Jeffrey A. Myers, ASA Public Relations Coordinator
The International Year of Statistics (Statistics2013) was a fantastically successful celebration of all things statistics. Much was accomplished during the year-and-a-half period leading up to 2013 and throughout the past year.
For instance, an engaged network of 2,318 participating organizations—national and international professional statistical societies, colleges and universities, primary and secondary schools, businesses, government statistical agencies, and research institutes—representing 128 countries came together to promote statistics.
Hundreds of informative and insightful events worldwide—many attended by the public—were sponsored by participating organizations. Media organizations the world over took notice (see example) and shared the news with their audiences.
In light of these and numerous other successes, Statistics2013 organizers decided it was essential to continue the global movement and rechristened it The World of Statistics.
“Members of the Statistics2013 Steering Committee felt strongly that it was the right choice to continue the International Year of Statistics movement into 2014 and beyond,” says ASA Executive Director Ronald L. Wasserstein, who was a member of the event’s oversight group. “We believe that the field of statistics can build on the momentum generated by Statistics2013, work further toward its goals and engage new organizations.”
In the weeks since The World of Statistics was announced, feedback from Statistics2013 participating organizations has been unanimously supportive, with respondents agreeing that more time and effort are necessary to achieve the campaign’s goals, which are:
- Increase public awareness of the power and impact of statistics on all aspects of society
- Nurture statistics as a profession, especially among young people
- Promote creativity and development in the sciences of probability and statistics
The continuing movement also will help bring to reality the newly announced International Prize in Statistics, a “Nobel-like” prize in statistical science that will recognize the major achievement of an individual or team in the field of statistics.
The World of Statistics has its own set of communications tools. The Statistics2013 website became The World of Statistics—so, remember to bookmark this new address. Additionally, the Twitter handle has changed to @astatworld (please follow us). And, the former Statistics2013 newsletter was renamed News from The World of Statistics. This free newsletter will be published every three weeks (sign up).
As you have done previously, please send us information about your organization’s upcoming events and completed activities using either the Event Submission Form for the Activities Calendar or the Post-Event Information & Photo Submission Form on The World of Statistics website. We will publish your event on the 2014 Activities Calendar or your article in an upcoming issue of News from The World of Statistics.
Organizers also invite you and your organization to help populate The World of Statistics website with content for the other feature areas on the new website—including the blog and job of the week entries—and items for the Teacher Resources, Statistics as a Career, and What Is Statistics? areas. Submit your organization’s content to jeffrey@amstat.org.
We strongly encourage your organization’s active participation in The World of Statistics. If you choose to do so, you do not have to do anything. Your organization will be listed on the website as a participant and we’ll continue to provide you information about statistics-related events around the world. To update or add contacts for your organization, send an email to ron@amstat.org. If you choose to not continue your organization’s participation, please send an email with that message to ron@amstat.org.
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