David Corliss is the AVP Technical Expert in Data Science at General Motors OnStar Insurance. He also serves on the steering committee for the Conference on Statistical Practice and is the founder of Peace-Work.
Each year, the Joint Statistical Meetings are one of the largest gatherings of statisticians and data scientists in the world, with a vast number of presentations, posters, meetings, and events. This makes JSM one of the most important Data for Good events in the world…and one of the most overwhelming. With a little planning, you can get the most out of the event, however.
The theme this year is One Community: Informing Decisions and Driving Discovery. The D4G community will be active in meeting these goals. The most effective tool we have is JSM’s excellent conference program, which you can search by keyword, type of session, sponsoring organization, and more.
I found it most useful for unstructured learning, so searches by keyword and/or sponsor are the most helpful way of finding the sessions and events best matching your interests. The Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Outreach Group always sponsors a few important sessions. Highlights this year include the following:
- Metrics and Statistical Analyses of JEDI-Related Data on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
- Statistical Scientists of the Math Alliance: A Focus on Diversity and Recent Graduates on Monday at 2:00 p.m.
- Critical Race Theory for Statisticians: Incorporating CRT into Statistical Analyses on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.
Sessions from Statistics Without Borders are also some of the most important Data for Good events each year. This year, sessions include Innovative Project Collaborations to Inform Decisions and Drive Discovery on Monday at 8:30 a.m. and the SWB business meeting on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m.
Additionally, the Committee on Scientific Freedom and Human Rights will host an invited session honoring the life and work of leading human rights statistician Thomas Jabine on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m.
When making your plans, remember JSM is so much more than the meetings and paper presentations. The poster sessions are full of new ideas, innovative science, and opportunities to meet and talk with researchers. The poster session sponsored by the LGBTQ+ Advocacy Committee on Monday at 12:30 p.m. is just one of the many D4G highlights this year.
Also be sure to check out the roundtable sessions. These are small group meetings over breakfast or lunch at an extra cost, each sponsored by a different section. On Tuesday at 12:30 p.m., I will host a roundtable conversation about getting started on your first Data for Good project.
JSM always has many presentations on the leading topics of the day. COVID research, identified as a top D4G research area this year, is represented with 23 matches.
Getting Involved
In opportunities this month, even folks unable to attend JSM can benefit from using the conference program to mine for research, projects, and contacts. Reach out to the people involved to develop new opportunities for collaboration.
July is also the month for summer intern programs. If your organization has interns—and especially if you are an intern—make sure exposure to Data for Good is part of the internship experience. Create opportunities for making Data for Good a vital, high impact, and rewarding part of their career from the very start.
Another top Data for Good research area is climate change. This year’s program has 10 sessions, including Extremes in a Changing Climate on Monday at 2:00 p.m. and Statistics in the Environment from the Canadian Statistical Sciences Institute on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Also, the ASA Climate Change Committee will hold its annual business meeting on Tuesday at 12:30 p.m.
When making plans for JSM, keep in mind technical sessions about the science most needed in your area. For example, almost no real-world data is clean and complete, but D4G is often particularly subject to data issues. The Monday 8:30 a.m. session Missing Data: The Where, the How, and the Why may not have D4G in the name but could be one of the most important sets of talks you hear this year. Another is the session titled Equity Concerns in Algorithmic Bias, Privacy on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., which will provide the hard science needed to put algorithms to the test to generate more equitable outcomes.
Each year, JSM is more than the sum of its parts. The most important Data for Good activity at the conference is networking. Take the opportunity to meet new people, talk with presenters, expand your network, and connect with organizations supporting your work and interests. Tell others about your work, share ideas and methods, learn about current trends and emerging areas of research, and get plugged in to new, exciting projects. As this year’s theme suggests, use this gathering of the Data for Good community to inform decisions and drive discovery.
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