ASA Member News Archive
ASA Member News July 2011
July 2011 Edition
Statistical Outreach & News
SENATE PASSES BILL MAKING CENSUS DIRECTOR A FIXED, FIVE-YEAR TERM; REMOVES SENATE CONFIRMATION FOR BJS, NCES HEADS
The Senate’s passage on June 29 of S. 679, The Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011, is mixed news for the federal statistical community. The fixed, five-year term for census director is a great step forward for the U.S. Census Bureau because it helps bolster autonomy and leadership continuity. On the other hand, for similar reasons, the removal of Senate confirmation for the National Center for Education Statistics commissioner and the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) director is a great disappointment. The House must still act on the bill before it goes to the president; the Washington Post reports the House intends to pass the measure. Read more about the bill. Read more about a vote on an amendment to keep Senate confirmation of the BJS director.
HOUSE PANEL CUTS CENSUS BUREAU AND BJSFY12 BUDGETS; HOLDS NSF AND BEA BUDGETS LEVEL
The House appropriations panel that oversees the budget for BEA, BJS, Census and NSF last week released its draft bill, revealing sharp cuts for BJS and Census and level funding for NSF and BEA. ASA President Elect Bob Rodriguez wrote the Appropriations Committee, which is scheduled to take up the bill July 13, in support of the NSF and BEA budgets and requesting that the Census and BJS cuts be reversed. ASA also issued a press release on the ASA response to the draft FY12 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) and Related Agencies appropriations bill. In addition, the ASA joined more than 38 other organizations on a letter to Appropriations Committee Chairman Harold Rogers, Ranking Member Norm Dicks and Members urging restoration of the Census Bureau budget to the FY12 request level. Read the complete version.
Meetings, Education, & Events
THIS MONTH’S FEATURED LEARNSTAT ONDEMAND OFFERING
July's featured LearnSTAT OnDemand offering is The Psychology of Survey Response, presented by Roger Tourangeau on February 9, 2010. Register and view this recorded webinar.
AT JSM 2011 – Miami Beach, Florida – July 30 – August 4
Join us at the 2011 JSM. More information about onsite registration.
* NISS/ASA WRITING WORKSHOP FOR JUNIOR RESEARCHERS – July 31 and August 3 at JSM
The National Institute of Statistical Science and American Statistical Association will hold a writing workshop for junior researchers. The goal of the workshop is to provide instruction for how to write journal articles and grant proposals.
* INFORMAL ACCREDITATION MEETING TO BE HELD AT JSM - August 2
The ASA Accreditation Committee invites all JSM attendees who may be interested in applying for ASA accreditation to attend an informal meeting beginning at 3 p.m. on August 2 in the Cowrie 1 Room of the Loews hotel. Committee chair Iain Johnstone, ASA Executive Director Ron Wasserstein, and three recently accredited members of the ASA (Di Michelson (SAS), Robert Ploutz-Snyder (NASA), and Jeremy Jokinen (Johnson & Johnson)) will be there to describe the application process, answer questions, and hear your comments. Attendees at the informal meeting may register for a drawing to be held at the close of the meeting. Winners of the drawing receive a 50% discount on their ASA accreditation application fee.
* MEETING WITHIN A MEETING (MWM) STATISTICS WORKSHOP FOR K–12 MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE TEACHERS – Miami Beach, Florida – August 2–3
MWM will take place in conjunction with the Joint Statistical Meetings this summer in Miami Beach, Florida. The workshop is meant to strengthen K–12 mathematics and science teachers’ understanding of statistics and provide them with hands-on activities they can use in their own classrooms. The cost of the workshop is $50.
* BEYOND AP STATISTICS WORKSHOP – Miami Beach, Florida – August 3
The ASA/NCTM Joint Committee is pleased to sponsor a Beyond AP Statistics workshop at the annual Joint Statistical Meetings from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Organized by Roxy Peck, the BAPS workshop is offered for experienced AP Statistics teachers and consists of enrichment material just beyond the basic AP syllabus. The cost of the workshop is $50.
ENGAGING DIFFERENCE: DIVERSE WOMEN IN STEM BUILDING CAREERS, CREATING ALLIANCES – Charlottesville, VA – August 4–5, 2011
While the number and percentage of minority women earning PhDs in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields have steadily increased in recent years, their entry, retention, and advancement in the professorate has not kept pace. In an effort to ameliorate some of the complex reasons behind this disparity, faculty members from the University of Virginia, Norfolk State University, and Virginia Commonwealth University developed this workshop to serve as a catalyst for building alliances of academic women in STEM. Women faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and senior graduate students in STEM fields are invited. More information. Feel free to contact us with any further questions.
58th WORLD STATISTICS CONGRESS OF THE ISI – Dublin, Ireland – August 21–26
Ireland’s Central Statistics Office invites you to participate in the 58th World Statistics Congress of the International Statistical Institute. This biennial meeting brings together statisticians from across the disciplinary spectrum to share experiences, expertise, and challenges.
2011 ASA FDA/INDUSTRY STATISTICS WORKSHOP – Washington, DC – September 20–21, 2011
Registration is now open for the 2011 workshop, which will be held at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, DC. Join statisticians from industry, academia, and the FDA for two days of sessions focused on the science and statistics associated with the development of medical products.
9th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HEALTH POLICY STATISTICS – The Ritz Carlton, Cleveland, Ohio – October 5–7
The 2011 ICHPS, organized by the ASA’s Health Policy Statistics Section, will focus on advancing methods to improve health care through various studies and the quantitative analysis of data. The conference will include invited and contributed sessions and workshops intended to provide research training and career development in the methods, resources, and applications at the forefront of contemporary health policy research. A limited number of travel awards of up to $400 is available to students who (1) will travel to attend ICHPS 2011 and (2) are presenting a talk or poster as part of the conference program.
ASA CONFERENCE ON STATISTICAL PRACTICE – Orlando, Florida – February 16–18, 2012: CALL FOR POSTERS
The ASA proudly announces the inaugural ASA Conference on Statistical Practice. The conference will provide an opportunity to learn about the latest statistical methodologies and best practices in statistical design, analysis, programming, and consulting. Following the theme of this conference, organizers are looking for poster abstract submissions that address one of three main topics: Research and Development, Engineering and Operations; Business Analytics; or Communications, Impact & Career Development. All poster abstract submissions should include a title, author information, and abstract text. Posters will be on display for the entire day and presenters are required to host the poster during the allotted time period. See Poster Guidelines.
EVENTS CALENDAR
Statistical events are happening around the country and the globe. View our Upcoming Events Calendar.
Off the Press
In AMSTAT NEWS
NSF DIRECTOR RECOGNIZES IMPORTANCE OF STATISTICS
In October of 2010, Subra Suresh became the 13th director of the National Science Foundation. In May, ASA Executive Director Ron Wasserstein conducted an interview with Suresh to learn about his views of the statistics discipline.
FREE ASA JOURNAL ARTICLE DOWNLOADS
JBES: Real-Time Density Forecasts from Bayesian Vector Autoregressions with Stochastic Volatility by Todd E. Clark
Technometrics: Assessing Fingerprint Individuality Using EPIC: A Case Study in the Analysis of Spatially Dependent Marked Processes by Chae Young Lim and Sarat C. Dass
SBR: A Conversation with Gary Grove Koch by Lisa LaVange and John Preisser
SIGNIFICANCE MAGAZINE ONLINE WEB EXCLUSIVES
As most Americans were preparing their flags and barbecues for the celebration of their nation's birth, a few were still recovering from unwelcome news. On July 1, sufferers from rare, unclassifiable diseases learned that the U.S. National Institute of Health’s Undiagnosed Diseases Program (UDP) would be indefinitely closing its doors to new patients. Established in 2008, the UDP is the joint effort of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and NIH’s Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) to solve the most puzzling of medical mysteries. Despite a productive three-year tenure that, as of February of this year, had received more than 1,700 applicants, processed 330 cases, performed 1 million SNP array scans, and discovered one new disease, the UDP has been unable to keep pace with the volume of new inquiries. Read more.
Read more Significance Magazine web exclusives.
Member Opportunities
UNITED NATIONS 2011 YOUNG PROFESSIONALS PROGRAM (YPP) EXAMINATION
The United Nations is looking for highly qualified candidates who are ready to launch a professional career as an international civil servant. The Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is a recruitment initiative that brings new talent to the United Nations through an annual entrance examination. For young, high-calibre professionals across the globe, the examination is a platform for launching a career at the United Nations. Learn More.
STATISTICAL SCIENCE DELEGATION TO ISRAEL
People to People Citizen Ambassador Programs and the ASA have created an exchange to foster international goodwill, professional development, and personal enrichment. Join colleagues from around the world who understand the need for greater depth of knowledge in statistical science. Professional experience at any level will make an important contribution to the team. Delegates will learn about statistical literacy efforts in Israel; how statisticians are trained; and the roles of statisticians in health-related professions, industry, and government. Our delegation will arrive to meet international colleagues in Israel on November 3, 2011, and, together, we will have the honor of experiencing the rich culture of Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem. We will arrive back in the United States on November 11, 2011.
DEMING LECTURESHIP COMMITTEE NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR 2012 LECTURER Deadline: November 15
Deming Lecturer Award nominations are being accepted for the 2012 Deming Lecturer. Nominations should be submitted no later then November 15, 2011. Visit for more information and a nomination form. If you have questions, contact the committee chair, A. Blanton Godfrey or call (919) 515-6500. Nominations should be sent to the ASA office or 732 N. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, ATTN: Award Nominations.
NOETHER COMMITTEE NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR 2012 AWARD Deadline: December 1
The 2012 Noether Senior and Noether Young Scholar awards committee will accept nominations for the 2012 awards until December 1, 2011. If you have questions, contact the committee chair, Pranab K. Sen or call (919) 966-7274. Nominations should be sent to the ASA office or 732 N. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, ATTN: Award Nominations.
Feedback, comments, or suggestions are welcome please email asamail@amstat.org with your ideas.