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 is lead, Industrial Business Analytics, and manager, Data Science Center of Excellence, Stellantis. He serves on the steering committee for the Conference on Statistical Practice and is the founder of Peace-Work, a volunteer cooperative of statisticians and data scientists providing analytic support for charitable groups and applying statistical methods in issue-driven advocacy.
Last year was quite a year! Looking back at 2021, the Data for Good community faced many challenges, including the ongoing pandemic, virtual conferences, increased globalization, and constantly changing technology. However, last year brought great opportunity and accomplishments, as well.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been the focus for many. And in addition to familiar topics such as climate change and the environment, education, and applying new technology to developing D4G solutions, we have seen an increased interest in equity, social justice, and ethics. Even as the challenges are great, opportunities to make an impact for the greater good with data and statistics are endless.
As the second year of a still ongoing pandemic, we have seen the tremendous impact hundreds of projects have had for the greater good. With the arrival once again of colder weather, the pandemic has become K-shaped—decreasing in high vaccination areas and worsening in places with substantial resistance to science—emphasizing how fostering adoption of statistical results is as important as performing the original analysis. It’s a lesson that can be applied to many other areas.
As just one example, an agency working to address homelessness isn’t likely to get more people housed if they always do what they have always done. The pandemic has proven as perhaps never before that developing statistics is only part of the battle; driving the adoption of analytics requires a distinct set of skills and practices that allow one to develop relationships with stakeholders who sometimes act as gatekeepers.
The 2022 Conference on Statistical Practice will be in person, February 1–3 in New Orleans. As steering committee chair this year, I hope to meet many of you there. ASA President Kathy Ensor will give the keynote, and there will be several leading D4G presenters and an ethics panel.
The Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis (LISA) at the University of Colorado – Boulder, led by ASA member Eric Vance, is a great place to get training and resources—for many things, actually, but especially for developing relationships of trust. Some people call these disciplines “soft skills.” It’s a phrase Vance hates. These skills are every bit as concrete and essential to sound analytic practice as programming, computation, and modeling. D4G can’t move forward to deliver the actual good without them.
The ASA led many efforts in 2021, breaking new ground in Data for Good. It established an outreach group for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion: JEDI. JSM, with its theme of Statistics, Data, and the Stories They Tell, provided many opportunities to share the stories of D4G. Particularly noteworthy was the presentation by biostatistician, teacher, and mentor Michael Kutner, who won the Karl E. Peace Award for Outstanding Statistical Contributions for the Betterment of Society.
Last year also saw a number of advances in the technology used in our work. As the pendulum continues to swing toward open-source tools and away from proprietary systems, analysts can struggle with choosing between a proliferation of packages designed for the same task. This is one area in which a thorough literature search can be helpful, especially when looking for peer-reviewed research answering the same analytic challenges, rather than in the same subject area.
One area in which the pendulum may be swinging back to is data visualization, a vital skill for almost any statistician. While the list of software options keeps changing, the principles of good visual design do not. Seek out input on your plots, slide decks, and presentations from experts in effective design and communication. One source of constant inspiration and guidance for me is the magazine you now hold in your hands; the design team at Amstat News presents serious statistical content communicated in a highly effective manner. It’s truly a design tutorial for all of us!
Another great example of statistics applied to an ethical problem is a new study from Reshma Ramachandran, Joseph Ross, and Jennifer Miller on medium- to low-income countries that helped test COVID vaccines only to have trouble getting supplies of the life-saving vaccines they helped develop.
I would like to express my deep thanks for all those who make Stats4Good possible. The entire staff at Amstat News, especially Managing Editor Megan Murphy, deserve highest praise for their great skill, care, and patience. To all of you, my dear readers, thank you for continued support for this column and your own efforts in Data for Good. In all your labors, be inspired and be an inspiration!
Please send me your inspiring stories of how you have seen Data for Good making an impact.
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