Practical Significance

For this special edition of Practical Significance, the special guest is Ron Wasserstein. The episode is a lively and candid conversation between co-hosts Donna LaLonde, the ASA director of strategic initiatives and outreach, and Ron Wasserstein, the ASA’s executive director. Colleagues and friends for 30 years, Donna turns the tables on her co-host. The two […]

Serving as the program chair for an ASA meeting can seem like a mammoth undertaking, but Nicole Lazar, chair of the 2021 Joint Statistical Meetings Program Committee, and Claire Bowen, who heads up the organizing team for the 2022 Symposium on Data Science and Statistics, describe the volunteer role as, “exciting, humbling, and a privilege.” […]

Along with Practical Significance, does your listening library include ASA-sponsored podcasts like ASA Biopharm’s Podcast, Data & Science with Glen Wright Colopy, Stats + Stories, and one of the first data science podcasts—Not So Standard Deviations? If the answer is “YES,” then you are in for a treat with the July episode of Practical Significance […]

June is Pride Month, and the ASA is strong in its commitment to and celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. As one way to participate in Pride Month, Practical Significance hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein welcome to the show Suzanne Thornton, who chaired the LGBTQ+ Working Group, and Jiashen You, the current chair of the […]

April is Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month and, to celebrate, hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein welcome to the show Mine Çetinkaya-Rundel and Kathy Ensor to discuss data science education, high-impact projects they are working on, what keeps them up at night, and more! Kathy, professor of statistics at Rice University and ASA president-elect, offers […]

Celebrating women’s history in statistics and data science honors the impact and influence of the women who first broke barriers in a then male-dominated field and those who followed in their footsteps to make their mark on the profession. Our shared history is comprised of events and experiences that have helped create a stronger, more […]

Episode 2 How to Become a JEDI! In a mindful and reflective response to the Black Lives Matter movement, the ASA committed to driving cultural change. We formed the ASA Anti-Racism Task Force to better align the association’s leadership, organizational structure, policies, practices, membership, and outreach efforts and to provide guidance on how the responsible use of statistics can advance racial justice by becoming more anti-racist. With an eye to the future, the association also created an outreach group to address justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI).

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Practical Significance, the American Statistical Association’s new monthly podcast. Co-hosts Donna LaLonde, the ASA’s director of strategic initiatives and outreach, and ASA Executive Director Ron Wasserstein welcome Rob Santos, the 2021 ASA president, to the show. Rob shares compelling details about his work at the Urban Institute, outlines several goals and initiatives he plans to tackle during his tenure as association president, and offers an intriguing story about his passion outside the profession. We invite you to listen in and, if you like what you hear, share the podcast with a colleague! Thank you.