Significance issued an open call for contributions, asking statisticians and data scientists “to help us explain the statistics of COVID-19.”

A team led by Susan Paddock identified automated driving systems as an area in which statisticians have made an impact and conducted an interview with Feng Guo, Nidhi Kalra, and Maria Terres. The complete interview provides an overview of the relevant issues, assesses the current state of statistical research and practice in this domain, and identifies opportunities for statisticians.

The decade of statistics continued with robust growth in the number of statistics and biostatistics degrees awarded annually at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. According to the ­latest preliminary data release from the National Center for Education Statistics, bachelor’s degrees grew 13 percent from 2018 to 2019 to 4,472 (44 of which are for biostatistics) and master’s degrees increased 7 percent to 4,515 (768 for ­biostatistics). Doctoral degrees decreased by 4 percent to 688 (186 for biostatistics).

The Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics acts as a facilitator, coordinator, and disseminator by connecting producers of official statistics with essential stakeholders such as policymakers, program planners, researchers, and businesses.

The ASA, in cooperation with the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Bureau of Economic Analysis under a grant from the National Science Foundation, is offering senior research fellow programs for 2021.