The Institute for Mathematical and Statistical Innovation is the newest National Science Foundation mathematical sciences institute. Its mission is to bring rigorous mathematics and statistics to bear on complex urgent problems of significant scientific and social importance and spur transformational change in the mathematical sciences and its community. There are three primary pillars to this mission: scientific activity; diversity and broadening participation in the mathematical sciences; and effective communication about mathematical science research to a variety of audiences.

Training researchers to be good communicators to broad audiences is underdeveloped in the math and statistics fields, which could be detrimental to furthering growth and diversity in these disciplines. The institute is addressing these issues by focusing on an interdisciplinary approach to communication intended to broaden audiences and increase interest in the mathematical and statistical sciences. Communication endeavors at the institute center in the following three programs:

• Communication bootcamps
• MathStatBites
• Carry the Two podcast

Communication Bootcamps

The Institute for Mathematical and Statistical Innovation offers virtual and in-person bootcamps aimed at helping early-career researchers develop their communications skills. “Storytelling & Narrative Structure” teaches how to leverage a narrative to write a compelling teaching statement or successful grant.

In “How to Write for a General Audience,” attendees learn about transforming a scientific paper into an engaging press release for media outlets. They learn to evaluate what makes a scientific finding newsworthy and practice recognizing and replacing jargon to improve the readability of their own work.

In “Job Talks & Stage Presence,” participants learn how to apply public speaking skills to their presentations.

These bootcamps build skill sets applicable to academic and nonacademic careers and enhance individuals’ ability to realize their broader communication goals. Registration is open.

MathStatBites

MathStatBites is a bite site from the ScienceBites galaxy hosted and supported by the institute. It offers early-career researchers the opportunity to gain experience in writing accessible summaries of mathematical and statistical research for individuals who are not experts in those fields.

Writers create short blog posts based on newly published, peer-reviewed articles. Recent articles include discussions about p-values and e-values, how to use math to improve cancer imaging, and using reinforcement learning to route rideshare drivers.

MathStatBites also strives to include undergraduate students who are interested in learning more about statistical and mathematical research. Undergraduates work with deputy editor Sara Stoudt to edit blog posts and provide feedback.

To become a MathStatBites contributor or learn more about communications at the institute, contact Sadie Witkowski, director of communications and engagement.

Carry the Two Podcast

In June, the institute launched Carry the Two, a podcast that pulls back the curtain on the mathematical and statistical gears turning the world. Part of the University of Chicago Podcast Network, Carry the Two is curiosity-driven and looks for unique perspectives from the mathematics and statistics fields.

Co-hosts Witkowski and Ian Martin use stories to convey how mathematical research drives the world around us, with each episode tackling a different topic. During the first season, Witkowski and Martin discussed modeling interactions between drivers and autonomous vehicles; attributing extreme weather events to climate change; and using mathematical tools to review policy documents for diversity, equity, and inclusion. The fall mini season included the institute’s statistician-in-residence, Tiffany Christian, discussing statistics research on climate and the environment.

Subscribe and listen using the podcast platform of your choice, including Apple Podcast and Spotify.

IMSI is hosted by The University of Chicago and operated in partnership with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Northwestern University.