Hao Helen Zhang, JSM 2023 Program Chair

JSM 2023 will take place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, August 5–10. The theme for JSM 2023 is One Community: Informing Decisions and Driving Discovery, which emphasizes the essential role of statistics—as a data-driven discipline—in advancing data science, science, and all aspects of our society.

As the largest gathering of statisticians and data scientists in North America, the JSM 2023 Program Committee put together more than 200 invited sessions on a broad range of topics in statistics and data science. The invited panels will cover innovations in teaching statistics and data science, career growth and leadership, visions of the future of data science, and academic/industry/government collaborations.

The topics of invited paper sessions are timely and diverse. There are many, but the following is a sampling:

• Machine learning
• Statistical computing
• Optimization
• Causal inference
• Precision medicine
• Clinical trial design
• Advanced statistical methods for modern complex data
• Electronic health records
• Mobile and digital health data
• Non-Euclidean and topo-geometric data
• Emerging statistical challenges in blockchains, climate extremes, fintech, and COVID

The program will also feature recent contributions from statisticians to key issues, including reproducibility in teaching and research; trustworthy machine learning; robust and differential privacy; and justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI).

Speed Sessions

The speed session is becoming increasingly popular at JSM due to its versatility. It allows for an electronic poster (e-poster) presentation that can include video, animation, interactive statistical graphics, and dashboards. A speed session consists of 20 oral presentations of approximately four minutes, with a five-minute break after the first set of 10 talks. These short oral presentations will be followed by an e-poster session, which will last 45 minutes.

Only for the speed sessions will the regular 110-minute contributed poster sessions be divided into two sessions. There will be 45 minutes for a first group of 20 presenters, a 20-minute transition period, and then 45 minutes for the second group of 20 presenters. The program committee tries to cluster speed session posters by topic to attract a large and focused audience.

The following incentives will be offered to presenters who participate in speed sessions:

• Electronic poster boards, so there will be no additional costs or hassle associated with printing or transporting a poster
• Ability to present orally and through an electronic poster

When you submit your contributed abstract, simply select “Speed” as the subtype.

Poster Sessions

Poster sessions allow you to have face-to-face extended discussions with individuals or small groups interested in your topic. Particular advantages are direct feedback and the ability to display extensive graphical or tabular materials, possibly in addition to a handout.

Contributed Sessions

Nearly half of JSM sessions are contributed. Contributed paper sessions consist of seven papers with 15 minutes of presentation time for each, including the introduction of the speaker and questions. Contributed abstract submission closes February 1, 2023, and a decision about acceptance will be made on March 31, 2023.

Session Chairs

Each JSM session requires a chair. The responsibilities include contacting speakers with session information before JSM and introducing speakers and managing presentation time during the session. Chairing a session is a great way for researchers who are new to the profession to build a professional network and get involved with JSM (and one can mention this service on one’s CV). Simply volunteer to the program committee members of your section or society.

To participate in the JSM 2023 program, submit an abstract and title by February 1, 2023. As part of the submission process, you must also select a “sponsor,” which is the choice of the ASA section/committee or JSM partner society most closely associated with the topic of your presentation.

I look forward to seeing all of you in Toronto. I hope you will enjoy the program and participate by presenting your work, attending talks, visiting poster sessions, chairing a session, and taking continuing education courses.

Finally, the success of JSM relies on your involvement and input to help create an exciting and strong program. I am glad to receive any feedback. Please contact me, Hao Helen Zhang.