This column is written for those interested in learning about the world of Data for Good, where statistical analysis is dedicated to good causes that benefit our lives, our communities, and our world. If you would like to know more or have ideas for articles, contact David Corliss.

With a PhD in statistical astrophysics, David Corliss works in analytics architecture at Ford Motor Company while continuing astrophysics research on the side. He serves on the steering committee for the Conference on Statistical Practice and is president-elect of the Detroit Chapter. He is the founder of Peace-Work, a volunteer cooperative of statisticians and data scientists providing analytic support for charitable groups and applying statistical methods to issue-driven advocacy in poverty, education, and social justice.

Membership in the American Statistical Association offers many benefits: chapter membership, education and collaboration opportunities, great magazines, and much more. One of the most important resources for students and people just getting started in a career in statistics is STATtr@k. Describing itself as “a website produced by the American Statistical Association for individuals who are in a statistics program, recently graduated from a statistics program, or who recently entered the job world,” it is much more than a website. Under the care and guidance of ASA staff, STATtr@k provides access to an extensive collection of resources for the early-career statistician.

Content and Resources

From mentoring programs to articles with valuable career advice, to information about applying for scholarships and fellowships, to educational opportunities and students in the news, STATtr@k is a hub for early-career development information. You can find out about hackathons and learn from others’ experiences to improve your performance; get the skinny on conferences and what they offer for early-career development; and learn about the work of local chapters, ASA sections, and other organizations such as the National Institute of Statistical Sciences (NISS). With so much information and resources available, STATtr@k’s search function might be the most important part.

One of the most valuable aspects of STATtr@k is the opportunity to gain writing experience and exposure by submitting articles. You can share your story, experiences, opportunities, and useful information for students and early-career statisticians. For example, I had the opportunity to interview Megan Price from the Human Rights Data Analysis Group for the upcoming September issue of Amstat News, which focuses on careers in statistics. Because our talk focused on her career as a human rights statistician, this interview will appear on STATtr@k, as well.

STATtr@k’s support for people early in their career makes it a resource for the entire statistical community, so everyone can participate. It’s a perfect channel for senior statisticians and leaders in the statistical community to share experiences, resources, and opportunities with others just getting started.

STATtr@k and Data for Good

Looking to get started in Data for Good projects? STATtr@k is a great place to research opportunities, learn about what others are doing, and connect with the project that meets your interests and develops your skills. It’s also a great place to let people know about your Data for Good projects and recruit newcomers to your important work. Using the search function (it’s in the upper right corner of every page), look for the subjects and opportunities that interest you most.

For example, a search on “social good” will turn up information about scholarships, student fellowships, new undergraduate programs in data science, and an article about how internships helped four students make a difference. A search on “justice” will connect you with volunteer opportunities, the ASA’s Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program, best practices for developing an open data portal, and feature articles like “The Local ASA Chapter Is My Justice League”, in which Scott McClintock described his ASA chapter—in Philadelphia—as his “Justice League,” where collaborators use their “statistical super-heroism for the greater good.” The list of resources and possibilities for good work goes on and on. If you don’t find information about a program, it means you can write about it and let STATtr@k staff know so others can benefit from your experience.

The mission of the ASA can be summed up as doing good statistics, doing good for statistics, and doing good with statistics. The wealth of resources STATtr@k offers early-career statisticians, used to support Data for Good projects, meets these objectives at once. My highest hope for Data for Good, in this column and elsewhere, is to see it become normative—a natural, ordinary part of a career in statistics. That starts from the beginning, and so naturally connects with STATtr@k’s mission to provide resources for early-career statisticians.

We all have a role to play in developing the statistics—and the statisticians—of the future. That means we all can be users, even contributors, to STATtr@k’s work to support students, recent graduates, and others just starting out. Help make Data for Good an important part of their statistical career. Visit STATtr@k and find your place in moving statistical science forward as a powerful means for doing good in our society, communities, and world.