Penny S. Reynolds
The History of Statistics Special Interest group is expanding its reach. Founded in 2017 (with former ASA president Wendy Martinez as the first chair), its stated mission is to “bring together individuals and groups who have an active interest in the history of statistics to share research and resources.”
The interest group has been an online educational resource almost since its inception. Its virtual library provides links to activities designed to incorporate history into teaching statistics, including classroom lessons, projects, and even puzzles.
Group members also conducted webinars about Thomas Bayes and the Rothamsted school, had a virtual book club, and sponsored the Sir David R. Cox Memorial Session at JMS 2022, which featured Nancy Reid, Peter McCullough, and Heather Battey. In January 2022, the group began daily Twitter posts (microblogs) about historical items of interest to statisticians, including biographies, methodology origin stories, and “On This Day” features.
Now the group is moving into new territory and would welcome help. Beginning in April, CHANCE will debut a new column called History Chronicles, with Penny Reynolds of the ASA and Chaitra Nagaraja of the Royal Statistical Society serving as co-editors. Suggestions and submissions for future columns can be sent to chancemag.editor@gmail.com.
The group is also looking to develop biographical offerings on lesser known but influential statisticians, especially those belonging to historically excluded and overlooked groups. For example, there is almost no readily available information (or even pictures) for many female statisticians who are now deceased, such as Yvonne Bishop or Olive Jean Dunn. Additionally, there is little biographical information for statisticians outside the usual orbit of the US and UK. The group wants to hear from colleagues, associates, and family members with information they wish to share.
To further their aim, group members have coordinated collaborative Wikipedia ‘edit-athons’ to add new articles and improve existing Wikipedia offerings.
If interested in helping or joining the group, send an email to PReynolds@anest.ufl.edu (Subject: ASA-HoS) and follow the group on Twitter @HOS_ASA.
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