With the Joint Statistical Meetings just weeks away, I present my annual review of presentations, meetings, and resources to help you make the most of the event and support your work in Data for Good. Whether or not you’re able to attend JSM, the resources on the website can help you find important research, make new connections, and prepare for your next D4G project. This year’s theme for JSM puts Data for Good at the center: “Communities in Action: Advancing Society.”
Your most important tool for getting all you can out of JSM is the online program, providing you the opportunity to search by subject, keyword, author, day and time, and more. On the left side of the page, there’s a helpful toolbar with filters to help focus your search. The program can be thought of as an AI where you enter a prompt, which makes best practices for prompt engineering useful. Consider entering a search, giving a quick review of the results, then editing the prompt iteratively to better focus the results returned by the request.
Increasing the ASA’s outreach to the community and growing closer, productive relations with communities across the country has been a primary objective for ASA 2026 President Jeri Mulrow. You can learn about the many forms this is taking, and how to get involved, at the president’s address on Tuesday at 8 p.m. There will also be a special session highlighting Mulrow’s Communities in Action initiative Sunday at 2 p.m., which will focus on developing the skills needed to drive engagement with our local communities, communicate the importance of data-informed decision-making, and help our community partners understand the benefits of working with statisticians and data scientists at the local level.
With AI exploding in all directions, you’ll see the program offers dozens of sessions on AI, especially generative and agentic AI and how to use them responsibly and effectively.
JSM brings in so many outstanding leaders in all areas, including Data for Good, which makes it easy to put together your own custom “leadership academy.” One standout is a panel session titled The Human Side of Statistical Leadership on Tuesday, from 4–6 p.m., featuring some of the most outstanding voices in Data for Good. At a time when AI is affecting our work so dramatically, these panelists will discuss the human side of analytics, including education, leadership development, and responsible and ethical use of AI.
Another great leadership session is Making an Impact Through Statistical Leadership on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. It features a panel of outstanding new voices on statistical leadership who’ve recently received the COPPS Emerging Leader Award.
Each year at JSM, Data for Good organizations from across the spectrum present new research and methodologies for increasing the impact of D4G projects. Go to the online program to find sessions sponsored by Statistics Without Borders, the Committee on Scientific Freedom and Human Rights, and the ASA Committee on Professional Ethics. Also, be sure to check out the Membership and Professional Visibility Issues Council reception on Sunday from 4:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m. With more than 20 organizations as sponsors or co-sponsors, this reception will be one of the highlights for the year in Data for Good. Connecting to one of these organizations is a great way to discover ideas for new D4G projects, gain important technical skills, and find new collaborators for your work.
If you’ll be at JSM this year, I hope to meet you and talk about your work in D4G. If you’re not attending, remember you can still use the online program to find papers and people in your areas of interest. Now is the time to plan for new, high-impact activities in Data for Good!
Getting Involved
Whether you are going to JSM or not, be sure to learn more about ASA President Jeri Mulrow’s Communities in Action initiative and how you can get involved. Also, take some time to dig into the JSM online program, make new connections, and find helpful resources. Then, maybe start thinking about what you might want to present at JSM 2027 in Chicago.
David Corliss
With a PhD in statistical astrophysics, David Corliss works as a data scientist in industry. He serves on the ASA Board as a Council of Chapters representative and is the founder of Peace-Work, a data for good nongovernmental organization.
This column is written for those interested in learning about the world of Data for Good, where statistical analysis is dedicated to good causes that benefit our lives, our communities, and our world. If you would like to know more or have ideas for articles, contact David Corliss.
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