Margaret Short, Publications Chair

The ASA Section on Statistics and the Environment (ENVR) is seeking nominations for the 2012 ENVR Distinguished Achievement Medal and the 2012 ENVR Young Investigator Award. Both are given in recognition of outstanding contributions to the development of methods, issues, concepts, applications, and initiatives in environmental statistics. The section uses a broad definition of environmental statistics—from theoretical/foundational through applications and policy—and seeks to recognize the full range of activities that academic, governmental, and industrial statisticians and scientists study in statistics and the environment. Environmental statistics is interdisciplinary, and outstanding contributions may occur outside of traditional disciplinary niches.

To be eligible for a Distinguished Achievement Medal, nominees must (a) have made distinguished contributions to environmental statistics; (b) joined ENVR at least three years prior to June 1, 2012; and (c) not have received the award in a previous year.

The Young Investigator Award is meant to encourage and recognize younger members of the environmental statistics community. Criteria for the Award include (a) having made distinguished contributions to environmental statistics; (b) having current membership in ENVR; (c) not being a recipient of the Young Investigator Award from a previous year; and (d) not having reached her/his 41st birthday during the calendar year of the award. (In the special case of an individual who has received his or her terminal degree in statistics fewer than 12 years prior to the nomination deadline, a nominee will be eligible who has not yet reached her/his 46th birthday during the calendar year of the award.)

For both awards, the committee considers only those members for whom nominations are submitted. Committee members do not offer nominations, but encourage ASA members to make a thorough search for good candidates.

For the 2012 competition, nomination materials must consist of the following:

• A nomination letter featuring the nominee’s contributions to environmental statistics
• A brief CV for the nominee, not exceeding five pages
• At least one (1) and up to three (3) external letters of support
• A clear statement for which of the two awards the nominee should be considered. If being considered for the Young Investigator Award, please submit the birth date of the nominee. The committee will use the “Jonathanian” method of calculating the age of the nominee.

Nominations must be received by March 30 and may be submitted electronically as a PDF document (preferred) or a Word file. If submitted as hard copy, send the original and five (5) copies. Submit nominations to Walter W. Piegorsch by email to piegorsch@math.arizona.edu or by surface mail to Program in Statistics, Keating 241, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721.

Members of the ENVR awards committee will make the selection, and successful nominees will receive their award at the ENVR business meeting and reception during the Joint Statistical Meetings in San Diego. Questions regarding the award should be addressed to Piegorsch.

ENVR-Cosponsored JSM Short Courses

ENVR is pleased to announce its sponsorship of the following two short courses to take place at this year’s Joint Statistical Meetings:

• Introduction to Analysis of Extremes: Univariate and Multivariate Cases, taught by Dan Cooley of Colorado State University, Fort Collins
• Statistical Methodologies for Exposure Data Analysis, taught by Thomas Mathew of the University of Maryland and K. Krishnamoorthy of the University of Louisiana