Increasing Awareness of Careers and an Education in Biostatistics Among Quantitatively Talented Under-Represented High-School Students

• Activity Number: 448
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Tuesday, August 2, 2016 : 2:00 PM to 2:45 PM
• Sponsor: Biometrics Section
• Author(s): Mallorie Fiero* and Kevin Doubleday and Grant Schissler and Joseph Watkins and Melanie L. Bell
• Companies: University of Arizona and University of Arizona and University of Arizona and University of Arizona and University of Arizona
• Keywords: Statistics education ; Underrepresented minorities

Abstract

According to Fortune, statistics is the fastest-growing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) major in the U.S. Despite this new growth, the number of students earning bachelor's degrees in statistical science is still not enough to fill the predicted number of jobs requiring analytic skills. As part of the ASA Biometrics Section Strategic Initiative, "Developing the Next Generation of Biostatisticians", we discuss our outreach project aimed to increase awareness of careers in biostatistics and promote a college education in statistics among underrepresented high school students in Advanced Placement (AP) Statistics classes in Southern Arizona. We will be presenting the results of our in-class surveys, with the aim of disseminating information about how statistics can be made more accessible to high school students who may not know about career opportunities in statistics. We focus on how well students responded to our talk and possible strategies for encouraging students to consider a career in statistics.