The title for this episode is a question familiar to ChatGPT users and signals the growing impact of artificial intelligence on the world around us. Tian Zheng, Hongtu Zhu, and Mark Glickman join co-hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein to discuss the implications of AI for our profession. Building on a 2023 workshop on statistics and AI in health care, Tian, Hongtu, and colleagues recently hosted an ASA townhall during which they discussed the impact of AI on the statistical community. Mark is chair of the ASA Committee on Data …

March 14 is Pi Day and the International Day of Mathematics (and Statistics), which has the theme “Play with Math” this year. Practical Significance co-hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein knew there was no better way to play with math and statistics than to talk with members of the ASA Statistics in Sports Section—chair Guanyu Hu and communications officer Denise Bradford.
Bradford, senior data scientist for the Detroit Pistons, and Hu, assistant professor at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, bring their “A” game to the show as …

Fortunately, 2024 is a leap year and February has an extra day because David Matteson, professor and associate chair for the statistics and data science and social statistics department at Cornell University, has a full plate. He recently took on the role of director of the National Institute of Statistical Sciences and is leading the editorial team for Data Science in Science, the newest open-access addition to the ASA’s portfolio of publications.
This month, he joins Practical Significance co-hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein to discuss the purpose and scope …

Practical Significance co-hosts Donna Lalonde and Ron Wasserstein kick off season four by welcoming the editor of Real World Data Science, Brian Tarran, to the show. A new initiative from the Royal Statistical Society in partnership with the ASA, Real World Data Science features content developed by data scientists. Tarran’s aim is for the site to be a trusted, go-to source for high-quality and engaging content that supports ethical and impactful practice.
Because the target audience for Real World Data Science is all who work in data science, Tarran learned …

As Practical Significance celebrates the end of its third year, we want to express how grateful we are for our devoted listeners. Thank you! We also mark a special podcast tradition this month by speaking with outgoing ASA board members. Co-hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein “go live” from the second floor of the ASA building during the 2023 fall board meeting, and retiring board members Catherine (Kate) Calder, Kathy Ensor, Alexandra (Alex) Hanlon, Ruixiao Lu, Matilde Kam, and *Bin Nan take the mic.
Listen in as they share anecdotes and …

The ASA is stronger because of the perspectives and experiences international members bring to our community. This month, co-hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein talk with Ingrid Van Keilegom, international representative to the ASA Board, and Afia Owusu-Forfie, founder and executive director of Coders Who Travel, about initiatives and resources that support international members.
Van Keilegom, a statistics professor at KU Leuven in Belgium, highlights the work of the Committee on International Relations in Statistics. She also addresses initiatives important to our international members, including webinars, accreditation, a reduction in fees …

Did you know the ASA has a section or special interest group for you? These are subject-area and/or industry-related groups that provide benefits specific to your interests. This month, Practical Significance co-hosts Donna and Ron chat with three section leaders: Wendy Martinez, chair of the newly formed Section on Text Analysis; Susan Paddock, chair of the Council of Sections Governing Board; and Sharina Person, chair of the Biometrics Section, which became the ASA’s first section in 1938!
Our guests discuss the benefits of being part of a section or interest …

Derek Curtis II set his sights on accounting when he was in just the 8th grade. Unlike many of us, he went to college knowing exactly what he wanted to do and, today, he is the ASA’s new director of finance and administration.
This month, he joins Practical Significance co-hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein to talk about his career path and give shout-outs to a few professional mentors. He also shares how he stays current in the world of finance and, with an eye toward the future, …

On April 21, 2021, the American Statistical Association became a full member of CSAB, joining the world’s two largest professional and technical societies for computing—the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the IEEE Computer Society (IEEE-CS). This month, Practical Significance co-hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein welcome to the show newly appointed CSAB Executive Director Andrew (Andy) Phillips to get an update on data science accreditation. In addition to data science programs, CSAB is the lead ABET member society for accreditation of degree programs in computer science, cybersecurity, information systems, …

The ASA recently formed the Caucus of Industry Representatives to promote statistics and data science in the private and public sectors and provide resources to successfully advocate for the discipline. Ginger Holt, who is leading the effort as chair of the executive committee, and committee member Amarjot Kaur talk shop with Practical Significance co-hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein, touching on everything from the most significant challenges facing industry statisticians and data scientists to the opportunities and implications of large language models.
Holt, senior staff data scientist at DataBricks, …