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The Future of Academic Statistical Consulting Centers in the Era of Big Data
Osama Hussien
Alexandria University
In the age of big data and data sciences statistics made a real difference and reinforced the impact of statistical thinking on society. The demand for statisticians has steadily grown worldwide. The pace of supply and demand for statisticians in the Arab states has not yet matched international speed, partly due to the lack of a clear appreciation for the role that statistics plays in decision-making and fostering critical thinkers (Innabi 2014). As a result a widespread misuse and inefficient use of statistics in scientific research plus anti-statistics feeling and distrust of findings which rely on statistical evidence. Part of the solution to these problems is the establishing of academic statistical consulting centers. The mission of such center would be: Serve as research infrastructure for researchers and decision-makers to collaborate with statisticians enable and accelerate research and data-based decisions that make a positive impact on society. Moreover, Big Data-rich environment and fast developments of data sciences branches (independent from the existing statistical models) leads to changes (or improvement) in statistical methods in many areas.