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.
This month, Stats4Good’s 2022 guided tour of the many ways the ASA fosters Data for Good activities continues with support for women in statistics and data science. This includes a wide range of activities, including committees, a conference, outreach groups, and resources.
The ASA’s Committee on Women in Statistics (COWIS) plays a leading role, with its charge to “make members of ASA more aware of the common professional interests and problems of women members of ASA.” This is manifested in a number of ways, including promoting the status of women in statistics and encouraging more to enter the field.
This commitment means COWIS supports Data4Good by both promoting an underserved group and supporting women’s involvement in D4G activities.
The ASA president-elect appoints nine members to the committee for three-year terms. The president-elect also names the chair of the committee. You can get in touch with the committee and learn about their activities on the COWIS website and by contacting committee chair Eunice Kim.
COWIS’s charge includes networking with other groups and serving as the ASA’s connection to the wider community engaged in the support of women in our profession and the sciences in general.
The Caucus for Women in Statistics (CWS) is a separate professional society that partners with the ASA and other statistical organizations. The president of CWS serves as an ex-officio member of COWIS, as does a representative from the Statistical Society of Canada. The ASA and CWS work together to administer the Gertrude M. Cox Scholarship, which was established in 1989 to support more women going into careers in statistics-related fields.
In opportunities this month, submissions for the 2022 Women in Statistics and Data Science Conference are open through April 15. The conference will be in St. Louis, Missouri, October 6–8.
As intersectionality is a central issue in diversity and inclusion, ASA members supporting women in statistics often work across committees and outreach groups such as the Committee on Minorities in Statistics and the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Outreach Group.
The ASA’s Women in Statistics and Data Science Conference (WSDS) highlights achievements by women in their careers. The 2022 Conference will be in St. Louis, Missouri, October 6–8, and the call for papers opened March 1. The conference supports and shares the accomplishments of women in all areas of statistics and data science at all stages of their careers. In addition to the presentations, building community is a central purpose of the conference. This event is a great place for networking, connecting with potential collaborators and mentors, and finding resources to support career growth and development.
In addition to the annual conference, there are many ways to get involved in this area of D4G. Supporting women in statistics is the work of the entire ASA community, not just one committee or organization.
COWIS also sponsors and organizes a book club meeting twice a month to discuss books such as Eugenia Cheng’s x + y: A Mathematician’s Manifesto for Rethinking Gender. In addition to WSDS, other ASA conferences feature presentations highlighting women in statistics and advocating for their work. JSM has a number of sessions sponsored by COWIS and CWS, so be sure to search the online program to find them. Consider reaching out to the authors and maybe even getting involved directly in their work.
Other ASA conferences also include sessions supporting women. For example, at the 2022 Conference on Statistical Practice, the ethics panel addressed issues of diversity and inclusion, with remarks from ASA President Kathy Ensor and other leaders in the field.
Most important to understand about the ASA’s support for women in our profession is it’s not for just women. Everyone needs to be involved, because these efforts are telling the world what we hold most true about ourselves: that education, fairness, advocacy, professionalism, and the health and future of our profession really matter.
The work of Data for Good is more than what we do with analytics—it’s also how we do it. Sound statistical practice includes both the science and the manner in which it is conducted: equitably, justly, fairly, and with integrity. The three Ps of academic fairness—pay, publishing, and promotions—are what we practice and teach to others.
Where there are underserved or under-represented populations, we take direct action to become more diverse and inclusive. These efforts represent so much of the best of who we are and the best we can become in Data for Good.
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