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Finding Your Voice in Data for Good

1 March 2023 516 views No Comment

David CorlissDavid 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.

One of the joys of writing this column is exploring the many ways statisticians and data scientists are involved in Data for Good. It’s an endless variety of scientific areas, tools, and people!

Generally, I have focused this column on a particular project, task, or organization doing statistics for the greater good. However, D4G is more than doing the science; it also includes advocating for science, itself, and the good it can do. The purpose of Stats4Good is to inspire and support, as well as provide ideas, tools, and opportunities to help you find the science that matters most to you. This month’s column is about finding your voice as a scientist speaking for science to achieve richer lives, stronger communities, and a better world.

Scientific study and analysis are essential to drive better outcomes for everyone, but science—all by itself—isn’t enough. To have the greatest impact, Data for Good studies need directors just as much as data, advocates as well as algorithms, and socializing the work in addition to the science. While there are many amazing scientists to do important work, there is a critical shortage of people with the skills and experience needed to turn scientific study into tangible impact.

In January, the 2023 Stats4Good Challenge list identified the need for more project managers as the single biggest challenge to starting more D4G projects. The Data for Good community now has a wealth of dedicated people eager to work on high-impact projects, but the most needed skills to be taught aren’t software or algorithms; they are identifying and prioritizing projects, putting resources together, partnering with people and organizations in need of scientific answers, and pulling together and leading a team.

Advocacy for science for the greater good also takes the form of advocacy for science, itself—particularly statistical and data science. Fact and the truth matter, yet are often disregarded in public spaces where the loudest voices can prevail over facts and data. Science advocacy can include writing, blogging, and writing social media posts and op-ed pieces for news media. I recently had the opportunity to present a session on statistics blogging at the ASA’s Conference on Statistical Practice.

Getting Involved

In opportunities this month, DataKind continues to recruit volunteers for their many high-impact projects. Also, after several years on the steering committee for the Conference on Statistical Practice, my term has ended. My last task is helping to recruit the next group of leaders in advocacy for statistical practice. CSP and the other ASA entities below need new members to carry forward their important work.

Conferences

Sections and Interest Groups

Committees

In addition to individual contributions, there are many organizations that can help you find your voice to advocate for Data for Good. The ASA Committee on Scientific Freedom and Human Rights’ mission is to address “violations of and threats to the scientific freedom and human rights of statisticians and other scientists throughout the world.” Committee members work on important cases here and abroad, such as former Greek Chief Statistician Andreas Georgiou.

The American Association for the Advancement of Science is a world-renowned leader in supporting, encouraging, and recognizing science. The AAAS 2023 annual meeting is early this month in Washington, DC, so there will be many opportunities to connect. AAAS has a statistics section, a.k.a. Section U, involved in activities that promote the use, development, public understanding, and financial support of statistics and data science.

Many organizations are specific to a particular area, such as the Consortium of Social Science Associations, of which the ASA is a member. COSSA will hold a Science Advocacy Day in Washington, DC, April 24–25.

Another important area of advocacy is in government at all levels. Science is under attack in places where the voices of local scientists at school board and city council meetings can have far more impact than anything in public media. Even at the national level, members of Congress will be interested first and foremost in the voices of their constituents. The voices against trust in and use of science and data-driven solutions for the public good are already there, making it one of the best places to have an impact for the greater good with statistical science.

As ASA President Dionne Price recently said in an interview in CHANCE, “Statisticians and data scientists use data to solve problems and thus we are all leaders.” The most powerful voices for science are the scientist, themselves, in partnership with the people whose lives have been made better by our work. For we are all advocates, not for ourselves, but for each other and the vision we share of a better world through Data for Good.

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