In this forward-looking episode of Practical Significance, co-hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein sit down with a powerhouse panel to explore where statistics is headed over the next decade. Kathy Ensor (Rice University), Lance Waller (Emory University), and Brittany Segundo (National Academies) dive into a major National Academies consensus study: Frontiers of Statistics in Science and Engineering: 2035 and Beyond.
Ensor (chair) and Waller (vice chair) are leading the committee working on this ambitious study. They share what drove them to tackle such a monumental project and why statistics is more crucial than ever for addressing complex, interdisciplinary challenges across science, engineering, and public policy. Segundo gives the inside scoop on how this study came together, from its diverse federal sponsorship (think National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and beyond) to the community-wide input they’re gathering from statisticians and others in allied quantitative disciplines.
The conversation covers serious ground: AI integration; data-informed decision-making; and how the discipline can evolve while holding onto its core values of rigor, reproducibility, and humility. Our guests make a compelling case for embracing change, building bridges across disciplines, and never losing sight of what makes statistical thinking so powerful.
This episode isn’t just about predicting the future of statistics—it’s a call to action for anyone who wants to help shape it.
And you won’t want to miss Ron’s “Top Ten Ways Statisticians Ruin Game Night.” It’s a Practical Significance tradition. Listen in!
1. Read more about the Frontiers of Statistics in Science and Engineering: 2035 and Beyond study. The National Academies invites you to share your thoughts about how statistics is operating and will evolve at the frontiers of statistics. Your perspective is invaluable and helps ensure a holistic understanding of the statistical sciences and their broad implications for science and engineering. Take this survey: Call for Perspectives on the Frontiers of Statistics.
Special thanks to the July sponsor of Practical Significance, Cytel, a global leader in cutting-edge analytical solutions, quantitative methods, and innovative statistical software for the life sciences industry.
For nearly four decades, Cytel has pioneered adaptive trial design, using data-driven insights to inform strategy across all phases of drug development and commercialization. Cytel drives innovation in clinical research by accelerating drug development, improving success rates, and delivering better patient outcomes. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Cytel has more than 2,000 employees worldwide.
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