S S C LIAISON Volume 21 Number 4 October 2007 ON S ERIC SAMP
Jessica Utts, Chair of the Committee of Presidents of Statistical Societies, presents Jeffrey Rosenthal with the 2007 COPSS Award
Message from Reports Upcoming Conferences Consultants’ Forum the President 2 and Workshops 14 1 12 Notice to Advertisers News Message from 4 The Canadian 16 the Interim Editors Journal of Statistics: 1 Announcements Coming Attractions Obituary 7 13 17
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE STATISTICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA ISSN 1489-5927
MESSAGES Message from the President Christian Genest, Ph.D., P.Stat. (Université Laval) ear members, elections electronically as soon as fea- a P.Stat. member. In the new By-Laws, D sible. It is too early to tell whether this the titles of some key officers would As you can tell easily from this issue of objective can be achieved as early as also be changed to better reflect their Liaison, the preparations for our next next spring, but we would appreciate responsibilities. Thus the SSC Secretary, Annual Meeting are coming along fine. it if you would ensure that your e-mail the Program Secretary and the Public Except for the contributed address is correct when you Relations Officer would be called the paper sessions, the scien- T renew your membership in Executive Secretary, the Meetings ES N tific program is practically E December. An ambitious Coordinator, and the Publications Of- G complete. Moreover, the E program of on-line serv- ficer, respectively. Moreover, the official ARIANN main local arrangements M ices is also in the works, French term for “CJS Managing Editor” have been finalized. The as well as a redesign of the would change from “rédacteur gérant” to SSC and SFdS volunteers Society’s web site. To fund directeur de la production. The details are striving to ensure the these new developments, of the proposed reforms will be com- success of this enterprise. and considering that the municated to you in due course. Despite substantial costs meeting to be held next May due to holding the event at Christian Genest will generate little profit, Finally, I am delighted to report that the Ottawa Congress Centre, the Board has approved an starting from 2008, the SSC will spon- we expect to break even, so increase in membership fees sor the electronic journal Statistics long as there are at least 850 partici- for 2008: fees will rise from $100 to Surveys recently launched by the Insti- pants; this scenario seems realistic, if $110 for regular members but they will tute of Mathematical Statistics (IMS). not conservative. We count on you, of remain unchanged for other categories This publication, which provides open course, to ensure the largest possible of membership. The last increase oc- access to its content, is also sponsored attendance at this conference! curred in 2005. by the American Statistical Association and the Bernoulli Society. Such a spon- In the last issue, I mentioned that the Much progress has also been made in sorship requires any society to appoint production of The Canadian Journal of revising the Society’s By-Laws. A set an Executive Editor and an Editorial Statistics (CJS) might be delegated to of changes has been approved by the Board. This new initiative will provide a commercial publisher starting from Board. To become effective, however, increased visibility for our Society at a 2009. The Board of Directors supported these modifications will need to be minimal cost. In accordance with the this plan in principle at the meeting held sanctioned by Industry Canada after constitution of Statistics Surveys, the on October 13, and we will soon begin ratification by a two-thirds majority of SSC will be charged approximately $50 a careful analysis of the three bids that members present at the Annual General for each paper accepted by its own Edi- have been submitted to the CJS task Meeting to be held next May. According torial Board, but it is expected that this force. To insure a smooth transition, to the new By-Laws, the Program Sec- cost will be passed on to the authors, a decision will need to be made very retary would be elected for a three-year as is currently the case for CJS. We will early in 2008 and it will be announced term as a voting member of the Board proceed as soon as an agreement has in May, after confirmation by the Board. and Executive Committee. Furthermore, been signed with the IMS. Whatever the final choice, we will en- the terms of office of the Secretary, sure that the Editors keep full control Treasurer and Public Relations Officer I would be happy to answer any query on the content. We believe that in the would be extended to three years. How- you have concerning the decisions of long run, the distribution of the CJS will ever, the Board decided that the Chair the Board and the actions undertaken benefit from the bundling practices of of the Accreditation Committee should by the Executive Committee. It is our commercial publishers. be appointed rather than elected; the pleasure to serve you. appointment will be made by the Board At its October meeting, the Board also in consultation with accredited mem- voted in favour of holding the Society’s bers, and the appointee will need to be Message from the Interim Editors Angelo Canty and Román Viveros-Aguilera (McMaster University)
elcome to the final issue of Liaison tors for this issue. Larry is taking over Our cover picture for this issue shows Wfor 2007! Our incoming editor, from here on and any communications Jeffrey Rosenthal accepting the prestig- Larry Weldon, has been busy traveling regarding Liaison should now be sent to ious COPSS award for young research- in Europe since his retirement from him. Larry’s first issue will be in Febru- ers. A number of our members were also Simon Fraser University and so, we are ary 2008. recently named Fellows of the ASA and continuing in our role as interim edi- Allan Donner was named a Fellow of
E-SSC1 LIAISON VOLUME 21,VOL NUUMEMBER 21, NU4 MBER 4 OCT OBEROCT 2007OBER 2007 SSC LIAISOE-1 N MESSAGES the Royal Society of Canada. This issue counterparts in the SFdS. This also S also contains calls for nomination for serves as an initial call for contributed S our own awards. A number of the new talks or posters for that meeting. Denis C awards reported on last issue are now Larocque also writes about SSC partici- VOLUME 21, NO. 4 OCTOBER 2007 open for nominations so please consider pation at the 2008 JSM in Denver. Radu INTERIM EDITORS nominating suitable individuals to be Theodorescu, an Honorary Member Angelo Canty the first recipients of these new awards. of the SSC since 2000, passed away [email protected] The SSC is also asking for nominations in August and we end this issue with Román Viveros-Aguilera to the 2008 elections to the Executive a thoughtful obituary written by his [email protected] Committee, Board of Directors and Sec- colleague and SSC President Christian SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITORS tion Executives. Genest. Llwellyn Armstrong [email protected] In this issue’s Consultant’s Forum, We hope that there is something in Christian Genest Janet MacDougall asked a non-statisti- this issue for everyone and that you [email protected] cian, Lynne C. Howarth, to write about enjoy it. This will be our last issue and Peter D. M. Macdonald metadata from the point of view of an we want to thank everyone for their [email protected] information manager. This follows on prompt responses to calls for articles J. Heward Gough from the article by Eric Woodsworth in and to all our readers for their patience [email protected] our last issue and gives us an insight with the problems that have arisen with T. Rolf Turner into the uses and structure of metadata. the production of Liaison this year. We [email protected] These matters can be rather important could not have done this alone and we ASSOCIATE EDITORS for consultants dealing with end-users. want to take this opportunity to thank Jean-François Angers In other articles, Paul Gustafson gives Torsten Bernhardt (composition) and [email protected] us a summary of upcoming CJS articles. Maryse Dansereau (translations) for François Bellavance We also include a list of conferences and their invaluable work as well as the as- [email protected] workshops which may be of interest to sociate editors who have helped out so K. C. Carrière members over the coming months. In much with the production of Liaison. [email protected] more detail, Pierre Lavallée and Bruno Finally, on behalf of the entire SSC, we Thierry Duchesne Rémillard give us a taste of what we welcome Larry Weldon as editor and [email protected] can expect at the Ottawa 2008 joint are sure that Liaison will only get better David Hamilton meeting of the SSC and our French under his leadership. [email protected] Janet McDougall [email protected] REPORTS Eric Rancourt [email protected] Gary Sneddon Report from the Australia-Canada [email protected] Scholar Committee Min Tsao [email protected] Jerry Lawless (University of Waterloo; 2007-2008 Chair of the Australia-Canada Scholar Committee) PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION George P. H. Styan LAYOUT AND GRAPHICS DESIGN he AusCan Scholar Program pro- The next Canadian AusCan Scholar will Torsten Bernhardt Tmotes interaction between the visit Australia during 2009 and will be FRENCH TRANSLATION Australian and Canadian statistical chosen in Fall, 2008. Details about ap- Maryse Dansereau communities by providing funding for plying are given on the SSC web site. SSC LIAISON young scholars from either country to STATISTICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA spend an extended period in the other. Dr. Melissa Dobbie (www.cmis.csiro. TEL. : (613) 562-5320 FAX : (613) 565-6774 Details of the program can be found on au/melissa.dobbie/) from Australia’s E-MAIL : [email protected] the SSC web site (www.ssc.ca). Commonwealth Scientific and Indus- WEB SITE : WWW.SSC.CA trial Research Organization SSC Liaison is published by the Statistical Society of Canada (SSC) and is sent free of charge to all members Dr. Mu Zhu of University (CSIRO) will be visiting four times a year (February, May, July, and October). Non- of Waterloo was the initial Canada in January 11- members can subscribe to SSC Liaison at the cost of $30.00 per volume (four issues). SSC Liaison is also available on AusCan Scholar. He visited February 15, 2008 as the the SSC web site at www.ssc.ca. Australia from September second AusCan Scholar. The aim of SSC Liaison is to foster increased and better 15 to November 12, 2006 Dr. Dobbie specializes in communication among Canadian statisticians. and visited no fewer than spatial-temporal modelling; No responsibility for the views expressed by the authors is 11 universities, 7 CSIRO environmental modelling; assumed by SSC Liaison, its editors or the SSC. offices and over 10 other the analysis of ecological, Reproduction is authorized with mention of the source. groups. Mu gave 18 lectures biological and environ- Circulation : 400 ISSN: 1489-5927 and two one-day workshops Melissa Dobbie mental data; the analysis Legal Deposit – 4th quarter 1986 during that period. of zero-inflated count data;
E-2 VOLUME 21, NUMBER 4 OCTOBER 2007 SSC LIAISON REPORTS and the design of aquatic monitoring the University of Waterloo is helping Dr. programs. She received her PhD from Dobbie organize her visit. Individuals or the Australian National University groups interested in hosting Dr. Dobbie Future Annual (ANU) under the supervision of Profes- or having her give a seminar should sor Alan Welsh. contact Professor Zhu (m3zhu@math. Meetings of the Society uwaterloo.ca) as soon as possible. Dr. Dobbie will be touring in Canada for about 5 weeks. Professor Mu Zhu from 2008 Ottawa, Ontario May 25-29 The 36th SSC Annual Meeting: SFdS-SSC 2008 Program Chair: Bruno Rémillard (HEC Montréal) he 36th Annual Meet- Local Arrangements Chair: Ting of the SSC, organ- Pierre Lavallée (Statistics Canada) ized jointly with the SFdS 2009 (Société Française de Sta- Vancouver, British Columbia tistique) will be held at the May 31-June 3 Ottawa Congress Centre, Program Chair: from Sunday May 25th Wendy Lou (University of Toronto) to Thursday May 28th, Local Arrangements Chair: 2008. Pierre Lavallée (Lo- Nancy Heckman (UBC) cal Arrangements Chair), Michel Delecroix (Assist- 2010 ant Local Arrangements Quebec City, Quebec Chair), Bruno Rémillard May 23-26 Local Arrangements Chair: and Marc Hallin (Co- pro- Thierry Duchesne (Université Laval) gram Chairs) invite you to Ottawa attend this first joint meet- ing with our French sister will also be in the next issue of SSC society. The latest information about the Liaison. The Local Organizing Commit- SSC program can be obtained through the tee is also arranging three social events: E-Directory conference website: www.ssc.ca/2008/ a welcoming cocktail on Sunday, May index_e.html. 25, a reception on Monday night at PRESIDENT: the Tabaret Hall of the University of [email protected] Preliminary Information on Ottawa, and a sumptuous banquet on Wednesday night. For more details on PRESIDENT-ELECT: Local Arrangements [email protected] any aspect of the conference, please Pierre Lavallée (Statistics Canada) visit the site www.ssc.ca. PAST-PRESIDENT: [email protected] The conference will take place in the See you in Ottawa next May! TREASURER: Ottawa Congress Centre, which is lo- [email protected] cated downtown, at a short distance Preliminary Information on PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER: from the Parliament of Canada, the his- [email protected] torical centre (ByWard Market), and the the Scientific Programme Rideau Canal. Electronic registration Bruno Rémillard (HEC Montréal) SECRETARY: will be avail- [email protected] able through 2008 ANNUAL MEETING t h e c o n f e r - Call for Contributed Papers LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS CHAIR: The Program Committee is calling for [email protected] ence website. contributed 15-minute talks or poster Arrangements 2008 ANNUAL MEETING presentations, either in statistics or h a v e b e e n PROGRAM CHAIR: in probability. To be considered, sub- [email protected] made for 500 missions must be made through the rooms in seven CJS EDITOR: conference website on or before Friday, [email protected] hotels located February 8, 2008. The website is not near the Con- LIAISON EDITOR: yet open to receive submissions; please gress Centre: [email protected] Pierre Lavallée consult the conference website later A R C H o t e l , this Fall to see when it will be open for WEBMASTER: Cartier Place [email protected] submissions. Suite Hotel, Fairmont Château Lau- PERMANENT OFFICE: rier, Lord Elgin, Quality Hotel, Novotel Submissions must include the paper’s [email protected] Ottawa, and Les Suites. Details about title, the authors’ names, affiliations, GENERAL INFORMATION: booking information and the rates ap- and an abstract in English or French [email protected] pear on the conference website, and
SSC LIAISON VOLUME 21, NUMBER 4 OCTOBER 2007 E-3 REPORTS of 100 words or less. Authors who can be announced. provide abstracts in both languages are highly encouraged to do so as the Pro- Plenary Sessions gram Book is fully bilingual. The speaker · SSC Presidential Invited Address Statistical Society and the preferred format (talk or poster) – Paul Embrechts, ETH Zurich of Canada should also be identified, together with the presentation language and trans- · SFdS Presidential Invited Address parencies language. The latter two – Davy Paindaveine, Université Libre 577 King Edward Avenue will be included de Bruxelles Ottawa, Ontario in the Program K1N 6N5 Book. Tentative · Gold Medal Award Address – scheduling will Don McLeish, University of Waterloo Telephone: (613) 562-5320 be issued by March. · L u c i e n L e C a m A d d r e s s – Fax: (613) 565-6774 To be announced Special Call Email: [email protected] for Posters Statutory Invited Paper Sessions Web Site: www.ssc.ca This year the (and Organizers) Program Com- Bruno Rémillard · CRM-SSC Prize in Statistics Address mittee is mak- (Louis-Paul Rivest, Université Laval) ing a special call to everyone, but especially students · Canadian Journal of Statistics Award and postdoctoral fellows, to display Address (Wayne Oldford, University of posters and present their recent results Waterloo) at the 36th SSC annual meeting. This gives a chance for media, professors, · Pierre Robil- and students of all levels to gain an ap- lard Award Ad- preciation for the type of projects being dress (Sudhir R. undertaken in the field of probability Paul, University and statistics. Special tips on how to of Windsor) Notice to Advertisers make a poster presentation and other information will be presented on the · Marie-Jeanne- meeting’s website. L a u r e n t - D u - SSC Liaison is published four times per year in hamel Award February, May, July, and October. Deadlines for material are 1 September, 1 January, 1 April and Scientific Program Address (Jean- 1 June, respectively. Camera-ready material may Four workshops and 51 invited paper Jacques Droes- be accepted up to 15 days later at the discretion of beke, Université Marc Hallin the Editor. Please send your material to the Liaison sessions are planned for the confer- office at the address below ence; these are listed below with titles Libre de Bru- and organizers. Please note that invited xelles) Size Per Per Issue Volume speakers must pay registration fees and submit their abstract electronically in Inside Cover (8”x10.5”) 800$ 2400$ Invited Paper Sessions Organ- the same manner as all other partici- ized by SSC Sections and Com- Full Page (7.5”x9.5”) 530$ 1600$ pants. mittees and SFdS Groups (and Half Page (7.5”x4.625” 330$ 1000$ or 3.625”x9.5”) Workshops Organizers) · Measurement Error Models (Biosta- Quarter Page 200$ 600$ 1. Biostatistics Section: “Regression (3.625”x4.625”) Modelling Strategies”, Frank Harrell, tistics Section, Grace Yi, University of Business Card Vanderbilt University. Waterloo) (3.625”x1.5”) 130$ 400$ Position Vacant 200$ - 2. Business and Industrial Statistics · Data Integration for Genomic Data Section: “Seductive Curves and Surfac- (Biostatistics Section, Laurent Briollais, The above rates are for camera-ready copy and are University of Toronto) given in Canadian funds. Typesetting is available es: Functional Data Analysis in Action”, at a charge of $40 per quarter page. French-English Jim Ramsay, McGill University. and English-French translation are available at · Round Table: Issues in Collabora- $0.25 per word. The Position Vacant ad must not tion in Medical Research (Biostatistics exceed a quarter page, and we reserve the right to 3. Probability Section: “Rare Events and edit it to ensure compliance with this restriction and Applications in Telecommunications”, Section, Lehana Thabane, McMaster as recognition of this constraint, the charge for type- François Baccelli, INRIA Rocquencourt, University) setting this type of ad is included in the cost. and Vaidyanat Ramaswami, BellCore. For an additional fee of $50, your Position Vacant · Statistical Genomics (Biostatistics ad will also appear on the Job Ads page of the 4. Survey Methods Section: “Analysis Section, David Bickel, University of Ot- SSC web site. For arrangements, please contact: tawa & Raphael Gottardo, University of [email protected] of Complex Survey Data”. Presenter to
E-4 VOLUME 21, NUMBER 4 OCTOBER 2007 SSC LIAISON REPORTS British Columbia) · Markov Models (Canadian Caucus for · Rank-based Inference (Davy Paindav- Women in Statistics and Committee on eine, Université Libre de Bruxelles) · Isobel Loutit Invited Address on Busi- Women in Statistics, Julie Horrocks, ness and Industrial Statistics – Speaker: University of Guelph) · Actuarial Science (Gary Parker, Simon Vijay Nair, University of Michigan, (Busi- Fraser University) ness and Industrial Statistics Section, ·Recent Advances in Time-to-event Román Viveros-Aguilera, McMaster Analyses (Section Biopharmacie et · Likelihood Inference (Nancy Reid, University) santé (SFDS), François Aubin, Agence University of Toronto) de la Biomédecine) · Predicting Modeling Applications in · Monte Carlo Markov Chains (Jeffrey Customer Acquisition and Retention ·Teaching of Statistics: Didactical and Rosenthal, University of Toronto) (Business and Industrial Statistics Sec- Pedagogical Problems (Section Ensei- tion, Patrick Turgeon, Figurs*| Analyt- gnement de la statistique (SFDS), Jean- · Environmental Statistics (Bruce ics. Insights) Claude Régnier, Université de Lyon II) Smith, Dalhousie University)
· Design and Analysis of Industrial Invited Sessions (and · Some New Perspectives on Longi- Experiments (Business and Industrial tudinal Data Analysis (Peter Song, Statistics Section, Rob McLeod, Uni- Organizers) University of Waterloo) versity of Winnipeg) · Bayesian Statistics (Jean-François Angers, Université de Montréal) · Latent Variables (Mary Thompson, · Statistical Process Control Methods University of Waterloo) in Health Care (Business and Industrial · History of Statistical Science (David Statistics Section jointly with Biostatis- Bellhouse, University of Western On- · Robustness (Doug Wiens, University tics Section, Richard Cook, University tario) of Alberta) of Waterloo & Stefan Steiner, University of Waterloo). · Classification and Algorithms (Gérard · Statistics and the Climate Sciences Biau, Université Paris VI) (Francis Zwiers, Environment Canada) · Two Sessions in Memory of André · Copulas (Arthur Charpentier, ENSAE) Dabrowski (Probability Section, David Case Studies (and Organizers) MacDonald, University of Ottawa) · Mixtures Models in Statistical Finance ·Handling Item Nonresponse in Sur- (Jiahua Chen, University of British Co- veys (David Haziza, Université de · Simulation of Rare Events (Prob- Montréal) ability Section, Pierre Del Moral, INRIA lumbia) Bordeaux) · Data Mining (Hugh Chipman, Acadia · Theme to be determined (Alison Gibbs, University of Toronto) · Parametric Statistics on Varie- University) ties (Probability Section jointly with Section Statistique mathématique · Session in Honour of Denis Bosq (SFdS), Philippe Berthet, Université de (Michel Delecroix, CREST & ENSAI) Information Rennes) · Censored Data (Thierry Duchesne, for Authors · Special Invited Session of the Survey Université Laval) Methods Section – Speaker: David · Statistical Models for Extreme Val- The Editors of SSC Liaison invite all Binder (Jiahua Chen, University of Brit- members of the statistical community ish Columbia) ues (Anne-Laure Fougères, Université Paris X) to submit news, comments (in the form of Letters to the Editor) and articles of · Fractional Imputation (Survey Meth- general interest to the profession. Items ods Section, Michael Larsen, Iowa State · Time Series (Christian Francq, Uni- versité Lille-3) other than Letters to the Editor, may University) be submitted to the Editor or any Asso- · Econometry (Christian Gouriéroux, ciate Editor. Letters to the Editor should · Calibration and Variance Estimation be submitted only to the Editor. in Surveys (Survey Methods Section, CREST & University of Toronto) David Haziza, Université de Montréal) The maximum number of words, in · Empirical Likelihood (Ingrid van the original language, is: Mailbox: · Combining Survey and Administrative Keilegom, Université Catholique de 375; Short article: 750; Feature article: Data (Survey Methods Section, Lenka Louvain) 1750. Mach, Statistics Canada) ·Model Assessment and Goodness- The Editors reserve the right not to pub- · Using Proxies for Reconstruction of of-fit (Richard Lockhart, Simon Fraser lish any letter submitted or to publish Hydro-meteorological Data (Section University) an edited version. Environnement et statistique (SFdS), · Model Selection (Pascal Massart, Uni- Erick Parent, ENGERF) versité de Paris-Sud)
SSC LIAISON VOLUME 21, NUMBER 4 OCTOBER 2007 E-5 REPORTS SSC Participation at JSM 2008 in Denver Denis Larocque (HEC Montréal; SSC Representative to the Program Committee of JSM 2008)
lans are underway for the 2008 a discussion about two specific issues, “Ridge Regression and Related Topics”, PJoint Statistical Meetings, to be one from the U.S. and one from Canada, the third SSC invited session, organized held in Denver, Colorado, on August 3 related to data on nutrition intake. The by B. M. Golam Kibria (Florida Interna- – August 7. The theme of JSM 2008 is speakers in this session will be Clifford tional University), will bring together “Communicating Statistics: Speaking L. Johnson (Centers for Disease Control researchers from around the world to Out and Reaching Out”. and Prevention), Didier Gar- discuss new developments in the area. riguet (Statistics Canada) These speakers are William Edward As one of the sponsoring and Kevin W. Dodd (Na- Strawderman (Rutgers University), M. statistical societies, the tional Cancer Institute). Revan Özkale (Çukurova University) and SSC is allocated three in- Ghazi Shukur (Jonkoping University). vited sessions at the Meet- The session on “Recent De- Marvin Gruber (Rochester Institute of ings. These sessions were velopment in Event History Technology) and A. K. Md. E. Saleh selected from proposals Data Analysis”, organized by (Carleton University) will act as discus- submitted by SSC members X. Joan Hu (Simon Fraser sants in this session. earlier this year. University), will bring three Denis Laroque leading researchers in the Thanks for your support. I will keep Jack Gambino (Statistics area to present their recent you up-to-date on SSC involvement in Canada) is organizing a work. The speakers will be JSM 2008. session titled “Nutrition Surveys: Chal- Richard Cook (University of Waterloo), lenges in Design and Analysis”, which John D. Kalbfleisch (University of Email: [email protected] will include an overview of the history of Michigan Ann Arbor) and Zhezhen Jin Tel: 514-340-6488 nutrition surveys in North America and (Columbia University). News from the Fields Institute Carl Riehm (McMaster University; Fields Managing Editor for Publications) Distinguished Lecture The Nathan and Beatrice mal meetings at the Fields Institute, on subjects which are often of interest in Series in Statistical Science Keyfitz Lectures in or involve statistics. See www.fields. The DLS in Statistical Science, estab- Mathematics and the utoronto.ca/programs/cim/07-08/ac- lished in 2000, takes place annually tuarialmath/. and consists of two lectures at the Fields Social Sciences Institute (one general, one specialized) The next lecture in The Nathan and by an internationally prominent statisti- Beatrice Keyfitz Lectures in Mathemat- Probability Seminar cal scientist. A nominating committee ics and the Social Sciences will be held Members of the SSC might also be solicits nominations from the Canadian on October 30, 2007. The speaker will interested in the Toronto Probability statistical community, and makes a be Jon Kleinberg of Cornell University, Seminar which is held at the Fields recommendation to the Fields Scientific whose research interests center around Institute. See www.fields.utoronto. Advisory Panel which is responsible for issues at the interface of networks and ca/programs/scientific/07-08/to-prob- the selection of speakers. information, with an emphasis on the ability for up-to-date information. social and information networks that The most recent speaker was Persi Di- underpin the Web and other on-line Workshop on Spread aconis, the Mary V. Sunseri Professor of media. The purpose of this annual series is both to inform the public of some of in Forests Statistics and Mathematics at Stanford. On November 22-23 (note change in His lectures, entitled “Mathematics and the ways quantitative methods are be- ing used to design solutions to societal date!), there will be a workshop, at Magic Tricks,” took place on September the University of Western Ontario, on 27-28, 2007. problems, and to encourage dialogue between mathematical, statistical and Spread in Forests. Check www.fields. social scientists. utoronto.ca/programs/scientific/07- Nominations for the next speaker in the 08/spread/ for details. DLSSS, including a letter of support and CV, should be sent to our Director: See www.fields.utoronto.ca/programs/ scientific/keyfitz_lectures/ for more Symposium on Dependent Professor Barbara Lee Keyfitz, Director information. Data Structures Fields Institute On May 21-23, 2008, a Symposium 222 College Street Actuarial Science and on Dependent Data Structures will take Toronto, Ontario M5T 3J1 CANADA Mathematical Finance place at Carleton University in Ottawa. It or e-mail to: The Actuarial Science and Mathemati- will feature the analysis and simulation [email protected] cal Finance Group holds regular infor- of dependent responses, focusing on
E-6 VOLUME 21, NUMBER 4 OCTOBER 2007 SSC LIAISON REPORTS the areas of longitudinal data analysis, See www.fields.utoronto.ca/programs/ CRM-Fields-PIMS Prize: November 1. mixed models, missing data analysis, scientific/07-08/dependent/. Postdoctoral Fellowships: December spatial data analysis, ordinal categorical 6 (although late applications may be data analysis, the simulation of depend- Fields Deadlines considered) ent random variates, along with various Some deadlines for proposals: Visiting memberships: no special biostatistical and health applications. deadlines, but early application is The invited speakers are David Brillinger Thematic programs: March 15. advised. (Berkeley), Michel Chavance (INSERM, Workshops, seminars, conferences, France), Richard Cook (Waterloo), summer schools: October 15. Consult www.fields.utoronto.ca/propos- Charmaine Dean (Simon Fraser), Jerald Distinguished Lecture Series in Statisti- als/ for further information. Lawless (Waterloo), Charles McCulloch cal Sciences (nominations): October (UC San Francisco), J.N.K. Rao (Car- 1 leton), Donald Rubin (Harvard), and The Distinguished Lecture Series Brajendra Sutradhar (Memorial). (nominations): September 15. ANNOUNCEMENTS 2008 Election n the next issue of SSC Liaison, the Section Officers President for one year. IElection Committee will present a The Election Committee for 2007-2008 slate of candidates for the following is: Biostatistics Section positions: Judy-Ann Chapman - JChapman@ctg. • President-Elect queensu.ca Gemai Chen - [email protected]. Members of the Probability Section ca • President-Elect Executive Committee Charmaine Dean (Chair) – dean@stat. • Treasurer (three-year term) sfu.ca • President-Elect Paul Gustafson - [email protected] Business and Industrial Statistics Sec- • Secretary (two-year term) Nancy Heckman - [email protected] tion • Public Relations Officer (two-year Mirolad Kovacevic - Milorad.Kovacevic@ • President-Elect term) statcan.ca • Treasurer (one-year term) Rhonda Rosychuk - rhonda.rosychuk@ ualberta.ca Regional Representatives Survey Methods Section Andrei Volodin - [email protected] on the Board of Directors • President-Elect gina.ca • Treasurer (two-year term) (two-year terms)
You may communicate your sugges- P.Stat and A.Stat. members in good • One regional representative from the tions to any member of the election standing on April 1, 2008 will elect Atlantic Provinces committee before November 30, 2007. (two-year terms): • Two regional representatives from Nominating petitions may be sent before 6 members of the Accreditation Com- Quebec January 15, 2008 to the chair of the mittee; • Two regional representatives from committee: Ontario 3 members of the Accreditation Appeals Committee. • One regional representative from Professor Charmaine Dean Manitoba/Saskatchewan/North-West Department of Statistics and Actuarial Successful candidates will take office on Territories/Nunavut Science July 1, 2008. A President-Elect serves • One regional representative from Al- Simon Fraser University for one year, then becomes President berta/British Columbia/Yukon Burnaby, B.C. V5A 1S6 for one year, and then becomes Past- Phone: 778-782-4919
Call for Nominations for SSC Gold Medal
he Gold Medal is awarded to a to mathematical developments or in ap- letters of support, a recent curriculum TCanadian, or someone residing in plied work. The Gold Medal is intended vitae, and a suggested citation to ac- Canada, who is a member of the SSC to honour current leaders in their field. company the award. A completed nomi- and has made substantial contributions Nominations, to be received by January nation is effective for three competitions to statistics or probability theory, either 31, 2008, should consist of at least four and may be updated annually.
SSC LIAISON VOLUME 21, NUMBER 4 OCTOBER 2007 E-7 ANNOUNCEMENTS Please send your nominations before Dr. David Binder, Chair Email: [email protected] January 31, 2008, to the Chair of the SSC Awards Committee SSC Awards Committee: 49 Bertona Street A list of previous winners can be found Nepean, ON at www.ssc.ca/main/about/awards_ Canada K2G 4G7 e.html.
Call for Nominations for SSC Award for Impact of Applied and Collaborative Work
he SSC has established a new award Nominations, to be received by January Please send your nominations before Tfor recognizing the impact of a stat- 31, 2008, should consist of at least January 31, 2008, to the Chair of the istician in applied and collaborative three letters of nomination and sup- SSC Awards Committee: work. This award will be given to a Ca- port, a curriculum vitae, a “layperson” nadian, or someone residing in Canada, description of the work and its impact Dr. David Binder, Chair who is a member of the SSC and who expressed in terms that would be suit- SSC Awards Committee has made outstanding contributions able for publicity purposes, and a cita- 49 Bertona Street in applied and collaborative work, the tion suitable for public announcement Nepean, ON importance of which derives primarily of the award. The letters should address Canada K2G 4G7 from its relatively recent impact on a the criteria for the award, and include subject area outside of the statistical one from a non-statistician/collaborator Email: [email protected] sciences, on an area of application, or representing the field or organization on an organization. that has felt the impact of the work.
Call for Nominations for SSC Honorary Membership
onorary Membership in the SSC be a member of the SSC. Nominations, Dr. David Binder, Chair Hmay be awarded to statistical to be received by January 31, 2008, SSC Awards Committee scientists, or in special circumstances should consist of at least one letter of 49 Bertona Street to other individuals, of outstanding support, a recent curriculum vitae, and Nepean, ON distinction who have made exceptional a suggested citation to accompany the Canada K2G 4G7 contributions to the development of the award. statistical sciences. The recipient should Email: [email protected] be someone whose work for which the Please send your nominations before Honorary Membership is awarded was January 31, 2008, to the Chair of the A list of previous winners can be found substantially done in Canada or has had SSC Awards Committee: at www.ssc.ca/main/about/awards_ a major impact in Canada, and need not e.html.
Call for Nominations for SSC Distinguished Service Award
he Distinguished Service Award is Please send your nominations before Email: [email protected] Tintended to recognize substantial January 31, 2008, to the Chair of the contributions to the operation or wel- SSC Awards Committee: A list of previous winners can be found fare of the SSC over a period of several at www.ssc.ca/main/about/awards_ years. Nominations, to be received by Dr. David Binder, Chair e.html. January 31, 2008, should consist of at SSC Awards Committee least three letters of support (of which 49 Bertona Street the nominator’s letter may be one), a Nepean, ON recent curriculum vitae, and a suggested Canada K2G 4G7 citation to accompany the award.
E-8 VOLUME 21, NUMBER 4 OCTOBER 2007 SSC LIAISON ANNOUNCEMENTS Call for Nominations for Pierre Robillard Award
he aim of the Pierre Robillard Award be co-author of the paper. The members thesis has been defended in 2007 must Tis to recognize the best Ph.D. thesis of the Pierre Robillard Award Committee also be provided. Electronic submission defended at a Canadian university in for 2007-2008 are: is strongly encouraged. 2007 and written in the fields covered by The Canadian Journal of Statistics. Sudhir R. Paul, Chair (University of Submission Instructions Submitted theses will be evaluated by Windsor) For electronic submission, the thesis a committee whose members are ap- Jean-François Angers (Université de should be in Postscript, Adobe Acro- pointed by the President of the Statisti- Montréal) bat (.pdf), or Microsoft Word format. cal Society of Canada; their decision Mylène Bédard (Université de Mon- The thesis and covering letter can be will be final. Judging will take into tréal) e-mailed to the committee chair. Alter- account the originality of the ideas and Reginald J. Kulperger (University of nately, the covering letter can give a web techniques, the possible applications Western Ontario) site from which an electronic copy of the and their treatment, and the potential Robert W. Platt (McGill University) thesis can be downloaded. impact on the statistical sciences. The committee may arrive at the conclusion The Pierre Robillard Award Commit- If the thesis has to be submitted in an- that none of the submitted theses merits tee Chair must receive the thesis and other electronic format or on paper, the the award. a nominating letter from the thesis Pierre Robillard Award Committee Chair supervisor by February 15, 2008. It is must be contacted before submission. The award consists of a certificate, a imperative that the supervisor address Entries should include e-mail addresses monetary prize, and a one year member- the three criteria below in their letter: and phone numbers of both the supervi- ship in the Statistical Society of Canada. sor and the student, and be sent to: The winner will be invited to give a talk 1. The originality of the ideas and based on the thesis at the 2008 Annual techniques. Dr. Sudhir Paul Meeting of the Society; assistance with 2. Possible applications and their treat- University of Windsor expenses to attend the meeting may be ment. Department of Mathematics and Sta- provided. The winner will also be invited 3. Potential impact on the statistical tistics to submit a paper to The Canadian Jour- sciences. 1-109 Lambton Tower nal of Statistics. If accepted, the paper Windsor, ON N9B 3P4 will be identified as being based on the In so doing, the supervisor may include Tel: (519) 253-3000 Ext. 3035 thesis which won the 2007 Pierre Robil- excerpts of letters from external exam- Fax: (519) 971-3649 lard Award; the names of the university iners. Complete letters from external and the thesis supervisor will be clearly examiners or referees will not be ac- Email: [email protected] indicated. The thesis supervisor could cepted. Official confirmation that the
Call for Nominations for Lise Manchester Award
he SSC has established an essay years preceding the announced contest Please send your nominations before Taward to commemorate the late date, by single or joint authors, who January 31, 2008, to the Chair of the Dr. Lise Manchester’s abiding interest are Canadian or who reside in Canada. CJS Best Paper Award and Lise Man- in making use of statistical methods For the 2008 contest, the article must chester Award Committee: to provide insights into matters of rel- have been produced during the calendar evance to society at large. This award years 2006 and 2007. Prof. Wayne Oldford is to recognize excellence in rendition Department of Statistics and of scholarly work, making use of ‘state Nominations for articles to be consid- Actuarial Science of the art’ statistical methods to pro- ered for the award may be made by University of Waterloo vide novel insights into situations that anyone; nominees need not be mem- 200 University Avenue West are of societal interest and potentially bers of the Society. The author(s) of the Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1 useful for formation of public policy in selected article will receive an award, a Canadian context. The selection is to which includes a $1,000 cash prize, Email: [email protected] be made biennially, from material in to be assigned jointly in the case of either published or completed manu- multiple authorship. script form, produced during the two
SSC LIAISON VOLUME 21, NUMBER 4 OCTOBER 2007 E-9 ANNOUNCEMENTS COPSS Presidents’ Award and Other Awards
he SSC Awards Committee has the years prior to that year. The candidate Dr. David Binder, Chair Tmandate to make recommendations may be chosen for a single contribution SSC Awards Committee for awards offered by other societies or of extraordinary merit, or an outstand- 49 Bertona Street bodies, such as the COPSS Presidents’ ing aggregate of contributions, to the Nepean, ON Award. The COPSS Presidents’ Award is profession of statistics. Canada K2G 4G7 granted to an individual who either will be under age 41 throughout the award Please send your suggestions before Email: [email protected] calendar year, or will be under age 46 January 31, 2008, to the Chair of the throughout the award calendar year and SSC Awards Committee: A list of previous winners of the COPSS will have received a terminal statisti- Presidents’ Award can be found at www. cally-related degree no more than 12 niss.org/copss/PastAwardsPresidents. pdf.
CRM-SSC Prize in Statistics Call for Nominations
he Centre de recherches mathéma- Charmaine B. Dean, Randy R. Sitter, vitae (with a list of publications) should Ttiques (CRM) and the Statistical Jiahua Chen, Jeffrey S. Rosenthal, and be submitted to the CRM before Febru- Society of Canada (SSC) solicit nomina- Richard J. Cook. ary 1, 2008. As files are not carried over tions for the CRM-SSC Prize, which is from one year to the next, nominations awarded in recognition of a statistical In 2008, eligibility will be limited to must be renewed each year. scientist’s professional accomplish- candidates who received their Ph. D. (or ments in research during the first fifteen an equivalent degree) in the year 1993 Submit files to: years after earning a doctorate. or subsequently. Current membership in the SSC is not a prerequisite. The Monsieur le Directeur The award, which includes a $3000 nominations will be examined by an Centre de recherches mathématiques cash prize, is bestowed at most once Advisory Committee consisting of five Université de Montréal a year upon a Canadian citizen or a members, three of whom are appointed C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-ville permanent resident of Canada whose by the SSC and two by the CRM. The Montréal (Québec) Canada H3C 3J7 research was carried out primarily committee is chaired by one of the two in Canada. Recipients of the award, CRM representatives. VOX: (514) 343-7501 since its creation in 1999, have been FAX: (514) 343-2254 Christian Genest, Robert J. Tibshirani, Nominations, including three letters of Colleen D. Cutler, Larry A. Wasserman, support and an up-to-date curriculum Email: [email protected]
Jeffrey Rosenthal is the COPSS Award Winner Christian Genest (Université Laval; SSC President)
he Committee of Presidents of Sta- who has received his or her terminal record of collaboration, resulting in Ttistical Societies (COPSS) announced degree in statistics less than 12 years significant publications in econom- on August 1 that the 2007 Presidents’ prior to the nomination deadline is ics, mathematical Award is given to Jeffrey S. Rosenthal, eligible provided that he or she is finance, artificial from the University of Toronto. This less than 46 years old in the year of intelligence and announcement was made at the Joint the award. survival analysis; Statistical Meetings, in Salt Lake City. and for outstand- The Presidents’ Award was estab- ing mentoring and The Presidents’ Award is the most pres- lished in 1976; Jeffrey is the 27th re- extraordinary skill tigious honour bestowed by COPSS. It cipient. The citation reads as follows: at communicat- is presented annually to a member of “For fundamental contributions to ing some of the one of the participating societies, in probability theory, stochastic proc- deeper ideas of our recognition of outstanding contributions esses and MCMC algorithms with Jeffrey Rosenthal discipline through to the statistics profession. It is typically applications to statistics; for seminal the media (print, granted to an individual who has not yet contributions to the theoretical un- radio, and TV) and reached his or her 41st birthday in the derpinnings of the convergence rates through the publication of a general year of the award. However, a nominee of MCMC algorithms; for his prolific audience book on probability in real
E-10 VOLUME 21, NUMBER 4 OCTOBER 2007 SSC LIAISON ANNOUNCEMENTS life which, less than two years after year before joining the Department of For more details on Jeffrey’s work and publication is in its 6th printing.” Statistics at the University of Toronto, career, see probability.ca/jeff/. where he was promoted to the rank of Jeffrey Rosenthal was born in Scarbor- Full Professor in 2000. Among other A list of the Presidents’ Award winners ough (Ontario) in 1967. He studied honours, Jeffrey became a fellow of the (which includes six other Canadians) mathematics and statistics at the Uni- Institute of Mathematical Statistics in may be found at www.niss.org/copss/ versity of Toronto (B.Sc., 1988) and 2005 and won the CRM-SSC Award PastAwardsPresidents.pdf. at Harvard (Ph.D., 1992). He worked in 2006. at the University of Minnesota for one Congratulations, Jeffrey! New ASA Fellows Christian Genest (Université Laval; SSC President)
he American Statistical Association Hengartner (Los Alamos National Labo- recent work as Editors of ASA publica- Tannounced on July 31 the election ratory), Michael A. Newton (University tions: Randy R. Sitter (Technometrics, of 59 new ASA Fellows at the Joint of Wisconsin), Therese A. Stukel (In- 2005-2007) and George P. H. Styan Statistical Meetings that were held in stitute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, (Current Index to Statistics, 2000- Salt Lake City. Toronto) and Yannis Yatracos (National 2007). University of Singapore). Among them were five people with obvi- Congratulations to all award winners! ous Canadian ties: Charmaine B. Dean For the past 93 years, fellowship in (Simon Fraser University), Nicolas W. the ASA has recognized outstand- ing contributions in ON the field of statistical ON S science. A searchable S AMP AMP S S RIC list of ASA fellows is RIC E available at www.am- E stat.org/fellows/index. cfm?fuseaction=main.
During the same cer- emony, two Canadian statisticians also re- ceived certificates of appreciation for their ASA President Mary Ellen ASA President Mary Ellen Bock and Charmaine Dean Bock and Therese Stukel Allan Donner Becomes Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada John Koval (The University of Western Ontario) r. Allan Donner, Professor in the units was not new, but the statistical im- degree of resemblance among family DDepartment of Epidemiology and plications of this design had been largely members. This evolved into new meth- Biostatistics and Head of Biometry, ignored. Contributions by Donner and ods for assessing interrater agreement. Robarts Research Institute, University of his graduate students have now domi- More recently Donner developed the Western Ontario, has been nated the literature in this goodness-of-fit approach to inference elected as a Fellow of the area. Jointly with Neil Klar, procedures for the kappa statistic. Royal Society of Canada. he wrote the first textbook Donner has been involved in cluster Donner was cited for the de- giving a systematic and uni- randomization trials internationally in velopment of methodology fied treatment of this topic, his role on the Steering Committee of in two distinct areas: (i) the titled Design and Analysis the World Health Organization Antenatal design and analysis of clus- of Cluster Randomization Care Trial and also with the International ter randomization trials and in Health Research. Vaccine Institute(IVI). (ii) the design and analysis of studies of interobserver Donner’s interest in inter- Donner served as Statistical Editor of agreement. Donner began Allan Donner observer agreement evolved the American Journal of Epidemiology his systematic development from his early contributions and Associate Editor of The Canadian of methodology for cluster to research in genetics and Journal of Statistics. randomization trials in the early 1980’s. familial aggregation, where he devel- The concept of randomizing intact social oped procedures for estimating the
SSC LIAISON VOLUME 21, NUMBER 4 OCTOBER 2007 E-11 ANNOUNCEMENTS NSERC Grant Selection Committee for Statistical Sciences
he Grant Selection Committee for Belkacem Abdous, Université Laval Bruce Jones, University of Western Tthe 2008 competition for NSERC Martin Barlow, University of British Ontario Discovery Grants is made up of the fol- Columbia Peter Kim, University of Guelph lowing individuals: François Bellavance, HEC Montréal Hélène Massam, York University Fernando Camacho, DAMOS Inc. Hugh Chipman, Acadia University Gemai Chen, University of Calgary (Chair) Karen Fung, University of Windsor
A Tip to SSC Members Who Hold NSERC Grants
s the time of the year approaches Costs of membership in professional The SSC Executive Committee would Awhen SSC memberships are up for associations or scientific societies if di- also like to encourage members to renewal, it may be of interest to NSERC rect economic benefits to the research renew early in the new year to ensure grant holders that the agency’s policy program. that they get a full year’s subscription to on when a membership is an eligible publications to which they subscribe. expense has changed recently. Several SSC members have already been able to make good use of this The list of eligible expenses on the new policy! NSERC website now includes…
WCES: Workshop on Calibration and Estimation in Surveys
Oct. 31 – Nov. 1, 2007 pling, generalized regression estimation, Statistics Canada Statistics Canada dealing with nonresponse, imputation R.H. Coats Building 11 A variance and small area estimation. The 100 Tunney’s Pasture Driveway Simon-Goldberg Room special invited keynote speaker will be Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0T6 Ottawa, ON Carl-Erik Särndal. The conference is sponsored by the Statistical Society of E-mail: [email protected] his conference organized by Statis- Canada. Ttics Canada will focus on conceptual, Telephone: +1 (613) 951-5046 technical and practical aspects of cali- For more information, contact: Workshop Web site: www.statcan.ca/ bration and more generally estimation english/conferences/wces-acee/index- in surveys. Topics included will cover Eric Rancourt en.htm. inference, foundation of survey sam- Business Survey Methods Division UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS
October 2007 November 2007 com) or C. R. Rao ([email protected]) Website: www.uohyd.ernet.in/sls/cbt/ October 31 – November 1, 2007 November 7 – 9, 2007 bif/Training/conf2007.htm Workshop on Calibration and Estima- Modern Challenges or Curve Modelling: tion in Surveys Inverse Problems and Qualitative January 2008 Location: Statistics Canada, Ottawa Constraints Organizer: Eric Rancourt (eric.rancourt. Location: University of Bristol, UK January 17 – 18, 2008 statcan.ca) Website: www.sustain.bris.ac.uk/ws- The 7th International Conference on curves.html Health Policy Statistics October 31 – November 3, 2007 Location: Philadelphia, PA, USA Design and Analysis of Experiments December 2007 Sponsors: Health Policy Statistics Sec- 2007 tion of the American Statistical As- Location: University of Memphis, Ten- December 20 – 22, 2007 sociation nessee, USA International Conference on Bioinfor- Website: www.amstat.org/meetings/ Organizers: M. L. Aggarwal and L. Y. matics ichps/2008 Deng Location: University of Hyderabad, Website: www.msci.memphis.edu/ India January 21, 2008 DAE2007 Contact: A. Kondapi (akondapi@yahoo. Health Care 2008: Building Opportuni-
E-12 VOLUME 21, NUMBER 4 OCTOBER 2007 SSC LIAISON UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS ties for Knowledge and Change Location: Novi Sad, Serbia for Mathematics Instruction and In- Location: Westin Harbour Castle, To- Website: www.im.ns.ac.yu/events/ ternational Association for Statistical ronto ala2008 Education Organizers: Institute for Clinical Evalua- Website: www.stat.aukland.nz/~iase/ tion Studies, Ontario Ministry for Long- April 29 – May 1, 2008 temp/RoundTable2008Announce. Term Care and Canadian Institute for Third Annual Canadian Genetic Epi- htm Health Information. demiology and Statistical Genetics Website: www.ices.on.ca Meeting July 2008 Location: The Fields Institute for Re- February 2008 search in Mathematical Sciences, July 13 – 18, 2008 Toronto XXIVth International Biometric Confer- Website: canadiangeneticepi.ccb.sick- ence February 22 – 23, 2008 kids.ca/en/index.html 1st Canada-Mexico Statistics Meeting Location: University College Dublin, Location: Centro de Investigación en Ireland Matemáticas (CIMAT), Guanajuato, May 2008 Website: www.conferencepartners. Mexico ie/ibcdublin2008 Contact: Román Viveros-Aguilera, May 25 – 29, 2008 [email protected] Joint Meeting of the Statistical Society July 23 – 26, 2008 Website: www.cimat.mx/eventos/cana- of Canada and the Société Française 17th International Workshop on Matri- da-mexico-SM de Statistique ces and Statistics, in honour of T. W. Location: Ottawa Congress Centre, Ot- Anderson’s 90th Birthday tawa Location: Tomar, Portugal March 2008 Website: www.ssc.ca/2008/index_ Website: www.iwms.ipt.pt/index.html e.html (English); www.ssc.ca/2008/ March 4 – 7, 2008 index_f.html (Français) August 2008 German Open Conference on Probabil- ity and Statistics June 2008 August 3 – 7, 2008 Location: Aachen, Germany 2008 Joint Statistical Meetings Contact: Udo Kamps gocps2008@ June 8 – 13, 2008 Location: Colarado Convention Center, stochastik.rwth-aachen.de TIES 2008, The 19th Annual Confer- Denver, Colorado, USA. Website: gocps2008.rwth-aachen.de ence of The International Environmet- Organizers: American Statistical As- rics Society sociation, International Biometric So- April 2008 Location: Univeristy of British Columbia ciety (ENAR and WNAR), Institute of Okanagan, Kelowna, BC Mathematical Statistics and Statistical April 21 – 25, 2008 Co-chairs: David Brillinger and Sylvia Society of Canada LINSTAT-2008: International Confer- Esterby Contact: [email protected] ence on Trends and Perspectives in Website: web.ubc.ca/okanagan/msp/ Website: www.amstat.org/meetings/ Linear Statistical Inference TIES2008.html jsm/2008 Location: Bedlewo, Poland Website: linstat08.au.poznan.pl June 30 – July 4, 2008 August 12 – 14, 2008 Statistics Education in School Math- useR! 2008: The R User Conference April 28 – 30, 2008 ematics: Challenges for Teaching and Location: Universität Dortmund, Ger- Applied Linear Algebra: A Conference Teacher Training many in Honour of Ivo Marek Location: Monterrey, Mexico Website: www.statistik.uni-dortmund. Organizers: International Commission de/useR-2008 THE CANADIAN JOURNAL OF STATISTICS
CJS: Coming Attractions Paul Gustafson (University of British Columbia; Editor of CJS)
he December line-up for The Canadi- data. The set-up is quite general here, approach proposed is based on what Tan Journal of Statistics is comprised with a non-normal observation process, the authors call “inverse-intensity rate of ten articles illustrating the breadth of and a non-normal, autoregressive latent ratio” weighting. In a related vein, Kim ideas and applications which character- process. Buzkova and Lumley also write and Kim consider inverse-probability izes our discipline. on longitudinal modelling, in the tricky weighting to adjust for nonresponse in but very plausible context of observa- a sample survey. Amongst other things, Jorgensen and Song write on station- tion times depending on outcome, or on they show that even when the nonre- ary state space models for longitudinal variables associated with outcome. The sponse probabilities are known, more
SSC LIAISON VOLUME 21, NUMBER 4 OCTOBER 2007 E-13 CJS efficient inferences arise from estimating not. This puts it in the legion of common be achieved via ranked-set sampling, these probabilities. This mimics similar biostatistical scenarios where the data and Frey complements this by propos- results for other applications of inverse- available are much less detailed than ing distribution-free interval estimation probability weighting, and is one of the data we wish we had. In addition to techniques. those counterintuitive results that keeps adding to the literature on the inherent us all from being complacent! issues arising from such a Finally, I am pleased to re- data structure, these au- port that CJS has been see- In other articles, You and Chen delve thors use two hazard ratios ing a number of submissions into inference for a partially linear model (short-term and long-term, in the general area of func- R MACDONALD E T with serially correlated errors. De Leon glued together smoothly), E tional data analysis. In this and Carriere address the clearly impor- rather than one, in order P issue, Heng Lian considers tant problem of multivariate analysis to quantify a treatment what a reproducing kernel for a vector response having continu- effect. This relaxation of Hilbert space perspective ous components, nominal categorical proportional hazards, which brings to problems where components, and ordinal categorical allows crossing hazards `y’ and `x’ are functions. components. Carota considers good- for instance, seems rather Paul Gustafson In addition to theoretical ness of fit tests cast in a framework of nice. contributions, Lian gives an a nonparametric Bayesian alternative. illustrative application where And Huang, Qin and Zou investigate Jesse Frey writes on ranked set sam- temperature as a function of time is used empirical likelihood techniques applied pling. While perhaps not widely known, to predict precipitation as a function of to mixture models in genetics. such sampling is applicable in situations time. I could not help but notice that where ranking the values (exactly, or per- for one of the sites considered (Prince While the articles mentioned above haps approximately) associated with a Rupert, B.C.), the method predicts bet- were handled from submission to ac- set of m units is cheap or free compared ter than a `less functional’ approach, ceptance by my predecessor Doug to obtaining the actual values. The one but still substantially under-predicts Wiens, the final three articles for the can choose which units to measure in precipitation. Having spent much of issue came through `on my watch.’ a deliberate fashion, particularly a fixed my childhood in this city, this accords Tong, Zhu, and Sun consider current- number of units with values distributed exactly with my recollection: an unex- status data. In this situation, one gets as the 1st order statistic out of m, a plainable amount of water tends to fall a single look at a study unit, and can fixed number as the 2nd order-statistic, from the sky! only determine whether the event-time and so on. There is a considerable lit- of interest occurred prior to this look or erature on the efficiency gains that can Happy reading!
CONSULTANTS’ FORUM
A Metadata Primer Lynne C. Howarth (University of Toronto)
Editor’s Note: This article was solicited ing our human requirement to sift, sort, es, and, in particular, those posted by as a follow-up to Eric Woodworth’s collocate, and choose information based participants on social networking sites, article, in the last issue of Liaison Con- on common characteristics. One famil- such as Flikr (www.flickr.com), del.icio. sultant’s Forum, which discussed the iar, even daily example of metadata is us (del.icio.us), YouTube (www.youtube. transition of statistical responsibilities the nutrition label that is now required com), LibraryThing (www.librarything. from creators/users of data to informa- on most packaged food products. Know- com), or MySpace (www.myspace.com) tion managers. The basic understand- ing the nature and quantity of ingre- – to name but a few. The “tags” or key- ing of metadata and its use is key to dients, such as sugar, sodium, or fats words or phrases that users create to fully participating in some of these new (saturated? trans?), can influence, not label their photos (Flikr), to identify and activities. Therefore Lynne Howarth, a only our choice of product, but also our link to their favourite websites (del.icio. researcher with expertise in metadata personal health and well-being, as any us), to provide a thumbnail summary standards and applications, was asked diabetic, hypertensive, or cholesterol- of their videos (YouTube), to describe to contribute on this topic as a guest monitoring individual can attest. (“catalogue”) what they are currently (i.e. non-statistician) author. (Janet reading (LibraryThing), or to self-identify Macdougall, Editor of the Cosultant’s Are there different types of to friends, family, or others signed on Forum, McDougall Scientific Ltd.) to MySpace, are largely based on the metadata? participant’s own use of language, or Metadata are normally considered to What are metadata and where “natural language vocabulary”. The lists be of two types, namely, structured of words and phrases that accumulate can I find them? and unstructured. The prevalence of on these “social tagging” sites, are also Metadata – or simply, data about data unstructured metadata has increased known as “folksonomies” – a word – reside helpfully in our midst, facilitat- with the proliferation of digital resourc-
E-14 VOLUME 21, NUMBER 4 OCTOBER 2007 SSC LIAISON CONSULTANTS’ FORUM formed by concatenating “folks” (those zation, the need to access discrete or financial; etc.) on access to, or use who create the tags), and “taxonomies” aggregated values from an expanding of, particular data, or full datasets. – the categories or terms. number of datasets stored in individual Included are such elements as restric- or shared drives within the organization tions on use, permission statements, Structured metadata, relying on syntac- still remains. Formalizing how the subscriber/licensing/pay-per-use fees, tic rules, and well-formed “controlled content of datasets will be described retention schedules, etc. vocabularies”, pre-date the more recent and documented consistently can not phenomenon of social bookmarking and only facilitate access to particular in- · Technical metadata: particular hard- unstructured natural language tags. formation, whether in one or multiple ware or software used in converting Based on a common “machine-read- datasets from the same or different origi- information to a digital format, or in able” syntax, such as HTML (Hypertext nators, but can also extend the usability storing, displaying, etc. May require the Markup Language), SGML (Standard and lifespan of information. Likewise, use of such elements as digitizing equip- Generalized Markup Language), or XML “Without standards or guidelines for ment specifications, camera positions, (eXtensible Markup Language), meta- metadata content, if the same individual shooting conditions, coding parameters, data schemas – a set of elements and were to document another dataset, the optical scanner specifications, etc. the rules for using them – have been same or different information might developed either for general purposes be included, and the format might or · Preservation metadata: information (e.g., digital libraries or collections of might not be the same. In this way, if pertaining to the condition of a dataset, digital objects, data warehouses, etc.), analyses require multiple datasets from and actions (refreshing; migration; etc.) or for specific domain applications different owners, locations or times, it is undertaken to preserve and manage and (e.g., drug labelling [Structured Product unlikely that all relevant datasets would digital data. May include such elements Labelling], digital geospatial datasets, have metadata with equivalent levels of as, audit trail of changes and decisions, profiling biological data, electronic detail, use consistent terminology, or use authenticity information such as tech- healthcare information [HL7]i, clinical consistent formats for metadata. The nical features or custody history (who trials data [CDISC]ii, etc.). Metadata- potentially infinite formats and types owns the dataset), responsibilities and enabled search engines can thus retrieve of information in which to document rights information applicable to pres- by precise metatags and values, those data suggest the need for metadata to ervation actions, version control speci- electronic resources in which a meta- be standardized.”iv Whatever is defined fications, retention periods mandated data record is embedded, or to which and structured uniformly now will be by a records management program or a separately housed metadata record readily identifiable and interpretable policy, etc. points. across time. · Structural metadata: information Why create structured How are metadata records describing the types, versions, relation- ships and other characteristics of digital metadata? structured? objects or data, and/or their component Objects or concepts can be represented Depending on what is included, and the parts. in a variety of ways. For example, the intended purpose(s) or use of the speci- number, “90” could be expressed as “9 fied repository of datasets, metadata · Use metadata: information relating X 10”, or as “ninety”, or as “four score records can be structured to include ele- to the level and type of use of or digital and ten”, or in a text message as “9tee”. ments broadly categorized as follows: objects or data. Each expression is a representation of the same thing or concept; deciding on · Administrative metadata: “house- · Other metadata, as determined: a uniform manner in which to convey keeping” information about the record particular metadata elements based on that “90” will not only facilitate com- itself – its creation (who? when? how?), local, regional, and/or organizational mon understanding and interpretation, modification, relationship to other requirements, or in accordance with a but will also allow for all “90’s” to be records, etc. nationally mandated metadata stand- brought together in one place with a ard, and not subsumed within any uniform naming device. Structuring · Descriptive metadata: information metadata type above. data can likewise facilitate discovery describing the properties or content of and identification. As observed in “An a digital object or dataset. Introduction to Ecological Metadata How much (structured) Language (EML)” iii : “Most of us have · Analytical metadata: information metadata is enough? experienced the difficulty in using our analysing and enhancing access to Determining what metadata to include, own data after only a few months have the content of the dataset. Sometimes and whether or how to structure desig- passed since it was collected. Unless referred to as “subject metadata”, ele- nated elements will depend on the level data are adequately documented, this ments may include controlled subject of detail required for finding and re-using difficulty only increases over time. Even terms, subject/topic keywords, codes the dataset, and the use to which those the simplest analysis requires some derived from classification systems or retrieved data will be put. Useful ques- level of metadata.” While analyses of categorization schemes, etc. tions to consider include: clinical trials may occur within a pro- prietary environment that precludes · Rights management metadata: in- · Which metadata elements or fields exchange of data external to the organi- formation regarding restrictions (legal; would be most useful to those who are
SSC LIAISON VOLUME 21, NUMBER 4 OCTOBER 2007 E-15 CONSULTANTS’ FORUM creating, maintaining, and/or using the of dataset retrieval? It remains with the ceutical product development. See www. repository of dataset repositories? How creators and users of datasets to deter- cdisc.org. much detail (granularity) should those mine the importance and appropriate fields support? application of metadata to long-term, iii The Knowledge Network for Biodiver- highly valuable, data assets essential sity (KNB). 2005? “An Introduction to · Are there requirements to create or to the work of the individual, the or- Ecological Metadata Language (EML)”. share datasets among a network of ganization, and perhaps to a broader In EML Metadata Guide. knb.ecoinfor- collaborators? Are (additional) meta- community of practice. matics.org/eml_metadata_guide.html. data fields required to support such The author wishes to acknowledge Eric cooperation? For further information and Woodsworth, Biometrician, Environ- ment Canada, for an e-mail reference · If the use of more than one meta- examples of metadata applica- to the Ecological Metadata Language data standard is envisioned or required tions: (EML), that subsequently led to this (sharing datasets across networks), are · Dublin Core Metadata Initiative dub- paper. Tables 1-4 provide useful visual authoritative cross-schema mappings lincore.org; in particular, “Communities examples ranging from data with no (crosswalks) readily and immediately and groups” dublincore.org/groups and data to standardized and structured available to facilitate and maintain “Tools” dublincore.org/tools. metadata created with EML. interoperability? · Metadata Open Forum metadataopen- iv Ibid. · Can data represented in one meta- forum.org. data standard be exchanged with col- About the Author laborators who are using a different · National Biological Information In- Lynne C. Howarth, PhD, is Professor standard? frastructure dublincore.org/groups see in the Faculty of Information Studies, link to “Metadata” under “Toolkit” www. University of Toronto. Teaching and · How readily can one migrate from this nbii.gov/portal/community/Communi- research foci include metadata stand- particular metadata record structure or ties/Toolkit/Metadata. ards for resource discovery, the design standard to another should data conver- and management of knowledge-based sion be required at some time? Endnotes systems, and knowledge management i Health Level Seven (HL7), a Stand- applications in public and private sector Few would argue, for example, with the ards Developing Organization (SDO), organizations. Howard chairs the IFLA need to structure the element, “date”, comprises, “… an international com- Working Group on Metadata Schemes. and to document the format in which it munity of healthcare subject matter She welcomes comments at lynne. was recorded – yyyy-mm-dd (ISO 8601) experts and information scientists col- [email protected]. – one representation of year-month-day laborating to create standards for the authorized by the International Stand- exchange, management and integration ards Organization. Would a statistician of electronic healthcare information.” wanting to revisit a dataset, or to access See www.hl7.org. a dataset created by a colleague find other types of structured metadata im- ii CDISC, the Clinical Data Interchange portant for ready identification? Would a Standards Consortium, “…is an open, record linking to a dataset, and includ- multidisciplinary, non-profit organization ing such elements as
E-16 VOLUME 21, NUMBER 4 OCTOBER 2007 SSC LIAISON CONSULTANTS’ FORUM Statistics Canada gave invited talks and by cell-phone technology in telephone in the Mathematical Sciences” on July Professor Wayne Fuller was the invited surveys. Participants had lunch together 9-14, 2007. Over 60 students and discussant at this session. Professor at the Indian buffet Samrat prior to the researchers from as far away as Vic- J.N.K. Rao is a Distinguished Research talk. toria gained hands-on experience on Professor at Carleton University. He is an techniques for parallel computation, as Honorary Member of SSC and received Université Laval well as participating in a two-day re- the Gold Medal of the SSC in 1993. Two postdoctoral fellows have joined search showcase on HPC in large-scale the Statistics Group at Université Laval math models, computer experiments, Québec this fall. Dr. Mohammed Haddou was and other computationally intensive invited for a one-year visit to Québec by problems. SSM and ASSQ Held Joint Louis-Paul Rivest. As for Dr. Aristidis K. Nikoloulopoulos, he is visiting Christian Dr. Pritam Ranjan has joined the De- Seminar in Montréal Genest until the end of 2007; he will partment of Mathematics and Statistics The Statistical Society of Montréal then move to Vancouver to work with as an assistant professor on July 1, (SSM) and the Association des statis- Harry Joe for 6 months. 2007. He recently completed his Ph.D. ticiennes et des statisticiens du Québec at Simon Fraser University under the su- (ASSQ) held a joint seminar in Montréal pervision of Professor Derek Bingham. on September 28. The speaker was Dr. Nova Scotia Stephen J. Blumberg, from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics. Acadia University Dr. Blumberg gave a well received talk Acadia University hosted a 6-day work- on new biases and challenges induced shop on “High Performance Computing OBITUARY Radu Theodorescu medicine at the Université de Mon- Statistics and Decisions (1981–2003), tréal. Revstat (2002–2007). (1933-2007) After being associated for ten years Co-opted as a member of the Interna- by Christian Genest (Université Laval; with the Mathematical Institute of the tional Statistical Institute in 1969, Radu SSC President) Romanian Academy of Sciences, Radu became a fellow of the Institute of Math- became the first Director of the Indus- ematical Statistics in 1986 and a fellow rofessor Radu Theodorescu passed trial Statistics Section of the brand-new of the American Society for Quality in Paway in Québec on August 14, Mathematical Statistics Centre of the 1989. He was an Honorary Member of 2007, at the age of 74. A Professor Academy in 1964. In 1968, he joined the Statistical Society of Canada and of Emeritus of Mathematics and Statistics Université Laval, where he the Statistical Society of Romania since at Université Laval, Radu pursued a career in teaching 2000. He will be sorrowly missed. was a long-standing mem- and research until his retire- ber of the Statistical Society ment in 1999. The author For further details about Radu and his of Canada and an Honorary or co-author of more than phenomenal career as a researcher in Member since 2000. 160 scientific papers, Radu probability and statistics, the following also wrote 13 monographs are available online: Radu was born in Bucha- or textbooks, including Ran- rest (Romania) on April dom Processes and Learn- A new Honorary Member for the SSC 12, 1933. The son of the ing (1969, with Iosifescu), (2000): Liaison, vol. 14, no 3, pp. 11- famous physician Dan Theo- Concentration Functions 12: www.theodorescu.ca/Liaison1.pdf. Radu Theodorescu dorescu and his wife Orten- (1973, with Hengartner) sia Butoianu, Radu studied and Unimodality of Prob- Presentation of a new Professor Emeri- mathematics at the Univer- ability Measures (1997, tus at Laval (2001): sity of Bucharest (B.Sc., 1954; Ph.D., with Bertin and Cuculescu). In addition www.theodorescu.ca/Tavenas.pdf. 1958; D.Sc., 1967). There he met Anca to supervising or co-supervising many Florescu, whom he married. Their son M.Sc. and Ph.D. students in Québec A conversation with Radu Theodorescu Dan Jr, born in 1962, is a surgeon and and elsewhere, he served the commu- (2004): Liaison, vol. 18, no 4, pp. a Professor of Urology at the University nity in various capacities, notably as 38-48: www.theodorescu.ca/Liaison2. of Virginia. Radu divorced in 1982 and Vice-President of the Statistical Science pdf. a few years later, he met Marie-José Association of Canada (1972–1973) Michiels with whom he started a new and Associate Editor for the following Radu’s academic curriculum vitae: life. They had two children: Paul, born journals: Optimization (1970–2000), www.theodorescu.ca/CV.pdf. in 1985, is currently a medical student Les Annales des Sciences Mathé- at the Université de Sherbrooke; Anne, matiques du Québec (1976–1999), Radu’s list of publications: www.theo- born in 1987, is studying veterinary dorescu.ca/Publications.pdf.
SSC LIAISON VOLUME 21, NUMBER 4 OCTOBER 2007 E-17 ADVERTISEMENTS
University of Victoria Bayesian Postdoc in Department of Mathematics and Statistics Functional Genomics The Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Victoria The new Statistical Machine Learning in Func- invites applications for a tenure-track position in the area of Financial Math- tional Genomics (Statomics) Lab of the Ottawa ematics, at the Assistant Professor level, to commence on 1 July, 2008. Institute of Systems Biology seeks a postdoc- Applicants must have a Ph.D. in Financial Mathematics, Actuarial Sci- toral researcher who will, in collaboration with ence, Stochastic Financial Modelling, or a related discipline, and have an University of Ottawa faculty, develop and apply outstanding research record. Excellence, or the demonstrated potential for statistical methods to solve current problems in excellence, in undergraduate and graduate teaching is required. The suc- analyzing and integrating gene-expression, proteomics, metabolomics, cessful applicant must be able to interact in a research capacity with other SNP, ChIP-chip, and/or clinical data. At present, the lab is targeting the members of Department and other interdisciplinary groups throughout the inference of regulatory networks from multiple sources of information university. S/he must be able to supervise undergraduate students, gradu- and improvements in the repeatability of microarray results and will ate students and post-docs in Financial Mathematics, Actuarial Science or attack similar statistical challenges of importance to functional genom- Stochastic Financial Modelling and be prepared to be involved with activities ics. The researcher’s background will complement that of any students of the Department. and any postdoctoral researcher to be recruited to the Statomics Lab Information about the Department, including descriptions of courses of- from the machine learning and bioinformatics communities, creating an fered and research areas, can be found at the website: http://www.math. interdisciplinary environment for high impact on the biological sciences uvic.ca/ as well as on statistics. A completed application consists of a curriculum vitae, a teaching dossier or equivalent documentation that outlines teaching experience and effective- Scientific creativity and a thorough knowledge of Bayesian statistical ness, and three confidential letters of reference. These may be submitted theory and methods of posterior computation such as MCMC are essen- online at www.mathjobs.org (preferred), or by regular mail to: tial, as is the demonstrated ability to quickly and accurately implement such methods in software. Strong initiative, excellent communication Chair skills, and reception of a PhD in statistics or a closely related field within Department of Mathematics and Statistics the four years prior to the start date are also absolutely necessary. The University of Victoria following qualities are desirable but not required: knowledge of biology; PO Box 3045 STN CSC familiarly with BUGS, R, S-PLUS, C, Fortran, and/or LaTeX; experience Victoria, B.C. V8W 3P4 CANADA in a UNIX or Linux environment. Telephone: (250) 721-7436 FAX: (250) 721-8962 E-mail: [email protected] To apply, send a PDF CV that has contact information of three references to [email protected] (without the zero), with “Bayesian postdoc” The closing date for applications is December 15, 2007. and the year of your graduation or anticipated graduation in the Subject line of the message; in the plaintext message body, concisely include The University of Victoria is an equity employer and encourages applications from women, persons evidence that you meet each requirement for the position and a descrip- with disabilities, visible minorities, Aboriginal Peoples, people of all sexual orientations and genders, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of the University. All qualified candidates tion of your most significant papers and software packages with an are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadians explanation of your own contributions to them. Only those applicants and permanent residents will be given priority. selected for further consideration will receive a response.
E-18 VOLUME 21, NUMBER 4 OCTOBER 2007 SSC LIAISON ADVERTISEMENTS
A pplications are invited for the position of Nous acceptons les candidatures pour le poste de Director of the Cryptologic Research Institute (CRI), a new research institute of the Communications Security cryptologique (IRC), le nouvel institut de recherche du Establishment (CSE) to be located in Ottawa, Ontario, Centre de la sécurité des télécommunications (CST) qui ouvrira Canada. The aim of the CRI is to bring together talented ses portes Ottawa, en Ontario (Canada). L IRC a pour o ectif mathematicians from various disciplines to conduct de rassembler des mathématiciens de talent de diverses fundamental research in areas of mathematics of spécialités qui effectueront de la recherche fondamentale en interest to CSE. math matiques dans des domaines d int r t pour le CST.
The Director of the CRI will: Le directeur ou la directrice de l IRC aura les t ches suivantes : 1. help recruit and then lead a team of about 25-50 1. aider à recruter environ 25-50 universitaires ou academic and government staff; employés du gouvernement, puis diriger cette 2. provide a strong and innovative vision for the équipe; future growth of the CRI; and 2. offrir une vision neuve et solide pour assurer 3. liaise with other research organizations. la croissance de l IRC dans l avenir 3. assurer la liaison avec d autres organismes de recherche.
A successful candidate will have: Le candidat ou la candidate idéal(e) aura les qualités suivantes : 1. a proven ability to lead and inspire research groups; 1. capacit indiscuta le de diriger et d inspirer les 2. a world renowned reputation in some aspect of groupes de recherche; mathematics, statistics, or data mining; 2. renommée internationale dans le domaine des 3. visibility within, and respect of, the mathematical math matiques, des statistiques ou de l exploration community; de données; 4. administrative experience at least equivalent to 3. présence au sein de la communauté mathématique chairing a mathematical department; and et respect de cette communauté; 5. strong interpersonal skills. 4. expérience administrative équivalant au minimum à la direction d un d partement de math matiques 5. grandes aptitudes interpersonnelles.
The position is for a 3-year fixed term, running from Ce poste est à durée déterminée pour trois ans ferme, allant de September 2008 to September 2011, with some part time septembre 2008 à septembre 2011. Le candidat ou la candidate involvement from April 2008 to September 2008. retenu(e) devra également commencer à temps partiel entre avril et septembre 2008.
A detailed description of the Director position can be obtained Vous pouvez vous procurer une description plus détaillée de ce by contacting Dr. Drew Vandeth at poste aupr s de Drew Vandeth, Ph. D. l adresse suivante [email protected]. [email protected].
Applicants must have Canadian, British, or American Les candidats et candidates doivent avoir la citoyenneté citizenship and be able to obtain a security clearance. canadienne, ritannique ou am ricaine et tre admissi le une habilitation de sécurité.
Please communicate interest in this position to [email protected]. Applications will receive fullest suivante : [email protected]. Les candidatures reçues consideration if received by December 1st, 2007 and applications avant le 1er will remain open until the position is filled. The Communications Security Establishment subscribes to employment equity. doté. Le Centre de la sécurité des télécommunications souscrit
SSC LIAISON VOLUME 21, NUMBER 4 OCTOBER 2007 E-19 ADVERTISEMENTS
Mathematics & Statistics Department The University of Western Ontario at Queen’s University Department of Applied Mathematics The Department of Mathematics and Statistics invites applications for two tenure-track appointments at the Assistant Professor level, one in TENURE-STREAM FACULTY POSITION Statistics, and the second in Probability or Statistics. The appointments IN MATHEMATICAL FINANCE will begin July 1, 2008. Applications are invited for a probationary (tenure-track) faculty Successful applicants must have a demonstrated commitment to excel- position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the research field of lence in research and the potential for research leadership. Candidates Financial Mathematics in the Department of Applied Mathematics must also have the ability to excel in teaching a broad range of statistics at the University of Western Ontario (www.apmaths.uwo.ca). A courses and in supervising graduate students. Salary and level of ap- researcher in any area of financial mathematics with demonstrated pointment will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. or potential excellence in research and teaching is sought to com- Exceptionally qualified candidates may be appointed at a higher rank. plement the existing strengths of the research group in financial Candidates should have a Ph.D. in statistics or a related area. All areas of mathematics, both within the Department and within our sister statistics or probability are welcome, though applicants will be assessed on the way their work will complement or enhance the existing research Department of Statistical & Actuarial Sciences. Industrial experi- profile of the department. Research profiles are available at http://www. ence or contacts are an asset. The starting date will be July 1 mast.queensu.ca/graduate/prob.php. 2008 or thereafter. Interested candidates should arrange for a curriculum vitae, a description The position will entail active participation in the activities and of research interests, up to five publications or preprints, a statement on service of the Department of Applied Mathematics, including the teaching or a teaching dossier, and at least four letters of reference, one supervision of graduate students and teaching at the graduate and of which should comment on the candidate’s teaching, to be sent to the undergraduate levels. To ensure full consideration, applications address below by November 30, 2007. Applications will be considered should be received prior to January 15 2008. Applications should until the position is filled but priority will be given to those received before include a curriculum vita or resume, a short research proposal, and November 30, 2007. Further instructions are available at http://www. names of three references. Address applications to: mast.queensu.ca/positions/index.php Dr. David Jeffrey, Acting Chair Leslie G. Roberts, Associate Head Department of Applied Mathematics Department of Mathematics and Statistics Queen’s University, The University of Western Ontario Kingston Ontario K7L 3N6 e-mail: [email protected] http://www.mast.queensu.ca London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada fax: (613) 533-2964 email: [email protected] All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadian citizens and Perma- This position is subject to budgetary approval. Applicants should have fluent nent Residents will be given priority. The University invites applications from all qualified writing and oral communication skills in English. All qualified candidates are individuals. Queen’s is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace encouraged to apply. However, Canadians and permanent residents will be and welcomes applications from women, visible minorities, aboriginal people, persons given priority. The University of Western Ontario is committed to employment with disabilities and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity. Academic staff equity and welcomes applications from all qualified women and men including at Queen’s University are governed by a collective agreement, the details of which are visible minorities, aboriginal people, and persons with disabilities. posted at http://www.qufa.ca.
Department of Mathematics & Statistics College of Arts and Science University of Saskatchewan Tenure-Track Position in Statistics The Department of Mathematics & Statistics in the College of Arts and Sci- ence at the University of Saskatchewan invites applications for a tenure-track position in the area of Statistics (code: ST08) at the Assistant Professor level effective July 1, 2008. The department is seeking candidates with established accomplishments and outstanding promise of research in Genetic or Spatial Statistics (including specializations such as genomics, micro array analysis, genetic epidemiology, pedigree analysis, image analysis, spatial processes, and morphometrics). Applicants must have a doctoral degree in Statistics and demonstrate excel- lence or promise of excellence in teaching mathematical and applied statistics courses at all levels. Accreditation by a national statistical organization will be considered an asset. The successful candidate will be expected to develop a vigorous, externally-funded research program and to supervise graduate stu- dents. For more information on the Department of Mathematics and Statistics and its research activities, see URL http://math.usask.ca/ Application material must include the candidate’s Curriculum Vitae and list of publications. Applicants should also arrange for at least three letters of refer- ence to be sent directly from their referees. At least one letter of reference should include a detailed comment on the teaching abilities of the applicant. Candidates are also encouraged to supply a research statement and a teaching statement. Candidates must include a cover letter specifying that they are applying for position code ST08 and indicate if they are a Canadian citizen/ permanent resident. Dr. Raj Srinivasan, Head Department of Mathematics and Statistics University of Saskatchewan 106 Wiggins Road Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E6 Email: [email protected] Closing date for receipt of applications is January 15, 2008. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. In accordance with the University’s Employment Equity Policy, the department welcomes applications from all qualified candidates. Women, people of aboriginal descent, members of visible minorities, and people with disabilities are invited to identify themselves as members of these designated groups on their applications.
E-20 VOLUME 21, NUMBER 4 OCTOBER 2007 SSC LIAISON FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
STATISTICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA · SOCIETE STATISTIQUE DU CANADA EXECUTIVE University Hélène Bérard, Thierry Duchesne SSC Karen Kopciuk, Tom Statistics Canada/ ● SOCIÉTÉ COMMITTEE • Program Statistics Canada/ University of Manitoba APPOINTMENTS Baker Cancer Centre Statistique Canada STATISTIQUE DE COMITÉ EXÉCUTIF Chairperson for 2008 Statistique Canada - Brad Johnson TO OTHER Treasurer • Trésorier Secretary • MONTRÉAL President • Président Annual Meeting • Anne-Catherine McGill University - ORGANIZATIONS Lehana Thabane, Secrétaire Christian Genest, Président du comité Favre, Institut national Keith Worsley PAGSE - Agnes McMaster University Cyntia Bocci, President •Président Universié Laval du programme du de la recherche McMaster University Herzberg Past-President • Statistics Canada/ Marc Bourdeau, E!cole President-Elect • Congrès Annuel scientifique - Román Viveros- Canadian Consortium Président sortant Statistique Canada Polytechnique de Président Désignée 2008 Pascale Rousseau, Aguilera for Research - Ping Paul Gustafson, Treasurer • Trésorier Montre!al Román Viveros- Bruno Rémillard, HEC Université du Québec Memorial University of Yan University of British Lenka Mach, Statistics First Vice-president Aguilera, McMaster Montréal à Montréal Newfoundland - Gary CRM - Christian Léger Columbia-Vancouver Canada/Statistique • Première University Local Arrangements Sneddon Fields - Michael J. Canada viceprésidente Secretary • Chairperson for 2008 ONTARIO Université de Montréal Evans BUSINESS AND Proceedings Editor Joseph Nader, FP Secrétaire Annual Meeting • Gerarda Darlington, - Pierre Duchesne PIMS - Charmaine B. INDUSTRIAL • Rédacteur en chef Innovations Paul Cabilio, Acadia Président du comité University of Guelph University of New Dean STATISTICS ● du Recueil Second Vice- University des arrangements Wendy Lou, University Brunswick - Renjun BCCUPMS - Bruce STATISTIQUE Steve Matthews, president • Deuxième Treasurer • Trésorier locaux du Congrès of Toronto Ma Dunham INDUSTRIELLE ET Canada Post/Postes viceprésidente Edward Chen, Annuel 2008 Jeanette O’Hara University of Northern CMS International DE GESTION Canada Wei Sun, Concordia Statistics Canada/ Pierre Lavallée, Hines, P.Stat., British Columbia - Affairs Committee President •Président Past-President • University Statistique Canada Statistics Canada/ University of Waterloo Kevin Keen - Gail Ivanoff Román Viveros- Président sortant Secretary • Public Relations • Statistique Canada Tim Ramsay, The University of Ottawa ASA Committee Aguilera, McMaster Milorad Kovacevic, Secrétaire Relationniste Program Ottawa Hospital - Raluca Balan on Meetings - University Statistics Canada/ Johanne Thiffault, President-Elect Angelo Canty, Chairperson for 2009 MANITOBA–SASK.- Université du Québec Narayanaswamy Statistique Canada Fondation Lucie et McMaster University Annual Meeting • à Montréal - Pascale (Bala) Balakrishnan •Président Désignée Andre! Gagnon N.W.T.–NUNAVUT ● Smiley Cheng, Past-President • Président du comité MANITOBA-SASK.- Rousseau JSM 2008 Joint REGIONAL Treasurer • Trésorier Président sortant du programme du Université du Québec Program Committee University of Manitoba ASSOCIATIONS ! Guy Cucumel, T.N.-Q.-NUNAVUT Secretary • Charmaine B. Congrès Annuel Lisa Lix, P.Stat., à Trois-Rivières - - Denis Larocque ASSOCIATIONS Université du Québec Dean, Simon Fraser 2009 Jean-François Quessy JSM 2009 Joint Secrétaire RÉGIONALES à Montréal University of Manitoba Shirley Mills, Carleton University Nancy Heckman, Raj Srinavasan, Queen’s University Program Committee SOUTHERN Program coordinator University of British - Glen Takahara - Peter Song University ONTARIO ● SUD DE • Responsable APPOINTED University of Treasurer • Trésorier Columbia Saskatchewan University of Regina COPSS Executive L’ONTARIO scientifique OFFICIALS Local Arrangements - Dianliang Deng Committee - Thierry Duchesne, President (ASA Pascale Rousseau, ! AUSTRES Chairperson for 2009 ALBERTA-B.C.- University of Charmaine B. Dean Université Laval Chapter) Université du Québec RESPONSABLES Annual Meeting • YUKON ● ALBERTA- Saskatchewan - Mik COPSS R.A. Fisher Past-President • Angelo Canty, à Montréal Executive Director • Président du comité C.B.-YUKON Bickis Committee - Donald L. Président sortant McMaster University Industrial Liaison Directeur exécutif des arrangements Bertrand Clarke, Université de McLeish Gemai Chen, President • Agent de liaison David A. locaux du Congrès University of British Sherbrooke - Ernest COPSS Elizabeth University of Calgary (SSC Regional avec l’industrie BinderProgram Annuel 2009 Columbia-Vancouver Monga L. Scott Award PROBABILITY ● Association) Mario Pimparé Secretary • Wendy Lou, University Mary Lesperance, Simon Fraser Committee - Gail • Président First Academic Secrétaire des PROBABILITÉ of Toronto University of Victoria University - Jinko Ivanoff President •Président (Association Liaison • Premier congrès Local Arrangements Graham COPSS Presidents’ régionale de la SSC) agent de liaison avec Christian Léger, LOCAL Edit Gombay, Chairperson for 2010 REPRESENTATIVES University of Toronto Award Committee University of alberta Wendy Lou, University l’éducation Université de Montréal Annual Meeting • - Wendy Lou - Harry Joe of Toronto Jean-François Angers, Manager of ! REPRÉSENTANTS President-Elect Président du comité LOCAUX University of Victoria COPSS Snedecor •Président Désignée Secretary • Université de Montréal Electronic Services des arrangements - Julie Zhou Award Committee Secrétaire Second Academic • Responsable Acadia University Bruno Rémillard, HEC locaux du Congrès - Paul Cabilio University of Waterloo - Pierre Dutilleul Montréal Tao Sun, York Liaison • Deuxième des services Annuel 2010 - Mary Thompson COPSS Florence University agent de liaison avec électroniques (Coordinator) Secretary • Thierry Duchesne, University of Alberta University of Western Nightingale David Secrétaire Treasurer • Trésorier l’éducation Peter D.M. Université Laval Ontario - Wenging He Award Committee - Zilin Wang, Wilfrid Linda Gattuso, Macdonald, McMaster - K.C. Carriere Richard Lockhart, University of British University of Windsor Anne-Catherine Favre Simon Fraser Laurier University Université du Québec University REGIONAL - Sudhir R. Paul COPSS New Awards Representative to à Montréal Editor of CJS • REPRESENTATIVES Columbia - A. John University Petkau University of Winnipeg Committee - James Treasurer • Trésorier the ASA Council of Student Rédacteur en chef ! REPRÉSENTANTS - Robert G. McLeod Ramsay Chapters representative • de la RCS RÉGIONAUX University of Calgary Gail Ivanoff , - Gemai Chen York University - University of Ottawa Wendy Lou, University Représentants Paul Gustafson, ATLANTIC Augustine Wong SECTIONS ! LES of Toronto étudiants University of British PROVINCES ● Carleton University GROUPES Past-President • - Sanjoy Sinha Statistics Canada - Président sortant Web Editor • Gabrielle Boucher, Columbia PROVINCES Jack Gambino BIOSTATISTICS ● Webmestre Université du Québec Managing Editor MARITIMES Concordia University - BIOSTATISTIQUE Andrei Volodin, Yogendra P. Chaubey Institut de Statistique University of Regina Peter Macdonald, à Montréal of CJS • Rédacteur Hugh Chipman, du Québec - Louise President •Président McMaster University Past-President • gérant de la RCS Acadia University Dalhousie University Robert Platt, McGill SURVEY METHODS - Bruce Smith Bourque Past-President • Président sortant George P.H. Styan, Jeffrey Picka, SORA - Wendy Lou University President •Président Président sortant Krzysztof McGill University University of New École des hautes President-Elect Jiahua Chen, études commerciales Société statistique Peggy Ng, York Dzieciolowski, Fido/ Editor of Liaison Brunswick de Montréal - Marc •Président Désignée University of British University Rogers • Rédacteur de - Marc Fredette Subhash Lele, Columbia-Vancouver QUÉBEC University of Guelph Bourdeau Liaison Statistical Society of University of Alberta President-Elect STATISTICAL Larry K. Weldon, François Bellavance, - Julie Horrocks Secretary • SOCIETY OF HEC Montréal Ottawa - Ed Hughes •Président Désignée Simon Fraser Université Laval - Secrétaire Julie Trépanier, MONTRÉAL