary research projects, and educational short courses. Since 2008 it has helped 7000+ clients use statistics to improve their research. LISA's biggest impact, however, has been on the 160+ statistics students who have gained experience and training in LISA to become interdisciplinary collaborators. LISA has now grown its capacity to impact statisticians and researchers all over the world through the LISA 2020 program to train statisticians from developing countries to communicate and collaborate with non-statisticians. Our goal is to create a network of 20 statistical collaboration laboratories in developing countries by 2020. LISA 2020 will unlock the collaborative potential of technically trained statisticians who will in turn unlock the research potential of their collaborators and teach other statisticians to do the same. These local research collaborations, now with the power of statistical thinking and data science open to them, will be key to improving future human welfare worldwide.