Jonaki Bose, National Center for Health Statistics

The ASA Committee on Applied Statisticians (CAS) is excited about the upcoming Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM) and the wide variety of sessions relevant for applied statisticians. We hope attendees will be able to savor the best of non-statistical Toronto whether through poutine or the amazing Toronto food scene neighborhoods (Scarborough Southwest, East York, Eglinton West, Roncesvalles, and Rua Açores, to name a few). In addition, the need for socializing, catching up, and meeting new people cannot be understated. It’s been a tough three years, and we need to rebuild and sow new roots, both professional and personal—consistent with the 2023 theme, One Community: Informing Decisions and Driving Discovery.

It’s not easy to narrow down sessions of interest. The list below highlights a few sessions focused on applied statistics:

August 6, 2023
2:00 p.m.
Session ID: 1551
Use of Color in Statistical Charts

August 6, 2023
2:00 p.m.
Session ID: 1285
Wildfire, Floods, & Droughts: Targeting Statistical Research for Impacts, Adaptation, & Mitigation

August 7, 2023
8:30 a.m.
Session ID: 0179
IOL: Astronomers Speak Statistics

August 7, 2023
2:00 p.m.
Session ID: 0056
Extremes in a Changing Climate

August 8, 2023
10:30 a.m.
Session ID: 1446
Critical Race Theory for Statisticians: Incorporating CRT into Statistical Analyses

August 8, 2023
2:00 p.m.
Session ID: 1103
Big Data with Rare Events, and Applications in Safety

August 9, 2023
2:00 p.m.
Session ID: 1124
AI in Marketing

August 9, 2023
2:00 p.m.
Session ID: 1732
New Statistical Advances in Forensic Sciences

August 10, 2023
8:30 a.m.
Session ID: 1724
Developments in the Measurement of Fairness: Applications to Economics and Health

August 10, 2023
10:30 a.m.
Session ID: 1621
New Methodological and Practical Approaches for Facilitating Drug Approvals in Rare Disease

One of the ways to meet new people and have invigorating discussions is to register for continuing education classes and round tables (for a fee). Classes like Text Analysis for Statisticians Who Want to Become Data Scientists (CE_04C) or State-of-the-Art Classification and Regression Trees and Forest (CE_03C) provide applied statisticians exposure to cutting edge tools. Roundtables like Social Statistics of Refugee Camps in the Context of Climate Change (ML13) and Emerging Role of Digital Technology and Remote Monitoring in Patient Care: Statistical Challenges (WL10) provide an opportunity to dig deep into specific topics while meeting people who want to do the same.

Don’t forget the poster sessions, which provide opportunities for one-on-one discussions as well! The topics are fascinating and varied. Some examples are:

• A Bayesian Method for Rare Variant Analysis Using Functional Annotations with Applications to Autism on Tuesday, August 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
• Willingness to Disclose Demographic Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Information Among LGBTQI+ on Tuesday, August 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
• Mixed Models for Analyzing the Gut Microbiome Changes over Time on Monday, August 7 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
• Quantifying Cognitive Reserve through a Formative Framework on Tuesday, August 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.

So come to JSM and step aside from the daily details for a few days! Luxuriate in a conference with folks thinking about similar challenges and created solutions. And then return to your work life with fresh ideas, new energy, and a renewed sense of purpose. A massage for the brain, if you would.

For JSM details, visit the website. To find more sessions related to applied statistics during JSM, visit the online program, navigate to the criteria section, select the category drop down menu. Under “Applied” select “Yes” to see the complete list.