ASA promised to be the “Big Tent for Statistics and Data Science,” and ASA President Kathy Ensor shares the work the association is doing to fulfill this promise and extend its leadership by highlighting three important initiatives.
science policy
Infrastructure Series: Challenges Loom for Chief Statistician of the US
For this installment of the Count on Stats State of the Data Infrastructure Series, we hear from former Chief Statisticians of the United States Hermann Habermann, Katherine Wallman, and Nancy Potok.
Undergraduate Statistics Degrees Up 474% Since 2010
The increase in the number of universities granting statistics and biostatistics degrees also continues steadily.
Highlights of the August 3–5, 2021, ASA Board of Directors Meeting
ASA President Rob Santos called to order the summer meeting of the ASA Board on Tuesday, August 3. Here are the highlights.
University of Michigan Graduate Joins ASA Staff as Science Policy Fellow
Edward Wu started as the ASA science policy fellow in September, becoming the fourth person to hold the position.
ASA Member Joins Institute for Defense Analyses as Summer Associate
Andrew Furlong, a student at Carnegie Mellon University, is working toward a bachelor’s degree in statistics and machine 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.
State of the Science and Engineering Data Infrastructure: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics
Three experts discuss the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, which provides data on science and engineering enterprise; collects essential data on STEM education; provides research and development activities, funding, and infrastructure; and supports data innovations.
FY21 Federal Budget Finalized
![Figure 1 shows the budgets of the seven mid-sized statistical agencies normalized to their FY09 levels, along with the GDP deflator to account for inflation. Budget restructuring for ERS in FY15 and ORES in FY19 are accounted for in the graph to allow for comparison over this time period. One-time moving costs in FY16 for BEA are also omitted. [Key: BEA, Bureau of Economic Analysis; BJS, Bureau of Justice Statistics; BTS, Bureau of Transportation Statistics; ERS, USDA Economic Research Service; NCSES, NSF National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics; ORES, Social Security Administration Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics; SOI, IRS Statistics of Income Division]](https://magazine.amstat.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/FY_Figure1_-150x150.jpg)
The NIH, NSF, and several federal statistical agencies received increases, but many are facing fiscal challenges after years of purchasing power loss.
Advocating for the Profession: The ASA Wants Your Recommendations
Advocacy for the ASA means supporting the profession of statistics, encouraging the engagement of statisticians, providing the perspectives of the ASA as it relates to issues on which we have expertise, or urging a particular course as it relates to the ASA perspective.