Two new Statistical Significance (StatSig) documents were released in January to add to the seven created in 2009. The StatSig series highlights the contributions statistical science plays in important areas ranging from health and energy to business and national defense.

The new StatSig documents are “Statistical Science Aiding Sports” and “Statistical Science Improving Agriculture.” The former features the contribution of statistical science to evaluating talent, maintaining integrity, and anticipating opponent behavior. The agriculture StatSig highlights the intertwined history of agricultural research and statistical science and the contributions of statistical science to higher crop yield, food security, and efficient and fair commodity markets.

While originally intended for congressional staffers, the StatSig documents are used more broadly. The ASA uses them in their outreach at various meetings, and statistical science departments post them in their department hallways and in their outreach to prospective students. We’ve also heard of high-school teachers sharing them with their students.

A transportation StatSig should be released soon, and we welcome suggestions for other StatSigs.

The ASA Scientific and Public Affairs Advisory Committee also sponsors an annual Statistical Significance competition for poster presenters at JSM in which entrants are judged on their description of the (potential) of their research to societal issues. For information about this year’s competition, visit ASA’s website for new statistics professionals, STATtr@k. Past winners are listed on the ASA website.

The StatSigs can be downloaded in PDF format at the ASA website. ASA members also can order hard copies from the resources section of the ASA Store.