Drawing on their work building the Global Nutrition and Health Atlas, researchers from Tufts University and Nestlé Research share lessons on making academic–industry partnerships work, from setting clear expectations about data to learning from each side’s differing priorities.
statisticians
This Month in Statistics History: The Statisticians Behind Modern Sanitation Systems
On UN World Toilet Day (November 19), we honor statisticians such as John Snow, who traced cholera to a London pump in 1854, and Florence Nightingale, whose data showed sanitation could cut hospital deaths from 42% to 2%.
‘Practical Significance’ Take Two: ‘Real World Data Science’—Who’s Writing the Story?
Editors of ‘Real World Data Science,’ from the RSS and ASA, discuss on the ‘Practical Significance’ podcast what makes a good submission: practical case studies, honest failures, and measurable real-world impact.
Meet Tristan Abbey, New Head of the Energy Information Administration
Tristan Abbey, who leads the Energy Information Administration, discusses reorganizing EIA, tackling decades of technical debt, and seeking ideas for new high-impact surveys.
Karl E. Peace Award Recognizes Outstanding Leaders in Data for Good
The award honored Nalini Ravishanker for her international mentorship and work with national statistical offices and Amy Braverman for her pioneering climate data fusion and uncertainty quantification.
Not Everything Deserves a Decision: Homer, the Inbox, and Getting Things Done
Drawing on “The Simpsons” writers’ creative process, this column shows how statisticians can use the “Getting Things Done” system to manage small decisions and free up bandwidth for the big ones.
Your Work Has a Place at SDSS: Call for Abstracts
Practitioners, researchers, and educators are invited to to submit abstracts by November 30 for SDSS 2027, to be held April 27–29 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Obituary: Steve Selvin
Steve Selvin, emeritus professor of biostatistics at UC Berkeley and the person who introduced the Monty Hall Problem, passed away on September 30, 2026.
Obituary: Mel Kollander
Mel Kollander, an ASA Fellow, founding member of the Washington Statistical Society, and longtime statistician at the Environmental Protection Agency, passed away on September 1, 2026.
Obituary: Vincent P. Barabba
Vincent P. Barabba, 1990 ASA president and Fellow who twice directed the US Census Bureau and led market research and strategy at Xerox, Kodak, and General Motors, died September 21, 2026.