Although statisticians have been involved in various aspects of wildfire modeling for years, greater numbers of megafires, new data sources, and methodological advancements in statistics and data science are leading to increasing involvement.
climate change
Significance Highlights: David Cox Passing, COVID-19 Data Lead April Issue
In a special 12-page collection of articles in this issue, friends and colleagues remember Sir David in their own way, while also reflecting on his immense contributions to statistics. Additionally, a selection of pieces is devoted to COVID data, lockdowns, modeling, and student learning.
The End of an Era: The Closing of SAMSI
Statistical and Applied Mathematical Sciences Institute (SAMSI) director David Banks discusses the successes and impact of the institute, which closed its doors recently.
JSM 2021: Data for Good and the Stories It Tells
David Corliss recommends making JSM 2021 the event that will help you tell your own Data for Good story and offers suggestions for sessions and search terms to get involved.
To Get a PhD or Not to Get a PhD? Part 4
The ASA Committee on Applied Statisticians gives you the experiences of four statisticians who took different paths after their master’s degrees. This month, Erin Twomey-Wilson explains why she found a master’s degree to be the best fit for her.
Francesca Dominici of Harvard Receives Award for Betterment of Society
Dominici was honored for her high-quality, innovative, and policy-relevant science; her commitment to transparency and reproducibility in science; and her work in developing statistical methods for evaluating health effects of exposure to air pollution.
Data for Good: The Year in Review
Data for Good had a wonderful 2019, full of new resources, networking opportunities, and shared enthusiasm.
20 Years of Statistics Advocacy: After Two Busy Decades, SPAAC Wants to Be Busier
Activities of the Scientific and Public Affairs Advisory Committee have included discussing statistical perspectives on current issues, organizing sessions for the Joint Statistical Meetings, and hosting a student paper contest.
Statistics at the Tipping Point: Data for Good in Environmental Advocacy
Environmental dangers are often described in terms of tipping points—a maximum greenhouse gas level, the total human population our planet can support, or the increase in temperature triggering a large rise in sea levels. As much as we hear about tipping points for environmental disasters, the concept itself is benign: a mathematical threshold in a small value that, when crossed, leads to a large change in something else. Examples of statistics at the tipping point are all around us, and all of us can participate in making a difference for good.
Climate Science Day Participants See Change of Tone on Capitol Hill
The ASA Advisory Committee on Climate Change Policy and the Section on Statistics and the Environment sent four statisticians to the eighth annual Climate Science Day on Capitol Hill at the end of January. As reported last year, participants again noted the changing tone of climate change discussions in many offices.