MSTATNEWS Athe Membership Magazine of the American Statistical Association What Makes Y O U R V O T E Matter?

April 2008 • Issue #370 MSTATNEWS AThe Membership Magazine of the American Statistical Association What Makes Y o u r V o t e Matter?

Publications Agreement No. 41544521

Board of Directors Meeting Highlights

Making Statistics Delicious, Not Just Palatable

April 2008 • Issue #370 VISION STATEMENT To be a world leader in promoting statistical practice, applications, and research; publishing statistical journals; improving statistical education; FEATURES and advancing the statistics profession. Executive Director 2 Longtime Members Ron Wasserstein: [email protected] 10 President’s Invited Column Associate Executive Director and Director of Operations Stephen Porzio: [email protected] 11 Highlights of the March 2008 Board of Directors Meeting Director of Programs 12 ASA Board Calls for Audits To Increase Confidence in Martha Aliaga: [email protected] Electoral Outcomes Director of Science Policy Steve Pierson: [email protected] 12 ASA Position on Electoral Integrity Managing Editor Megan Murphy: [email protected] 13 Wise Elders Program Production Coordinators/Graphic Artists 14 What Makes Your Vote Matter? Colby Johnson: [email protected] Lidia Vigyázó: [email protected] 16 Canadian Model for Accrediting Professional Statisticians Publications Coordinator Valerie Snider: [email protected] 17 Proposals Sought for NSF-CBMS Conferences Advertising Manager 18 Making Statistics Delicious, Not Just Palatable Claudine Donovan: [email protected] Contributing Staff Members 20 Big Science and Little Statistics Keith Crank • Ron Wasserstein 21 Free Textbook Offered to Stats Teachers

Amstat News welcomes news items and let- 22 Success of Statistical Service Leads to Expanded Network ters from readers on matters of interest to the association and the profession. Address correspondence 22 NHIS Paradata Released to Public to Managing Editor, Amstat News, American Statistical Association, 732 North Washington Street, Alexandria VA 22314-1943 USA, or email amstat@ 23 Staff Spotlight amstat.org. Items must be received by the first day of the preceding month to ensure appearance in the 24 ASA-SIAM Series next issue (for example, June 1 for the July issue). Material can be sent as a Microsoft Word document, 24 Global Health Conference Slated for May PDF, or within an email. Articles will be edited for space. Accompanying artwork will be accepted in graphics file formats only (.jpg, etc.), minimum 300 dpi. No material in WordPerfect will be accepted. Amstat News (ISSN 0163-9617) is published DEPARTMENTS monthly by the American Statistical Association, 732 North Washington Street, Alexandria VA 22314-1943 USA. Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, Virginia, 25 International and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Amstat News, 732 North Hong Kong Statistical Society Washington Street, Alexandria VA 22314-1943 USA. 27 Meetings Send Canadian address changes to Station A, P.O. Box 54, Windsor ON N9A 6J5; [email protected]. Colorado Offers Something for Everyone Annual subscriptions are $50 per year for nonmembers. Amstat News is the member publication of the ASA. 29 Education For annual membership rates, see www.amstat.org/join or contact ASA Member Services at (888) 231-3473. ASA Accepting Applications for Workshop American Statistical Association 31 Master’s Notebook 732 North Washington Street Alexandria, VA 22314–1943 USA TAMU Launches Online Master’s Programs (703) 684–1221 • FAX: (703) 684-2036 ASA GENERAL: [email protected] ADDRESS CHANGES: [email protected] AMSTAT EDITORIAL: [email protected] ADVERTISING: [email protected] Web Site: www.amstat.org MEMBER NEWS Printed in USA © 2008 American Statistical Association 33 People News 35 Section News MISSION STATEMENT 41 Calendar of Events Support excellence in statistical practice, research, journals, and meetings. Work for the improvement 51 Professional Opportunities of statistical education at all levels. Promote the proper application of statistics. Anticipate and meet the needs of our members. Use our discipline to enhance human welfare. Seek opportunities to advance the statistics profession. Recognizing the ASA’s Longtime Members he American Statistical Association staff would like to thank the ASA’s longtime members. This year, we continue our tradition of honoring members who joined the association 35 years ago or more, thanking them for their distinguished and faithful membership. All members who reach a milestone year of 35, 40, 45, or 50 years of membership receive a certificate of recognition in June. TIn addition, members who joined 35 or more years ago will be invited to a reception in their honor, to be held during JSM in Denver, Colorado. If your name is not included in the list below and you think it should be, please contact Jana Sabol at [email protected]. 50+ Years John W. Adams Herbert A. David J. Wayne Hamman Robert E. Lipsey Sigmund J. Amster Martin H. David Gordon M. Harrington Jingyi Liu Theodore W. Anderson John S. De Cani Bernard Harris Albert Madansky Virgil L. Anderson Arthur P. Dempster H. Leon Harter Lester V. Manderscheid Harvey J. Arnold Paul M. Densen Kenneth Harwood Jack A. Marshall Kenneth J. Arrow Frank T. Denton Irene Hess Frank G. Martin Anthony J. Asmann Wilfrid J. Dixon Milton C. Heuston Margaret E. Martin Barbara A. Bailar Irene L. Doto Arthur Highman Robert A. McLean John C. Bailar Norman R. Draper Joseph W. Hines Gertrude A. McQuaid Glenn E. Bartsch Bruce A. Drew Fawn Hornsby Curtis Meinert Rex J. Bates Arthur M. Dutton Daniel G. Horvitz Peter F. Merenda Gary S. Becker L. Lee Eberhardt J. Stuart Hunter Takashi Miyawaki Carl A. Bennett Samuel M. Ehrenhalt David C. Hurst Donald F. Morrison Donald L. Bentley Roger H. Farrell J. Jack Ingram John W. Morse Alan P. Berens Walter T. Federer Robert A. Israel Joseph M. Moser Barnard H. Bissinger Charles Federspiel Arthur G. Itkin Jack Moshman Caroline Blanton Leonard S. Feldt Paul Koichi Ito H. Donald Moss Colin R. Blyth Arlin M. Feyerherm Thomas B. Jabine Mervin E. Muller Donald J. Bogue Alva L. Finkner J. Edward Jackson Charles R. Mummery Albert H. Bowker David John Finney Lyle V. Jones R. Bradford Murphy Ralph B. Bristol Marc F. Fontaine Marvin A. Kastenbaum Jack Nadler Bradford S. Brown Richard L. Forstall S. K. Katti Charles B. Nam Dolores Bryla Donald A. S. Fraser Kathleen M. Keenan John Neter Roger L. Burford Rudolf J. Freund John J. Kinney Roy R. Neuberger Raymond H. Burros Donald A. Gardiner William R. Knight Ingram Olkin Norman Bush Charles E. Gates H. S. Konijn Bernard Ostle Arthur A. Campbell David W. Gaylor Lambert H. Koopmans Emanuel Parzen Mavis B. Carroll Edmund A. Gehan Gunnar Kulldorff Rusi K. N. Patell Herman Chernoff Shahab Ghahreman Morton Kupperman John F. Pauls Victor Chew Dorothy M. Gilford Ernest Kurnow Edward B. Perrin John S. Chipman Leon Gilford Thomas E. Kurtz Earl S. Pollack Ju-Ping Chiu Gerald J. Glasser Max Lacroix Richard F. Potthoff Alonzo Church Ramanathan Gnanadesikan Boyd Ladd John W. Pratt Virginia A. Clark Irving D. Goldberg Sean Patrick Lane Dana Quade Mark Clements Maxim Goode Erich L. Lehmann Richard E. Quandt Theodore Colton Leo A. Goodman Fred C. Leone Quentin R. Remein Richard G. Cornell Bert F. Green Eugene Levine A. Leonard Rhyne John W. Cotton Irwin Guttman Paul S. Levy Robert H. Riffenburgh Lolafaye Coyne Gerald J. Hahn Raymond Levy-Bruhl Paul H. Rigby Jacy Rebecca Crosby William J. Hall Robert E. Lewis Donald M. Roberts Edwin L. Crow Morris Hamburg Richard F. Link Jean Roberts

2 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 50+ years continued Douglas S. Robson Henry S. Shryock W. A. Thompson John W. Wilkinson Alan C. Rogers Jacob S. Siegel Leo J. Tick William H. Williams Joan R. Rosenblatt Monroe G. Sirken John Van Dewater R. Lowell Wine Virginia Sawyer Paul N. Somerville Pearl A. Van Natta Othmar Winkler David Schenker David G. Stahl Harvey M. Wagner Lung Fai Wong Edward G. Schilling John J. Stansbrey David L. Wallace Donald E. Young Richard N. Schmidt Joseph Steinberg Songbai Wang Marvin Zelen Stanley Schor Gordon F. Sutton Joe H. Ward Arnold Zellner Shayle R. Searle Zenon Z. Szatrowski William Wasson Calvin Zippin Norman C. Severo Arthur R. Thomas Irving Weiss William F. Shaw Sandra E. Thompson Raymond L. Wilder 45–49 Years Gerald E. Abrahms Kweku T. Degraft Johnson Robert V. Hogg Edward MacNeal Paul F. Ross Dennis J. Aigner Manavala M. Desu Paul W. Holland Brian D. Macpherson Jagdish S. Rustagi Carol H. Ammons Thomas E. Doerfler Arthur G. Holms Richard Maisel Innis G. Sande Gary M. Andrew Tom Downs Gudmund R. Iversen Henrick J. Malik Richard L. Scheaffer Charles E. Antle Satya D. Dubey Laurence F. Jackson Colin L. Mallows Robert R. Scheer Barry C. Arnold Morris L. Eaton Donald R. Jensen Charles R. Mann Stanley L. Sclove Joseph R. Assenzo Bradley Efron Robert J. Johansen Nancy R. Mann Donald T. Searls Kiyoharu Azai Jonas H. Ellenberg Dale W. Jorgenson Edmund B. McCue Daniel G. Seigel David W. Bacon Robert C. Elston Graham Kalton Paul W. Mielke William Seltzer John J. Bartko Peter Enis Chandrakant Kapadia Forest L. Miller Leonard R. Shenton Noel S. Bartlett Paul I. Feder Bertram P. Karon Roy C. Milton Masaaki Sibuya Asit P. Basu Ivan P. Fellegi Arthur Kaufman James N. Morgan Betty J. Skipper David L. Bayless Murray F. Foss Jon R. Kettenring Leo Morris Norbert Soltys Javad Behboodian Ralph F. Frankowski Benjamin F. King Raymond H. Myers Edward J. Spar Charles B. Bell Herman P. Friedman Richard Maurice King Allan J. Nash Robert M. Steinberg Robert H. Berk Carol Holly E. Fuchs Elizabeth S. King-Sloan Joseph I. Naus George P. H. Styan Elmer S. Biles Gerard F. Fuda Melville R. Klauber Wayne B. Nelson Yukio Suzuki Wallace R. Blischke Wayne A. Fuller Gary G. Koch Marc Nerlove D. Derk Swain Richard R. Blough Joseph L. Gastwirth Keith Kussmaul Patrick L. Odell Douglas B. Tang Saul Blumenthal Francis G. Giesbrecht Michael H. Kutner W. Michael O’Fallon Elliot A. Tanis Alan Bostrom Phil D. Gilliland Ronald E. Kutscher Frank J. Ossiander Michael E. Tarter Kimiko O. Bowman Charles H. Goldsmith Peter A. (Tony) Lachenbruch John E. Overall Carlos E. Toro-Vizcarrondo Shirley D. S. Braverman Arnold F. Goodman Charles E. Land Vernon E. Palmour Bruce E. Trumbo Norman P. Bresky John W. Gorman Thomas W. Langford Louis A. Panek Edward R. Tufte Norman Breslow A. Lawrence Gould Eugene M. Laska James L. Pate James W. Turbitt David R. Brillinger Z. Govindarajulu William J. Latzko Ganapati P. Patil N. Scott Urquhart Morton B. Brown Martin A. Hamilton Marvin A. Lavenhar Haynes Phillips Constance van Eeden Charles R. Buncher Roy Dean Hardy Malcolm R. Leadbetter Richard Platek Harrison M. Wadsworth Natalie Calabro William L. Harkness Ferdinand Lemus S. R. S. Rao Poduri Ray A. Waller Janet E. Cherry Victor Hasselblad S. D. Leonard Edward Pollak Robert C. Walls Leonard Chiazze William J. Hemmerle Daniel B. Levine S. James Press William G. Warren David E. Clement Neil W. Henry Thomas M. Lewinson Charles H. Proctor Steve Webb Arthur Cohen Jay Herson William L. Lieberman Joseph H. Rabin William B. Whiston Arthur Cohen Seiko Higa Hubert W. Lilliefors J. N. K. Rao John Harmon Wolfe William Jay Conover Bruce Hoadley Bertram D. Litt Larry J. Ringer David R. Cox Ronald R. Hocking Herman J. Loether Naomi B. Robbins Miles Davis Vincent Hodgson Dan Lurie Charles A. Rohde

APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 3 40–44 Years Abdel Latif Abul-Ela Samprit Chatterjee William R. Fairweather William G. Henderson Abdelmonem A. Afifi Edwin H. Chen Kenneth H. Falter Jan H. Henriksson Khazan C. Agrawal Joseph J. Chmiel Walter Feibes Robert W. Hertz Murray A. Aitkin Lee-Jay Cho Manning Feinleib Agnes M. Herzberg David M. Allen Lily E. Christ Alan H. Feiveson John E. Hewett Philip J. Ambrosini Howard B. Christensen Stephen E. Fienberg Melvin J. Hinich James N. Arvesen Howard B. Christensen James J. Filliben Bob S. Hodges Orley Ashenfelter Domenic V. Cicchetti Diana B. Fischer Burt S. Holland R. Clifton Bailey P. Larry Claypool Jairus D. Flora Myles Hollander John J. Beauchamp Robert P. Clickner Sandra Forman C. Easley Hoy Gerald J. Beck Jerry L. Coffey Alan B. Forsythe Paul B. Huber Laurel A. Beckett Ayala Cohen Ivor S. Francis Frank L. Hurley Rudolf J. Beran Stanley H. Cohen James W. Frane Boris Iglewicz Mark L. Berenson Roger D. Coleman Martin R. Frankel David Jacobson Donald A. Berry William D. Commins Edward L. Frome Aridaman K. Jain William R. Best R. Dennis Cook A. Ronald Gallant F. E. James Peter J. Bickel Lewis Coopersmith Fernando L. Garagorry Jeffrey E. Jarrett Christopher Bingham John A. Cornell John A. Gaudiosi Douglas H. Johnson John Bircher William M. Cox Thomas M. Gerig Mark A. Johnson William C. Blackwelder Bradford R. Crain Gauri L. Ghai Richard A. Johnson Brent A. Blumenstein J. R. Crespo P. D. Ghangurde Bruce Johnston Thomas J. Boardman Larry H. Crow Jean D. Gibbons Richard H. Jones Christine C. Boesz Jonathan D. Cryer Rudy A. Gideon Karl G. Joreskog Aroona Borpujari Ralph B. D’Agostino Richard O. Gilbert Joseph B. Kadane Gary L. Brager James M. Davenport Warren G. Gilchrist Balvant K. Kale Thomas L. Bratcher Donald R. Davis Dennis C. Gilliland James G. Karas William M. Brelsford Herbert T. Davis Richard R. Giroux Bruce Kardon Robert L. Brennan Robyn M. Dawes Leon J. Gleser Marvin J. Karson John F. Brewster C. Mitchell Dayton T. F. Glover Gordon M. Kaufman Dwight B. Brock John J. Deely V. P. Godambe F. DeWitt Kay Lyle D. Broemeling Timothy A. DeRouen Judith D. Goldberg Thomas Keefe James D. Broffitt James M. Dickey Alan M. Gross C. D. Kemp Donna J. Brogan Dennis O. Dixon Ronald C. Gulezian William J. Kennedy Mark Brown Kjell A. Doksum Robert E. Hale John R. B. King Marshall N. Brunden Marilynn S. Dueker Robert E. Hall Michael H. Klein Maurice C. Bryson George T. Duncan Silas Halperin N. Anders Klevmarken Ross M. Buckwalter Douglas M. Dunn Chien-Pai Han Uwe Koehn Kenneth P. Burnham James E. Dunn Lynne B. Hare William G. Koellner Joseph George Caldwell Francois A. Dupuis Donald L. Harnett Robert C. Kohberger Thomas W. Calvin Benjamin S. Duran David A. Harville David C. Korts Milton G. Campbell Danny Dyer Douglas M. Hawkins Stephen L. Kozarich J. Douglas Carroll Robert G. Easterling Roy E. Heatwole Joseph B. Kruskal John M. Chambers Gary L. Elfring Sam Hedayat Richard G. Krutchkoff Linda S. Chan Dale O. Everson William F. Heiland Richard J. Kryscio David W. Chapman William B. Fairley Ronald W. Helms Alexander Kugushev Gary A. Chase David W. Fairweather James F. Heltshe Arabinda Kundu

4 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 Lawrence L. Kupper Patricia L. Nahas Ronald H. Randles F. Michael Speed John C. Lambert Jun-mo Nam Gipsie B. Ranney Herbert F. Spirer Kenneth C. Land Anna B. Nevius A. Vijaya Rao Douglas E. Splitstone James M. Landwehr S. Edward Nevius George F. Reed Muni S. Srivastava Chang S. Lao David S. Newman Joan S. Reisch Jerrell T. Stracener Kinley Larntz James A. Nickel F. B. Renwick Bruce C. Straits William D. Lawing Mark J. Nicolich Gladys H. Reynolds William E. Strawderman Jerald F. Lawless Shizuhiko Nishisato David Richards Nariaki Sugiura Anthony James Lawrance Douglas A. Norris Hans Riedwyl Gregor W. Swinsky William H. Lawton Janet L. Norwood Bruce E. Rodda Paul Switzer Eun S. Lee Robert L. Obenchain Donald C. Ross David L. Sylwester Yves Lepage Peter C. O’Brien Richard S. Ross Judith M. Tanur David Levine Jerry L. Oglesby Edward Rothman Aaron Tenenbein Robert A. Lew Anthony R. Olsen C. Bradley Russell James R. Thompson Dennis V. Lindley Richard A. Olshen Robert A. Rutledge William O. Thompson Robert F. Ling J. Keith Ord Harold B. Sackrowitz George C. Tiao Ramon C. Littell Anthony M. Orlando Susan T. Sacks Lowell H. Tomlinson Don O. Loftsgaarden M. Gerald Ott David S. Salsburg James Tonascia Robert G. Lovell Gordon H. Otto Charles B. Sampson J. Richard Trout James M. Lucas Connie F. Page Elliot D. Saroff Wen-Hung Tseng Clare M. Mahan Takis Papaioannou Patricia D. Saunders Chris P. Tsokos Helen Marcus-Roberts Chong Jin Park Eberhard G. Schaich Robert K. Tsutakawa Barry H. Margolin Darrel W. Parke J. Richard Schmid Anthony G. Turner Sidney Marks Robert P. Parker William R. Schucany Joseph G. Van Matre Harry F. Martz Harji I. Patel Larry Scott Willem R. Van Zwet James H. Matis Minu K. Patel Nell Sedransk James R. Veale Lawrence S. Mayer Jon K. Peck Robert J. Serfling Joel I. Verter Sati Mazumdar Douglas A. Penfield Jolayne W. Service Vasant B. Waikar John I. McCool Thomas J. Perrone Charles E. Shaffer James A. Walsh Lyman L. McDonald Robert L. Perry Babubhai V. Shah William D. Warde J. Thomas McEwen Roger C. Pfaffenberger Gary M. Shapiro Edward J. Wegman Robert L. McKnight Eswar G. Phadia Stanley H. Shapiro Bruce S. Weir James M. McPartland Walter Piesch Shashi N. Sharma Herbert I. Weisberg James I. Mellon Louis A. Pingel Gerald Shaughnessy William O. Williford William L. Mietlowski Ralph D. Pollard Lawrence A. Sherr Robert L. Winkler G. Arthur Mihram Lawrence H. Pope Iris M. Shimizu John J. Wiorkowski Robert Mondschein Thomas W. Popham Jon J. Shuster David A. Wise Billy J. Moore Mike Pore Moshe Sicron John E. Witcher Jerry L. Moreno Ross L. Prentice Robert L. Sielken Janet Wittes Charles F. Mott Philip J. Press Nozer D. Singpurwalla Douglas A. Wolfe Kenneth Mount Bertram Price Armand V. Smith Robert F. Woolson Effat A. Moussa Philip C. Prorok Dennis E. Smith Gooloo S. Wunderlich Gary M. Mullet Madan L. Puri William Boyce Smith Shelemyahu Zacks Thomas D. Murphy David A. Pyne Ronald D. Snee Douglas A. Zahn Janet M. Myhre Alton J. Rahe Mitchell Snyder Peter Naeve J. G. Ramage Daniel L. Solomon

APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 5 35–39 Years Judith Abrams Kenneth N. Berk John R. Collins Robert S. Elder Lee R. Abramson Wayne F. Bialas Alan P. Colonna David Elesh C. J. Adcock William T. Bielby Robert J. Condon M. Nabil El-Khorazaty Frances J. Adox Lynne Billard Judith M. Conn Eugene P. Ericksen Robert A. Agnew Stephen F. Bingham Kimon J. E. Constas Roger Erickstad Alan Agresti David S. Birkes Peter A. Cook James W. Evans Susan W. Ahmed Thomas A. Bishop Margaret D. Copenhaver Milton C-L Fan Hirotugu Akaike John A. Blessing Thomas W. Copenhaver Thomas B. Farver Per A. T. Akersten John W. Boddie Paul L. Cornelius Alan Fask Arthur E. Albert Lennart Bodin Robert J. Costello Gerald M. Fava Mir Masoom Ali Robert J. Boik Louis J. Cote Robert E. Fay Mukhtar M. Ali James T. Bonnen Brenda G. Cox S. Abdul Fazal J. Richard Alldredge Marie V. Bousfield Giles L. Crane William H. Fellner Francis B. Alt Gordon J. Brackstone John R. Crigler Martin Feuerman Stan Altan Edwin L. Bradley David S. Crosby Alan C. Fisher Alfred Jerry Anderson Ellen F. Brewer John J. Crowley Lawrence Fisher Dallas W. Anderson Camilla A. Brooks Robert D. Curley Nicholas I. Fisher Robert L. Andrews Rocco L. Brunelle Gary R. Cutter David C. Flaspohler Lawrence Annable Peter G. Bryant Ronald Czaja Andrew J. Flatt W. Tad Archambault Maurice E. Bubb Siddhartha R. Dalal Nancy Flournoy Jesse C. Arnold Shirrell Buhler Gerard E. Dallal Mary A. Foulkes Ersen Arseven Richard K. Burdick Charles E. Davis James Alan Fox Taka Ashikaga John A. Burkart Kenneth W. Davis Martin D. Fraser Corwin L. Atwood Eugene M. Burns Robert L. Davis Daniel H. Freeman Agustin F. Ayuso Patricia L. Busk William W. Davis Carol L. French Abdolrahman Azari Lawrence S. Cahoon Beth K. Dawson David Frontz Leroy Bailey William L. Carlson R. B. Deal Mark C. Fulcomer Asit K. Banerjee Steven T. Carrier Jose R. Deliz Howard N. Fullerton Vincent P. Barabba Margaret D. Carroll David L. DeMets Maximo C. Gacula William A. Barnett Raymond J. Carroll Susan J. Devlin Mitchell H. Gail John L. Barone Walter H. Carter Thomas F. Devlin Edward J. Gainer Robert H. Bartels Frank C. Castronova Jay L. Devore Richard Gaines Michael J. Barthel David D. Chapman Paula H. Diehr Daniel J. Gans Leonard R. Bayer Sangit Chatterjee W. Erwin Diewert Turkan K. Gardenier Charles K. Bayne Smiley W. Cheng Pamela G. Doctor Alan E. Gelfand Richard A. Becker Raj S. Chhikara Allan P. Donner Stephen L. George James Beckett Joan Sander Chmiel Darryl J. Downing John F. Geweke Richard J. Beckman Adam Chu Michele Dramaix-Wilmet Glenn H. Gilbreath James C. Beebe Patricia A. Cleary Dennis A. DuBose David E. A. Giles Mary S. Beersman William S. Cleveland Joseph W. Duncan Edward J. Gilroy David R. Bellhouse Loren Cobb Ann Durand Phyllis A. Gimotty Kerry G. Bemis William A. Coberly Michael G. Dworkin John D. Gins Jacqueline Benedetti Guy M. Cohen Donald H. Ebbeler Howard S. Gitlow Vernon A. Benignus Morris N. Cohen Keith R. Eberhardt Dennis R. Givens David Berengut James J. Colaianne Brenda Kay Edwards Samuel V. Givens Timothy M. Bergquist Bernard Colin Janet D. Elashoff John R. Gleason

6 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 Frederick P. Glick Mark L. Hudes Beat Kleiner George P. McCabe James H. Godbold Janet M. Hughes Ralph L. Kodell Francis McCamley Robert N. Goldman David L. Hull Neal Koss Joseph W. McKean Matthew Goldstein William F. Hunt Mary Grace Kovar John D. McKenzie J. Douglas Gordon Huynh Huynh Helena C. Kraemer Robert G. McMillan Louis Gordon Dar-Shong Hwang S. David Kriska Glen D. Meeden Bernard S. Gorman Ronald L. Iman Robert Kushler Jeff B. Meeker Jack W. Green Peter B. Imrey John M. Lachin James R. Meginniss Jeffrey J. Green William E. Jackson Stephen W. Lagakos Robert J. Meier David M. Grether Sreenivasa Rao Jammalamadaka Son Lin Lai Gayle T. Meltesen William E. Griffiths David Jaspen Kathleen R. Lamborn Roy Mendelssohn Joseph A. Guarnieri J. D. Jobson Lynn Roy LaMotte John R. Michael Victor M. Guerrero Clifford L. Johnson Carol J. Lancaster Mary-Jane Mietlowski Richard F. Gunst Dallas E. Johnson Per Lange John A. Miller Shelby J. Haberman Earl S. Johnson Robert L. Launer Satish Chandra Misra Hermann Habermann Dennis A. Johnston Kenneth D. Lawrence Melvin L. Moeschberger Timothy O. Haifley Paul K. Jones Sheila M. Lawrence Noel R. Mohberg James L. Hall Peter R. Jones Clifford J. Lee Douglas C. Montgomery Nancy R. Hall David C. Jordan Young Jack Lee Roderick Montgomery Philip Hanser Robert C. Juola Stanley A. Lemeshow Katherine L. Monti R. Choudary Hanumara Leon J. Just Russell V. Lenth David S. Moore Frank E. Harrell Henry D. Kahn Heryee H. Leong John K. Moore Galen F. Hart John D. Kalbfleisch Donald Lewin David R. Morganstein Robert M. Hauser John H. Kalbfleisch Charles Lewis Michael L. Mout Ronald W. Hawkinson William D. Kalsbeek David L. Libby Robb J. Muirhead Joan G. Haworth Howard S. Kaplon Gary L. Liberson Henry D. Muse James J. Heckman Joseph D. Kasile Samuel Litwin Wayne L. Myers Richard M. Heiberger Daniel Kasprzyk Greta M. Ljung Krishnan Namboodiri Lance K. Heilbrun Jerrold P. Katz Michael T. Longnecker Subhash C. Narula Karl W. Heiner Robert M. Katz Thomas A. Louis Sufi M. Nazem Donald E. Herbert Myron J. Katzoff Gene R. Lowrimore Elliott Nebenzahl Eugene R. Heyman Irwin L. Kellner George W. Lynch John T. Neely James J. Higgins Roswitha E. Kelly James R. Maar James W. Neill Klaus Hinkelmann Sheryl F. Kelsey Bruce E. Mackey Charles R. Nelson David V. Hinkley James L. Kenkel Brian V. MacPherson Glenn L. Nelson David C. Hoaglin Ralph L. Kent Richard W. Madsen Kai Wang Ng Raymond G. Hoffmann Ruth Ann Killion Edward R. Mansfield Earl Nordbrock Theodore R. Holford Yong S. Kim Dennis R. Mar Julia A. Norton Stephen C. Hora David L. Kimble Michael J. Margreta Marija J. Norusis David W. Hosmer Albert J. Kinderman Mary A. Marion Paula K. Norwood David C. Howell Roland E. King Ronald G. Marks Morris Olitsky Ina P. Howell Robert Kinnison Frank B. Martin Bernard V. O’Neill Thomas C. Hsiang Ignatius A. Kinsella Donald L. Marx Leonard Oppenheimer David C. Huang Roger E. Kirk Robert L. Mason Joyce Orsini Elizabeth T. Huang Nancy J. Kirkendall Takashi Matsui Albert C. Ovedovitz Lawrence J. Hubert Rudolf G. Kittlitz Lou A. McAdams Willis L. Owen

APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 7 35–39 years continued

Maurice E. B. Owens Barbara J. Rutledge Murray H. Smith Dennis D. Wackerly William J. Padgett Thomas P. Ryan William A. Sollecito Hajime Wago S. Panchapakesan Julia Sabella Randall K. Spoeri Preston J. Waite Leonard J. Parsons Mohammed Ali Sahib M. K. Srirama Joseph J. Walker Harold C. Pasini John J. Salera Robert R. Starbuck Sylvan Wallenstein Raymond C. Peck Francisco J. Samaniego Bert Steece Chao Wang Michael D. Perlman Allan R. Sampson Charles C. Stewart George H. Wang Peter H. Peskun Douglas A. Samuelson Michael R. Stoline James F. Ward Arthur V. Peterson Thomas J. Santner Robert L. Stout James H. Ware Robert A. Peterson Harold E. Sargent Michael M. Strand John Warren A. John Petkau Richard L. Sawyer Stephen A. Straub Stanley Wasserman Maurice Pfannestiel Nancy K. Schatz Donna F. Stroup Christine M. Waternaux Charles G. Pfeifer James J. Schlesselman Perla Subbaiah Tommy D. Waters Charles B. Pheatt Joyce A. Schlieter Moon W. Suh Larry S. Webber Philip J. Pichotta Josef Schmee Richard A. Sundheim William E. Wecker Carl E. Pierchala James Schmeidler Richard J. Sylvester William W. S. Wei Forrest H. Pollard Mildred E. Schmidt Ajit C. Tamhane Lynn Weidman Kenneth H. Pollock Friedrich W. Scholz Richard D. Terrell Sanford Weisberg Stephen L. Portnoy Gordon L. Schooley Peter F. Thall K. Laurence Weldon Frank J. Potter Jack F. Schreckengost A. Cole Thies Jon A. Wellner Kevin Price Eugene F. Schuster Ronald A. Thisted Roy E. Welsch Bela Prigly Neil C. Schwertman Jeannie G. Thomas Fredrick S. Whaley Thomas W. Pullum Alastair J. Scott John M. Thomas James P. Whipple Alfred W. Rademaker Stuart Scott Carol B. Thompson Owen Whitby Philip H. Ramsey Joseph Sedransk Steven F. Thomson David G. Whitmore Calyampudi R. Rao Subrata K. Sen Robert D. Tortora Howard L. Wiener Paul Rappoport Sumedha Sengupta Ram C. Tripathi Wanda C. Wilkes Rose M. Ray Jayaram Sethuraman Alan R. Tupek William J. Wilson William J. Raynor Glenn R. Shafer Bruce W. Turnbull Girma Wolde-Tsadik Campbell B. Read Juliet Popper Shaffer David L. Turner Mark C. Yang Thomas Reiland K. I. Shaikh John C. Turner Rita Zemach Benjamin Reiser Paul Shaman Neil R. Ullman Eric R. Ziegel Louise C. Remer Douglas E. Shaw Merlin L. Utter Stuart O. Zimmerman Alvin C. Rencher Michael W. Sherrill Richard L. Valliant Kenneth J. Resser Ronald E. Shiffler Gerald van Belle John A. Rice James G. Shook Joseph Van Den Reysen William C. Rinaman Albert P. Shulte Guy D. Van Melle Richard D. Rippe Robert H. Shumway John W. Van Ness Jeffrey A. Robinson Donald A. Singer Lonnie C. Vance Robert N. Rodriguez Jagbir Singh Kerstin Vannman John E. Rolph Rana P. Singh Niels H. Veldhuijzen James L. Rosenberger John H. Skillings Wayne F. Velicer Bernard Rosner Walter Sloboda Hrishikesh D. Vinod N. Phillip Ross Robert D. Small R. Lakshmi Vishnuvajjala Dwight N. Rousu Stephen C. Smeach Frederic A. Vogel Donald B. Rubin Robert K. Smidt Kenneth W. Wachter

8 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 K–12 Teachers: Sharpen Your Statistics Skills The Meeting Within a Meeting (MWM) Workshop for K–12 Teachers Will Be Held in Conjunction with the 2008 Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM) American Statistical Association Workshop is based on the Guidelines for Assessment and Instruction in Statistics Education (GAISE) Report: A Pre-K–12 Curriculum Framework

Date Monday, August 4, and Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Place Metropolitan State College of Denver and Colorado Convention Center, Denver, Colorado

(MWM) Audience K–12 Mathematics and Science Teachers Submit applications and letter from principal/district supervisor (template provided). Review of applications to attend MWM began March 1, 2008, and will continue until the course is filled. Space is limited. If interested in attending, apply as soon as possible. Special consideration will be given to multiple math/science teachers from the same school. See www.amstat.org/education/mwm to apply online.

Objectives Enhance understanding and teaching of statistics within the math/science curriculum based on conceptual understanding, active learning, real-world data, and appropriate technology

Meeting Content Teachers will explore problems that require them to collect, organize, analyze, and draw conclusions from data and apply basic concepts of probability. The MWM program will include examining what students can be expected to do at the most basic level of understanding and what can be expected from them as their skill levels develop and their experiences broaden. Consistent with GAISE recommendations and NCTM Principles and Standards for School Mathematics.

Format Monday: K–4 and 9–12 sessions Tuesday: 5–8 session Activity-based sessions, including lesson plan development Lunch with local ASA chapter members and Monday dinner with career panel discussion Optional activities at JSM (statistics education sessions, poster sessions, JSM exhibit hall)

Provided Registration cost Meals and refreshments Lodging reimbursement (up to a specified amount) Handouts Certificate of participation from the ASA certifying professional development hours

Follow-up Follow-up activities and webinars ASA chapters network with local teachers to organize learning communities

Meeting Within a Meeting Contact Rebecca Nichols, [email protected]; (703) 684-1221, Ext. 1877

See www.amstat.org/education/mwm for more information and to apply online. APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 9 PRESIDENT’S INVITED COLUMN

This month, we will have a description of the Committee on Statistics and Disability. As I was naming new committee members, I corresponded with Joan Turek, chair of the committee, and learned a little about its functions. I think it’s worthwhile to share committee members’ perspectives and goals with the ASA membership. - Tony Lachenbruch, ASA President Committee on Statistics and Disability

he Committee on Statistics and Disability’s two-fold mis- Committee members have also expressed concern about losses sion is to advance and improve statistics used in disabil- of information concerning disabling conditions on two census ity research and to support ASA members and potential surveys: the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) Tmembers by working to ensure their full participation in the and the American Community Survey (ACS). SIPP is undergo- association and related communities (e.g., academia, govern- ing a major redesign, and the current disability module—which ment, and industry). provides the only longitudinal data on disability available from Disability is a complex concept and difficult to measure. any survey—will no longer be included. Instead, a short set of Federal disability programs account for 67 definitions, which disability questions will be asked once on each SIPP panel. SIPP can be pared down to 41 after accounting for overlaps. Hundreds is, moreover, the only survey that covers all age groups and per- more exist for state and local disability programs. An article mitted modeling of the many definitions of disability contained now planned for the October issue of CHANCE by Michele in federal programs. Connolly, committee vice chair, will discuss the complexities Also, the question about being “too disabled to work” was involved in defining disability. In recognition of these com- dropped from the ACS as part of the 2008 redesign because plexities, committee members are drawn from a variety of areas of difficulties with interpretation. However, work disability focusing on persons with disabilities in different age groups (e.g., measures are critical for the major federal disability programs. children, working-aged adults, the elderly) and persons in major Indeed, the two largest and most costly federal disability pro- condition groups (e.g., visually and hearing impaired, physically grams—Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental disabled, cognitively impaired, learning disabled, mentally ill). Security Income—are for persons too disabled to work. On April While many of the committee’s nine members are, or have been 10, 2006, then ASA President Sallie Keller-McNulty sent a letter associated, with federal programs, specialists are also drawn from to C. Louis Kincannon, director of the U.S. Census Bureau, urg- academia and the nonprofit and international sectors. ing the bureau to undertake continued research on technical and Committee members have placed highest priority on ensuring methodological adjustments so as to improve the measurement that ASA activities, including the annual meeting, are fully acces- of work disability in the ACS. sible to persons with disabilities. While ASA staff members work Committee members have pursued other activities in support hard to make meetings accessible, there is still room for improve- of the committee’s mission, as well. In 2006, Carolyn Shettle led ment. For example, the long distance between convention sites a member initiative to prepare webcasts, providing access to three and hotels and limited transportation poses challenges for those plenary lectures to ASA members with disabilities and others who with mobility limitations. Committee members are working with were unable to attend the meetings in Seattle. Other ASA commit- ASA Executive Director Ron Wasserstein to consider additional tees joined the effort, and webcasts are continuing. steps that can be implemented to enhance accessibility. Other members put together invited panels covering differ- Currently, few persons self identify that they are disabled and ing issues: “Status of Disability Information in Surveys” (Michele need accommodation at meetings, making it difficult to justify Connolly) and “Valid and Reliable Disability Measurement in expenditures for shuttles or other accommodations. Unfortunately, Surveys” (David Keer). At the 2008 meetings in Denver, Mary committee members lack information about how many ASA Chamie will chair an invited panel titled “Are Disability Statistics members experience disabling conditions or what accommoda- Relevant and Useful for National Policies and Programs?” Another tions would help them. Committee members also are unable to committee member, John Drabek, is planning for the 2009 meet- determine the extent to which disabling conditions have limited ings in Washington, DC. His panel will be about recent develop- participation in the statistics profession in general, so they have ments in measuring disability and cognitive impairment. asked Ron to consider adding a question to the membership form Committee members are interested in hearing from ASA that would have members self identify their limitations. members, particularly those with disabilities, about activities the A major committee priority in 2008 is reaching out to other committee should pursue and their interest in being involved. committees and sections of the ASA. Members are also interested in Joan Turek, committee chair, can be reached at joan.turek@hhs. undertaking outreach activities involving universities to determine gov, [email protected], or (202) 690-5965. n if persons with disabilities are majoring in statistics and to encourage them to do so. One committee member, Mary Grace Kovar, wrote a report, “Accessibility to ASA Facilities and Functions,” that will appear soon at www.amstat.org/comm/cmtesd.

10 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 Highlights of the March 2008 Board of Directors Meeting Ron Wasserstein, ASA Executive Director

lanning, publications, election integrity, and more were on the minds of the ASA Board of Directors during 2008 Board Members itsP March 7–8, 2008, meeting in Alexandria, Virginia. President Tony Lachenbruch led a Tony Lachenbruch President lively board meeting, covering an impor- Sally Morton President-elect tant and impressive array of topics. Mary Ellen Bock Past President Board members considered future directions for the ASA’s publications, particularly Bob Rodriguez 3rd-Year Vice President regarding electronic publication of the jour- Alicia Carriquiry 2nd-Year Vice President nals. Board members heard a presentation Nat Schenker 1st-Year Vice President by Kevin Cohn, director of client services Ron Fecso 3rd-Year Council of Sections Representative at Atypon Inc., an electronic publications hosting platform. (Cohn is a graduate of Tom Santner 2nd-Year Council of Sections Representative the Carnegie Mellon undergraduate statis- David Banks 1st-Year Council of Sections Representative tics program.) This platform will provide Katherine Monti 3rd-Year Council of Chapters Representative the association with powerful new tools John Boyer 2nd-Year Council of Chapters Representative to manage content and deliver journals. Customer service and marketing will be Susan Hilsenbeck 1st-Year Council of Chapters Representative greatly enhanced by this new service. Board Geert Verbeke International Representative members also devoted time to an informal Ed Wegman Publications Representative discussion about what shape electronic publications might take in the future. Sastry Pantula Treasurer Additionally, John Stufken was named Ron Wasserstein Executive Director editor of The American Statistician, beginning in 2009, when current editor Peter Westfall’s term ends. The board adopted a statement on election integrity (see Page 12). Board mem- important financial role for the ASA, and of student-driven pro bono statistical pro- bers also adopted a strategic plan for the Pantula noted the importance of location grams and to encourage members of these association, which will be printed in the as a factor in JSM attendance. He encour- programs to become active in the ASA.” May issue of Amstat News. President-elect aged board members to think strategically Board members discussed site selection Sally Morton led workgroups made up of about revenues and expenses and to look for JSM 2013 and considered principles for board and staff members to discuss how to for new sources of revenue and services to making site selections in 2015 and beyond. implement certain aspects of the plan. The benefit members. (JSM 2014 is already scheduled for Boston, feedback she received will provide guidance Proposals for funding by members Massachusetts, in celebration of the ASA’s as she prepares her plans for the coming for the Membership Initiative (former- 175th anniversary.) year. As the first president to operate under ly “Strategic Initiative”) program were The Statistics Club from North Carolina the new strategic plan, Morton is setting reviewed, and decisions for funding were State University joined the board for lunch the stage for future leaders. made. The Membership Initiative program on Saturday, as the students were in the Sastry Pantula, ASA treasurer, presented sets aside funds each year to support activi- DC area for spring break. Undergraduates the operating results for the ASA for fiscal ties proposed by members that support the discussed their interests and plans with 2007. He noted the association is in good mission of the association and strengthen board members, while board members shape financially and again finished the the profession. Calls for proposals go out shared information about the ASA. Board year with positive net revenue. He pointed in the fall and are reviewed by board mem- members who are also department chairs out a continuing decrease in journal sub- bers each March. encouraged the students to apply for gradu- scription revenue, which was anticipated Board members approved a recommen- ate school in statistics and, of course, sug- as the result of the decision to make elec- dation by the Committee on Committees gested certain programs that would love to tronic copies of the wholly owned jour- to form a Committee on Student Pro Bono receive their applications. nals available at no additional charge to Statistics, charged in part “to encourage The board meets again in June for prelim- members. Meetings continue to play an and facilitate the establishment and growth inary discussion of the 2009 ASA budget. n

APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 11 ASA Board Calls for Audits To Increase Confidence in Electoral Outcomes he importance of ensuring accurate election results and the scientific and social issues in which statisticians and the statistical critical role of statistics in doing so were affirmed by the sciences can make significant contributions,” said Ron Wasserstein, ASA Board of Directors at its meeting on March 7, 2008. ASA executive director. The board’s statement can be viewed in its TBoard members adopted a position statement on election integrity, entirety below. calling on the federal government to take actions, including elec- ASA President Tony Lachenbruch and the ASA Board of tion audits, that would assure greater levels of voter confidence in Directors acknowledged the outstanding efforts of biostatistician electoral outcomes. Arlene Ash—research professor of medicine and public health at The specific actions recommended by the board include con- the Boston University School of Medicine—members of the ASA’s ducting broader research into the integrity of elections, providing Scientific and Public Affairs Advisory Committee, and others for tools to help election officials conduct high-integrity elections, and their leadership in the area of election integrity and their work in recommending designs of acceptable ballots and procedures for providing the board with background on this topic. To read a sum- testing those ballots on the actual machines that will be used to mary of the role statistics plays in elections, visit the June 2007 record the results. The statement also encourages state governments Amstat News web page at www.amstat.org/publications and read to adopt routine monitoring of all electoral procedures to ensure the President’s Invited Column, written by David Marker, John continuous quality improvement. Gardenier, and Arlene Ash. n “The Statement on Election Integrity is an important example of the ASA Board’s desire to speak out in a timely manner about key

. The American Statistical Association Position on Electoral Integrity Adopted by the ASA Board of Directors March 7, 2008

rustworthy elections demand integrity and extend existing research into the effects of throughout the entire electoral process, various practices on the integrity of elections from voting laws and regulations to details and disseminate tools that help voting officials Tof implementation, including maintaining voter to efficiently conduct high-integrity elections. In registration lists and a secure chain of custody for addition, the federal government should provide voted ballots. All processes and data of U.S. elec- examples of acceptable and unacceptable ballot tions should be subject to statistically sound, con- designs and specify procedures for adequate pre- tinuous-quality monitoring and improvement. testing of ballots on the actual machinery to be Data releases should be comprehensive and timely used in the election. The ASA encourages state and follow standardized, readily analyzable for- governments to adopt routine monitoring of all mats. It is critical that the integrity of central vote electoral procedures to ensure continuous quality tabulations be confirmed by audits of voter- improvement. Certification of any electoral out- verified hard-copy records in order to provide come should require substantiating evidence that high—and clearly specified—levels of confidence the putative winner was the intended selection in electoral outcomes. of the plurality of voters. Compelling statistical The American Statistical Association recom- evidence of electoral failure should be accepted as mends that the federal government synthesize a basis for judicial remedy.

12 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 Wise Elders Program Holmes Stresses Import of Field Relations Monty Wood, Public Information Office

If the Census Bureau “expects to be a premier data collection agency, it must find ways to make the investment in its people in the field.” Jim Holmes

he world of data collection has collection, you cannot appreciate what it director in Philadelphia. In 1985, he was experienced many changes since takes to get the work done,” Holmes said. reassigned as regional director in Atlanta. the 1960s. Tremendous leaps in After graduating from Albany State “In those days, you moved around,” Ttechnology have improved it, yet fewer in southwest Georgia, Holmes took an Holmes said. “You would not be promoted to adults being available at home during the unfulfilling job with IBM. He met a U.S. [GS-] 13 and beyond if you did not move.” day has made it more difficult. Census Bureau manager in 1968 while In January of 1998, Secretary of But to Jim Holmes, longtime director of playing pinochle in Washington, DC, and Commerce William Daley appointed the U.S. Census Bureau’s Atlanta Regional soon had a new job. Holmes as the U.S. Census Bureau’s act- Office, the greatest difference has been the “I was offered a job not at [Suitland, ing director. He stayed in that position decreased interaction between management Maryland] headquarters, but in either until October of that year before return- and the backbone of data collection—the Detroit, Chicago, or New York,” he said. “I ing to Atlanta. interviewers in the field. made the intelligent decision to go where I Holmes said during this time he tried “If the Census Bureau expects to be a pre- had never been—Detroit.” to implement the lessons he learned in the mier data collection agency, it must find ways He spent two years working on the field. “It’s extremely important to be close to make the investment in its people in the Urban Employment Survey from a and involved to what’s happening in the field,” Holmes said. “If we don’t find some storefront on seedy Woodward Avenue. field,” he said. “It’s impossible with a small way to do that, the Census Bureau loses its For much of the 1970s, he worked as a number of field visits. That involvement ability to conduct large-scale operations.” regional technician based in the Detroit must be part of your DNA.” Holmes recapped his 37 years with the Regional Office. Holmes retired in 2005. He earned U.S. Census Bureau at the eighth install- “My job was visiting specific district Commerce’s Bronze Medal Award in 1985, ment of the Wise Elders Program—the offices that were having difficulty in oper- the Silver Medal Award in 1989, and the first in the new headquarters auditorium. ations,” he said. “I had to figure out the Gold Medal Award in 1997. Several hundred listened as he stressed the problem, craft a solution, and get them on Previous speakers for the Wise Elders importance of involving field employees in track—or I couldn’t go home.” Program include Dan Levine, Joe the planning process and managers inter- He went to work in the Kansas City Waksberg, Margaret Martin, Jay Siegel, acting more with interviewers. office in 1980, then became assistant Ivan Fellegi, Bob Parker, Janet Norwood, “I truly believe that if you’re not actively regional director in Los Angeles in 1981. In and Vince Barabba. n involved in the process of field data fewer than two years, he was named regional

APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 13 14 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 What Makes Your Vote Matter? Resources for Mathematics Awareness Month Provide Answers

embers of the Joint Policy Board insights into the effect of different voting for Mathematics recently systems on the outcome of an election. announced that the theme for Voting is not just about electoral politics, MathematicsM Awareness Month 2008 is however; it’s part of everyday life. “Voting” “Math and Voting.” In a presidential elec- is something that happens in many contexts tion year, the term “voting” brings to mind not related to politics. In any situation in national elections. Candidates are vying for which preferences are expressed—where to attention in debates and primaries, polls have dinner, how to raise money for a char- are taking the pulse of the electorate, blog ity, who makes the team, etc.—voting in writers are offering opinions on everything some way occurs. Surprisingly, different vot- candidates say, and, ultimately, a general ing systems often yield different outcomes. election leads to the selection of the Resources for this year’s Mathematics next president of the United States. Awareness Month are designed to help Many citizens are deeply engaged in explain what makes your votes matter, as these processes; others pay varying well as how the voting system used affects degrees of attention. the outcome, regardless of the context of the Regardless of their involve- voting. At www.mathaware.org, you can view The 2008 Mathematics Awareness ment, however, most people and/or download articles and essays about Month Poster wonder at some point: “Does these topics, as well as a copy of the 2008 my vote matter? Is the elec- poster, “What Makes My Vote Matter?” tion process fair? Are the The Joint Policy Board for Mathematics votes being counted cor- Beginnings and Background is a collaborative effort of the American rectly?” The answers Mathematics Awareness Month, held Mathematical Society, the American to these questions are each year in April, was created to increase Statistical Association, the Mathematical incredibly complex, public understanding of and apprecia- Association of America, and the Society for but, fortunately, tion for mathematics. It began in 1986, Industrial and Applied Mathematics. Each mathematics and when President Ronald Reagan issued year, one of the four societies takes respon- statistics provide a proclamation establishing National sibility for producing and collecting most the means to deal Mathematics Awareness Week. Activities of the materials for Mathematics Awareness with the complexity of for Mathematics Awareness Month gen- Month. The ASA took the lead this year by how votes are cast and count- erally are organized on local, state, and collecting the essays and other information ed and how that influences the regional levels by college and university found at www.mathaware.org. The ASA outcome. For example, statistics pro- departments, institutional public infor- also created the Mathematics Awareness vides ways to identify, measure, and address mation offices, student groups, and related Month poster and developed the “What sources of error, and mathematics provides associations and interest groups. Voting Means to Me” video contest. n

APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 15 Canadian Model for Accrediting Professional Statisticians Judy-Anne Chapman

In March 2007, the board approved the formation of the ad hoc Committee on Accreditation of Individual Statisticians to define the details for an accreditation program, such as criteria for granting accreditation and the application process. This is one in a series of articles examining an accreditation program.

he SSC offers two levels of accredita- on the SSC web site. The database will be were chosen to represent the interests of the tion, the professional statistician used for networking; it also will be used for society, the statistical profession, and various (P.Stat.) and the associate statistician strategic planning of course offerings and areas of statistical expertise. In particular, T(A.Stat.). P.Stat. and A.Stat. are registered assessments of strengths and gaps in the the slate represented major subject-matter Canadian federal trademarks held by the expertise available in Canada. areas, SSC geographic regions, employer SSC that indicate to the broader statistical A public database will be available at the sectors (university, government, industry), and nonstatistical communities that the SSC web site with picture identification of and English/French language capabil- holder has achieved a certain level of profes- accredited members, along with short sum- ity. It also included the founder of ASSQ sional competence in the understanding and maries of career paths. This latter element Accreditation and an RSS C.Stat. application of statistical methods, maintains is expected to be an invaluable resource to A number of Canadian professional a level of ethical practice and professional promote the discipline of statistics to high- designation model-types were considered, development appropriate to areas of prac- school students, early undergraduates, and including the following: tice, and has good oral and written commu- the broader community. nication skills. A certificate of accreditation Additionally, there are two downloadable 1. Actuarial (National Charter, by Act level and licensee number are issued to promotional brochures: Accreditation of of Canadian Parliament) recipients of accredited status. The accred- Professional Statisticians in Canada (www. 2. Professions (Medicine, Law, ited statistician may affix the received desig- ssc.ca/accreditation/documents/accreditation_ Engineering; Provincial Charters) nation to his/her list of professional qualifi- e.pdf) and the SSC Code of Ethical cations. With maintenance, the P.Stat. Statistical Practice (www.ssc.ca/accreditation/ 3. Physicists (National Federal designation is expected to be for life. documents/ethics_e.pdf). Trademark)

Statisticians hold quite a spectrum of professional roles in society, which would “not easily be defined for a national charter. ” The qualification of A.Stat. indicates Timeline At the time, types 1–3 had examina- the holder has completed a course of study As the ASA, the SSC had an early failure tions. Actuarial exams were run in con- equivalent to a major or honors degree in to approve SSC accreditation. See the JSM junction with the American Society of statistics, or, in exceptional instances, has Proceedings paper appendix for key details Actuaries. Examinations were not viewed otherwise demonstrated an advanced under- of the first proposal (1989–1994) and as possible without the ASA, nor were they standing of statistical theory and its applica- step-wise approval of the second proposal viewed as necessary, as most formal statis- tion. An A.Stat. is required to have a P.Stat. (2000–2007). tical education is already graded through mentor for professional interactions. university courses. Statisticians hold quite SSC accreditation is for practice in Background a spectrum of professional roles in society, Canada by a statistician who is a Canadian The Interim Accreditation Committee was which would not easily be defined for a citizen or legally entitled to work in formed in 2003, following the May–June national charter. Provincial charters would Canada. Accredited members of the SSC Meeting of the SSC Board, where there was franchise heterogeneous groups of profes- maintain their accreditation qualification approval in principle to produce accredita- sional statisticians in only a few provinc- with the payment of annual SSC member- tion documentation for the October board’s es. The physicists’ model of federal trade ship fees and the annual SSC accreditation consideration; the direction for the docu- marking seemed feasible with national dues and forms. mentation was to follow that approved in identification for a relatively small group An accredited member’s only database the 2001 SSC referendum. The 14 members of participants. The physicists’ legal team with past and new areas of expertise and of the Interim Accreditation Committee looked after SSC accreditation, and there practice will be kept in a database posted was a sharing of previously developed

16 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 materials and procedures that were custom- manner appropriate for the area of statistics was set as a requirement for the ized to statistical perspectives and needs. application (subject matter), and, in P.Stat. designation, with the acquisition International statistical frameworks were particular, for specific problem(s) and being possible with up to three years investigated to define a context for the dis- data. of applied work during graduate train- cipline as it is practiced in Canada: ing (e.g., consulting, cooperative work) 2. It is essential that accredited members and up to three years of teaching applied (S1.) Association des statisticiens et be able to communicate well, both orally courses or consulting. statisticiennes du québec (ASSQ) and in writing, about integrated statisti- Accreditation cal work in a subject matter area. 7. Retirees would be encouraged with reduced application fees and annual (S2.) Royal Statistical Society (RSS) 3. Recognition of formal university accreditation dues. Chartering coursework for A.Stat. applicants was planned from the beginning to 8. Preventive support and media- (S3.) Statistical Society of Australian streamline applications for those who tion would be the hallmarks of SSC Inc. (SSAI) Accreditation acquire statistical educational training accreditation. (S4.) The failed ASA certification in primary training. 9. Mentoring of new practitioners, (S1.) ASSQ accreditation is equivalent 4. A solid professional statistical back- regardless of educational level of to an undergraduate in statistics. Written ground may not be acquired solely with achievement, is necessary to assist work may be examined as corroborative formal statistical training. Alternate in transition to practice: www.ssc.ca/ evidence, should an applicant not have suf- career paths must be accepted if there accreditation/documents/SSCMentoring_ ficient formal statistical training. There are is a demonstration of attainment of e.pdf. n no examinations. accreditation level. Editor’s Note: This article is excerpted from (S2.) RSS chartering is equivalent to an 5. Common background elements the Proceedings of the 2007 Joint Statistical undergraduate in statistics (G.Stat.); with five between other professional statisti- Meetings presentation on Statistical Society years’ experience of any type, a candidate may cal designations would be recognized of Canada (SSC) accreditation. The full text become a chartered statistician (C.Stat.). toward SSC accreditation. and extensive list of acknowledgements to those (S3.) Australian accreditation is equiv- who contributed can be found in the 2007 alent to an undergraduate in statistics 6. A level of six years’ cumulative pro- JSM Proceedings. (G.Stat.); with five years’ experience, plus fessional experience in the application of extensive examination of qualifications, a candidate may be accredited (A.Stat.). (S4.) Elements of the failed ASA certification were considered. These included curriculum guidelines for undergraduate programs in statistical science, possible examinations, recognition of the need for Proposals Sought for NSF-CBMS Conferences professional statisticians to cohesively inte- grate statistical theory appropriately for the To stimulate interest and activity in mathematical research, the National area of application and be able to commu- Science Foundation will support up to seven regional research conferences in nicate about it, and two versions of a code 2009. Each five-day conference will feature 10 lectures about current research of ethics (paper brochure, web site). in the mathematical sciences. These lectures will then be summarized in an Ethics statements and appeal proce- expository monograph and published. Support will be provided for about 30 dures were examined for Canadian actuar- participants at each conference. ies, Ontario engineers, Canadian physicists, RSS chartering, Australian accreditation, Eligibility and ASA certification. Colleges or universities with research competence in the field of the proposal are eligible to apply. Institutions interested in improving their research efforts SSC Accreditation Process are especially encouraged to apply. The main accreditation document was written with extensive interaction with the Proposal Preparation physicists’/SSC legal team to protect the Proposals must be prepared in strict adherence to the current NSF Grant interests of the SSC, www.ssc.ca/accreditation/ Proposal Guide, which can be found at www.fastlane.nsf.gov, along with nec- documents/sscaccreditation_e.pdf. The precepts essary forms and instructions. Proposals must be submitted electronically for SSC accreditation, reached by consensus via Fastlane by April 21, 2008, and award announcements will be made in of the Interim Accreditation Committee, October. For more information about the series and guidelines for submitting were to be the following: proposals, visit www.cbmsweb.org. 1. The most important element is the integration of statistical theory in a

APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 17 Making Statistics Delicious, Not Just Palatable New Class Puts Statistics in the Middle of Real Life (Where It’s Been All Along) Harvard News Office, Reprinted courtesy of the Harvard Gazette

oney, love, health, innocence, or guilt—even finding the right wine. Who doesn’t want to know more? M“Real-Life Statistics: Your Chance for Happiness (or Misery),” offered this semester by Harvard’s Department of Statistics, will explore the tools critical to making good judgments in matters large and small. To do that, the new course will “demonstrate the use of statistics without [students] actually learning lots of formulas,” said Department Chair Xiao-Li Meng, chief architect and teacher of what is formally known as Statistics 105. The first-time offering is meant to appeal to the statistics novice (only one prerequisite is required). It also might inspire others to join a field Meng calls “underappreciated” (and whose practitioners he says are much sought-after on Wall Street and elsewhere). From right: Department Chair Xiao-Li Meng shares chocolates with members of his “happy team,” graduate students Yves Chretien, Paul Edlefsen, Kari Lock, and Cassandra Wolos. “This could be their last statistics course, Staff photo Rose Lincoln/Harvard News Office or almost their first statistics course,” he said of prospective students. He acknowledged, in particular, a majority of students and taking time out to finish his doctorate laptop—a first use of the interactive tech- who “just get scared” when confronted in statistics. nology for a Harvard statistics depart- with the science of chi-square tests, corre- On January 30, about 100 students ment course. “Real-time feedback,” said lation coefficients, and regression analysis. filed into the cavernous Science Center B Chretien, “real-time data.” In practical terms, every student read- for the opening class of Statistics 105. In In online romance terms, what would ing technical papers, or even just the a joke-filled and lively 90 minutes, Meng you like on a first date, Meng asked. A newspaper, said Meng, “should know gave them a taste of all five topics. person who plays “hard to get,” or one what arguments are scientifically and “Everybody wants money,” he said of who is “clearly into” you? The clicker data statistically sound.” the finance section, led by a chart illustrat- was strong: 4-to-1 in favor of a date clear- But, why not learn by having fun? ing Wall Street profit trends and how to ly into them. Statistics 105 was put together over two mine it for useful data. “And once you have But can you generalize from a data years with the help of what Meng calls his money, you want romance.” set drawn from a room full of Harvard “Happy Team” of graduate students. It Meng led the students through lessons students in roughly the same age group? uses five modules of inquiry drawn from on polling for data in the world of online No, said Meng. A good survey requires the worlds of finance, romance, medicine, romance, explaining the science of query knowing the people whose opinions you legal judgments, and food choice—in this populations and question design. “The are collecting. case finding the best chocolate. dating world,” he said, “is full of questions In the world of health and medicine, “Statistics is about making decisions in we would all love answers to.” he outlined the complexity of judgment the real world,” said Happy Team mem- The students helped get a few answers needed to draw a conclusion from clini- ber Yves Chretien, an MD/PhD student by responding to in-class survey questions cal trials—“a huge industry,” he said, “and midway through Harvard Medical School using hand-held clickers linked to Meng’s exceedingly complicated.”

18 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 Deadlines and Contact Information for ASA National Awards, Special Lectureships, and COPSS Awards

April 15, 2008 Gertrude M. Cox Scholarship

Department Chair Xiao-Li Meng sports an Isaac Newton tie and a clicker as he conducts his unusual Eleanor Feingold statistics class. University of Pittsburgh Staff photo Rose Lincoln/Harvard News Office Graduate School of Public Health 130 DeSoto Street A310 Pittsburgh, PA 15261-0001 Phone: (412) 383-8599 As an example, Meng cited a study Toward the end of class, Statistics 105 Fax: (412) 624-3020 that compared two treatments used for took a lighter turn: lessons on probability kidney stones. It showed the persuasive and confidence intervals based on choco- [email protected] allure of quantitative evidence, as well lates that may or may not contain cham- as the way a nonrigorous examination of pagne. (With lunchtime drawing near, numbers can backfire. everyone got some samples.) At first glance, Treatment B seemed to Meng collected several sets of student- claim the highest numbers of good out- clicker data, based on questions that increas- comes—83% to 78%. But, behind the ingly revealed more information. “How you numbers, by way of something statisticians ask a question,” he said of designing statisti- call Simpson’s Paradox, Treatment A clearly cal queries, “is very important.” April 15, 2008 trumped B. Meng’s lessons: Look for addi- The more information there is packed Excellence in Statistical tional data and know what questions were into a question, the more polled opinions Reporting Award asked to arrive at each set of numbers. shift gradually closer to the truth. In a In a parallel way, statistics have a special first clicker survey, none of the students Donald A. Berry allure in courts of law, where lawyers may reported that their chocolate (chosen at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson use quantitative data in ways that seduces random) contained champagne; by the Cancer Center the untrained mind. “Statistics is always third survey, 17% reported they tasted 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Box 447 about presenting evidence,” said Meng, “and champagne in their samples. (The real Houston, TX 77030 listeners have to be aware of the pitfalls.” answer—33%—should have emerged, Phone: (713) 794-4141 As a case study, he used a real-life exam- as one-third of the chocolates were laced Fax: (713) 563-4242 ple of a man accused of rape based on with champagne, said Meng.) [email protected] DNA found at the crime scene. Chretien Class ended on a light note, too, with and the course’s other teaching fellow, Kari a real-life lesson from a “Forrest Gump” Lock, role-played lawyers for the prosecu- video clip. “Life is like a box of chocolates,” tion and defense, basing their evidence on the Tom Hanks title character offers. “You the same DNA evidence. Clickers in hand, never know what you’re going to get.” just more than half the students voted to That may be true, said Meng later. But convict. The informed answer? As with with a grasp of elementary statistics, he others, Meng promised it would come later added, “you can estimate what you are going Details can be found at in the semester. to get—especially after taking Stat 105.” n www.amstat.org/awards.

APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 19 Big Science … and Little Statistics Keith Crank, Assistant Director for Research and Graduate Education

hat is Big Science? From reading the news- multidisciplinary. This fits well with the sta- paper, one can readily identify space tistics discipline. A broad-based proposal exploration as Big Science. Pictures connecting statistics to a number of fromW the Hubble Space Telescope and activi- fields, or a narrower concentration ties at the International Space Station often on one or two other disciplines, appear on news broadcasts or in the could be viable. STCs are not newspaper. Occasionally, one hears single institution activities. about the Large Hadron Collider or While a few of the current the Laser Interferometer Gravitational- STCs represent a relatively Wave Observatory (LIGO). And small geographic area, most there is a lot more that one almost are spread across a large never hears about, at least in the part of the United States. general news. The choice of institutions Why should it matter to statistics to include in a proposal and statisticians? Big Science means should be based on the sci- big money. It also means big(ger) rec- ence to be done, not geo- ognition, which is something statistics graphical proximity. needs. The discipline suffers from this There are limits to the number lack of recognition, often getting blamed of STC proposals that can be sub- for faulty analysis done by nonstatisticians. mitted by an institution (as the lead The ASA recently hired a director of science A Hubble Space institution). If your institution already policy to help educate members of Congress, their Telescope photograph has plans to submit the maximum number staffs, and other federal officials. But, one person of the Whirlpool Galaxy of proposals, it can still be a partner institution. will not solve the problem. Much needs to be done (M51). Courtesy of nasa.gov This allows the inclusion of the appropriate institutions at all levels to make people aware of statistics and for the proposed center, but may restrict the choice of what it has to offer. a lead institution. The solicitation for the STC competi- So, where does Big Science fit in? Statisticians don’t tion is not yet available, but it is expected to be available in need big machines or instruments to do their work. We the next month or two. Additional information about the STC have nothing to propose that could compete with projects such as competition is available at www.nsf.gov/od/oia/programs/stc/index.jsp. LIGO and the Hubble Space Telescope. There is no Big Statistics This site also has a link to currently funded STCs. that requires massive amounts of funding before we can make any Not everyone can (or should) be involved in an STC proposal, more progress. But, that doesn’t mean we should be content with and submission of one or more proposals for a statistics STC is the status quo. Before there was Big Science, there was big science no guarantee of funding. We need to continue and expand other and then bigger science. We need to move from little statistics to activities, as well. There should be another competition for math big statistics. institutes soon. Funding should begin in 2010, which means a What do I mean by big statistics versus little statistics? At NSF, sta- solicitation is likely within the next few months. The statistics tistics is concentrated primarily within the Division of Mathematical community should be ready. Multiple proposals are needed to Sciences (DMS). This creates a model for funding patterned after ensure statistics proposals are reviewed by statisticians, not math- that for mathematicians, typically one or two investigators on a ematicians. Five to 10 separate proposals from the statistics com- grant, possibly with a graduate student. We have made some prog- munity would be appropriate. ress in moving away from little statistics with the establishment of I am not suggesting we abandon individual research in sta- NISS (the National Institute for Statistical Sciences) and SAMSI (the tistics. That should continue to be the primary form of research Statistical and Applied Mathematical Sciences Institute). This is a activity. But, we should do more. Math institutes and STCs are step in the right direction, and it should be continued and expanded. two ways to expand our activities, our recognition, and our fund- But, it still follows the model of mathematics. ing. Eventually, we may find we do need Big Statistics. And that’s Let’s move to big statistics. In 2009, NSF plans to have anoth- not just a bunch of BS. er competition for Science and Technology Centers (STCs). To contact me, send email to [email protected]. Questions or Statistics should get involved and be ready to submit one or comments about this article, as well as suggestions for future arti- more proposals to this competition. STCs are expected to be cles, are always welcome. n

20 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 Free Textbook Offered to Stats Teachers

en King will provide a free copy of completing the course. Indeed, when King was widely admired and respected, not only the unpublished textbook, Statistical last taught a course using these materials, he for his technical scholarly achievements, Techniques for Managers, by he and lectured while simultaneously using his lap- but for his unstinting devotion to teaching HarryB V. Roberts, to any teacher of statistics top and a projector in the classroom, often and advising and supporting his colleagues who is interested in its classroom use. repeating the analytical steps shown in the in their research. During his final productive years before textbook, an approach that elicited positive King, also an ASA Fellow, is professor the illness that led to his death, Roberts devel- student response. emeritus of information technology and oped these unpublished chapters to be used Teachers in MBA programs may be management at Florida Atlantic University. in the executive MBA program at Chicago. surprised to see the successful coverage of Since he took his first course in statis- They are especially designed for students “advanced” topics, such as multiple regres- tics from Roberts in 1959, he has shared with little or no prior exposure to statistics sion, indicator variables, interactions, step- Roberts’ interest in finding the “proper and with minimal mathematics training. wise procedures, autoregressive time-series, formula” for the design of an introductory With Roberts’ approval, King edited the and the design of experiments—all in a statistics course for MBA students. text and translated the non-Windows soft- nonmathematical course designed for 33 to To request Statistical Techniques for ware illustrations of the original into the 44 hours of lecture. Teachers who are not Managers, send an email to [email protected]. student version of SPSS for Windows. He necessarily involved with MBA or under- com. You will receive a zip file of about also added a few technical appendices and graduate business programs will still find 4MB containing the nine chapters in .pdf several examples aimed at clarifying diffi- these materials valuable. format, along with SPSS data files used in cult concepts. The emphasis throughout is Roberts, a Fellow of the ASA who died the illustrations. The attached file will also on seeing and doing using real-world data in 2004, was the Sigmund E. Edelstone include homework questions and examples sets and interactive computing, rather than Professor Emeritus of Statistics and Quality of midterm or final exams. n dwelling on traditional approaches with Management in the Graduate School of formulas that most students forget after Business of the University of Chicago. He

The 2008 ASA Election

Don’t forget! We’re going green.

Your ballot should arrive by email.* Voting began March 17, 2008, and ends at midnight on May 15, 2008.

*Those without email addresses on file with the ASA were sent a paper ballot via mail.

APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 21 Success of Statistical Service Leads to Expanded Network

TATCOM (Statistics in the coordinator. The responsibilities of this position include Community) is a student-run organiza- maintaining communication among STATCOM Network tion that provides pro bono statistical members, generating interest in STATCOM at new universities, Sconsulting services to local government and and writing the semiannual STATCOM Network Newsletter. nonprofit organizations. Originally estab- As new STATCOM members within the network become lished in 2001 by Nels Grevstad, a statistics established, this position will rotate from one university to the doctoral student at Purdue University, next, allowing students throughout the network to benefit from STATCOM has grown each year to meet taking a leadership role. the demand for statistical consulting on a The first STATCOM Network Newsletter became avail- local level. Since 2005, STATCOM has able in January, and can be found at www.amstat.org/education/ The first STATCOM expanded from a single organization at statcom/Newsletters.htm. This newsletter is an excellent means of Network Newsletter Purdue University to a network of eight communication, not only for members within the STATCOM individual STATCOMs at universities in Network, but for the public interested in pro bono community this country and abroad. And this number grows each year. work. Updates about current and past projects, challenges faced by In addition to the projects taken on by STATCOM organizations developing STATCOMs, advice and suggestions from established within the network, there have been several exciting network-wide STATCOMs, and photos are all featured in the newsletter. developments in the past year. At the Joint Statistical Meetings in The growth of the STATCOM Network in the past two August of 2007, the STATCOM Network Business Meeting pro- years has been impressive, and as more universities and student vided a forum for representatives from each STATCOM to meet volunteers become involved, the enduring benefits of STATCOM one another and discuss voting points, including the STATCOM involvement in communities throughout the world will become Network mission and vision statements and continued develop- more pronounced. For more information about the STATCOM ment of the STATCOM Network framework. Network, visit www.amstat.org/education/statcom or contact In 2007, the expansion of the STATCOM Network led to STATCOM Network Outreach Coordinator Andrea Rau at the creation of the position of STATCOM network outreach [email protected]. n

NHIS Paradata Released to Public

n January 2008, the National Center for inappropriate, inaccurate entries of cases in which the interview- Health Statistics (NCHS) released the responses by interviewers. The CHI er was unable to make per- first annual file of paradata data about the is a stand-alone, Blaise-based instru- sonal contact with anyone Isurvey collection process from the National ment that first went into produc- in the household, as well as Health Interview Survey (NHIS). The NHIS tion with the 2004 NHIS. Interviewers are cases where the interview was refused). is an ongoing, cross-sectional, in-person sur- instructed to make a CHI entry each time an The publicly released NHIS paradata vey of the U.S. noninstitutionalized civilian attempt is made to contact a household. CHI file contains a subset of the paradata col- population. A new year of regular NHIS data have been used by NCHS researchers lected by the NHIS. The newly released microdata is publicly released every June, to explore survey contact, cooperation, and 2006 paradata file contains data on mode fewer than six months after the end of the nonresponse bias. Questions asked of the of interview, assessed cooperativeness of the survey year. This first publicly released para- interviewers after the interview include que- respondent, reasons for partial interviews, data file derives from the 2006 NHIS. ries about whether any main sections of the strategies used to gain participation, etc. Paradata can be used to study the sur- interview were administered primarily by It may be used as a stand-alone data file vey process and assess and improve survey telephone. (Interviewers are permitted to use or linked to the regular public use NHIS quality. Three sources of NHIS paradata the telephone when necessary to complete the 2006 health data files (which were released are audit trails from the Blaise instrument initial in-person interview.) NCHS research- in June 2007). used to administer the questionnaire, the ers have used this information to monitor Now, researchers outside NCHS have NHIS Contact History Instrument (CHI), the use of the telephone and to explore the the opportunity to analyze these valuable and a section at the back of the survey impact of mode of survey administration on paradata. The 2006 public use paradata instrument reserved for questions asked of key health estimates. file and supporting documentation can the interviewers. Note that NHIS paradata include be found at www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/major/ NHIS audit trails have been used by records for nonresponding households (i.e., nhis/2006paradata.htm. n NCHS researchers to identify occasional NHIS paradata contain information about

22 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 Staff Spotlight Rosanne Desmone ust over a year ago, I became the Treasures from ASA’s public affairs/public relations Jspecialist, and I’ve been having a the great time getting to know the staff and all the workings of the ASA. I have been ASA Archives a public relations practitioner for about 28 years, working in the private sector for several high-tech companies, including a number of start-ups, an association, and three congressmen. I have done every job in a congressional Minutes from a January 17, 1862, office, from receptionist/scheduler to press meeting about health and camp aide to legislative assistant to the top posi- Rosanne Desmone tion of administrative assistant. This fol- conditions during the Civil War, lowed my reporting days on a Connecticut daily newspaper, covering ASA Record Book, Box 1, Folder 3, government, politics, and crime. I even reported on sports briefly, becoming the first woman to sit in the University of Connecticut American Statistical Association press box to cover football. I got more coverage than the game! Records, MS 349, Special Collection After leaving Capitol Hill, I became a communications specialist for a small consulting firm, and then moved into the high-tech sector, Department, Iowa State University where I worked for telecommunications and networking companies. I Library lost three jobs in the dot-com bust as companies failed. I finally decid- ed the high-tech market was too volatile, so I started doing freelance public relations and, for fun, took up ballroom dancing. I became a ballroom teacher and competitive dancer (some pounds ago) for several years. When Pam Morris started at the ASA as executive secretary, she told me the association was looking for a public affairs specialist and suggested I apply, which I did, and here I am. My mission is to help the ASA energize its public affairs/media relations program and create greater visibility and public awareness of statistics and statisticians among statistical professionals, the media, and the public. Toward that end, I work with the members and staff to develop activities to support this mission. I write news releases that announce the ASA’s efforts in professional development, scholarships, and other relevant areas. To help journalists with articles they are researching, I created an online newsroom and lobbied to revive the ASA Media Experts program. We posted the first Media Experts list in January and updated it in February. I continue to identify qualified statisticians for this list. Also, working with ASA Webmaster Ryan Bell, I developed the “Statisticians in the News” web page, where we post articles of interest about statisticians. I also contribute occasionally to Amstat News. To find this and other treasures from the In July, I traveled to Salt Lake City for my first JSM—both ASA archives, visit www.lib.iastate.edu/ exciting and overwhelming. I worked closely with local media to spcl/manuscripts/MS349.html. For more attract attention to the meetings. A few journalists attended ses- information, email [email protected] or sions, and a couple of good stories were published. We’re looking forward to repeating this effort for JSM 2008—with even better call (515) 294-6672. results. And I’m already looking forward to JSM 2009 in DC! My husband, Michael, and I live in Alexandria, Virginia, with our grandson, Nicky, who we have raised since he was just a few days old. Now 13, he keeps us busy transporting him to Tae Kwon Do classes (he’s a junior instructor) and competitions. What leisure time we have, we spend working around our home and garden … and wishing we were dancing! n

APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 23 ASA-SIAM Series Series Can Save You Money

ach summer at the Joint Statistical like to own, 57% make their actual pur- Meetings, we discover something chases online—mainly through Amazon. about attendees via a short survey. com. Few indicated they purchase books TheE information we gather is used by our directly from the publisher. But, did you marketing staff to fine tune our advertis- know ASA and SIAM members—as well ing efforts so you’ll hear about books of as all attendees who purchase onsite at interest to you in the places where you conferences—receive a 30% discount normally seek them. It is also used by our on ASA-SIAM series titles, while many acquisitions staff to identify people to online vendors charge higher prices? Keep write books in topic areas you want to this in mind at JSM 2008 and other meet- read about. This year, we learned you can ings where you see our exhibit, especially save money on books. since all onsite orders receive the added Last year’s survey was completed by bonus of free shipping. 254 people—all of whom got to choose While we’re always seeking high-quality either an insulated water bottle holder or manuscripts in a variety of areas in statistics a travel flashlight from our thank-you gift and applied probability, survey responses selection. We discovered most respondents have been helpful in providing us with a (42%) work in academia, followed by generous list of specific topics readers are industry (24%) and government (15%). especially interested in. Some topics include Students, consultants, and workers in Bayesian statistics, data mining, survey nonprofit organizations, research hospi- sampling, and biostatistics. We were a bit tals, and software companies comprised surprised to find that 48% of respondents the remainder of the sample. would like new texts at the intermediate We were pleased to discover that many level, rather than advanced or introductory (33%) use exhibits at meetings such as JSM texts. Texts at all levels are welcome in the to locate books of interest, and that pub- series, but now we are aware of a need that lisher mailings and journal ads help readers we will work hard to fill. identify books they want to purchase. As We hope more of you will approach us at we use all of these modes of advertising on JSM in Denver to find books at a discount- a regular basis, we hope you are seeing the ed price, as well as to complete our new ASA-SIAM series frequently. If you aren’t, survey and pick up your free gift. (We’re we’d like to hear from you about places you still shopping for it, but we’ll announce it think ads should be placed, as we’re always when we know.) Series Acquisitions Editor looking for opportunities to introduce the Sara J. Murphy is always happy to hear series to new audiences. from you at [email protected]. n Although respondents use their time at conferences to identify books they’d

Global Health Conference Slated for May

The annual Global Health Conference will be held May 27–31 in Washington, DC. This conference attracts more than 2,000 health and development professionals from around the world. Some of the sessions are statistical in nature, and organizations such as Abt Associates, RTI, and Westat are usually involved in the program. This year’s theme is “Community Health: Delivering, Serving, Engaging, Leading.” The conference is organized by the Global Health Council, which is dedicated to saving lives by improving health throughout the world. For more information, visit www.globalhealth.org/conference.

24 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 INTERNATIONAL

Hong Kong Statistical Society Society Marks 30 Years of Promoting Stats

he Hong Kong Statistical Society (HKSS) was founded in 1977 with the objective of promoting the Tdevelopment of statistics by providing a medium for advancing knowledge and enhancing appreciation of the theory and application of statistics. In 2007, there were about 300 members, including all distinguished statistics professors in Hong Kong’s universities and high-ranking professional statisticians working in both government and private firms. Last year marked the 30th anniversary of the HKSS. To celebrate, the HKSS organized a series of special activities to provide an opportunity for statistical professionals to keep abreast of the latest development in the statistics field; enhance the statistical literacy among the general public, in particular Sir Clive Granger (left) delivers a talk, titled “Evaluation of Global Economic Models,” that was orga- secondary school teachers and students; and nized by the Hong Kong Statistical Society and the Polytechnic University of Hong Kong. establish a closer relationship with statistical professionals in nearby economies, including mainland China and Macao. his fresh perspective on issues related to www.hkss.org.hk. The booklet was written global economic modeling. by four members of the HKSS and focuses Keeping Abreast on the complicated subject of sample sur- Statistical Literacy In January and February of 2007, the veys in an easy-to-understand manner. It HKSS organized two workshops, titled To help the general public distinguish is intended to become a useful reference “Econometric Time Series” and “Statistics between good and bad sample surveys, the to both survey-takers and users of sample in Finance and Economics.” The focus HKSS co-organized a public seminar with survey results. the theme “Sample Surveys: How To Be a of the workshops was the application of Promotion of Statistical Literacy econometric time series and statistical tech- Smart Data User” in November 2007 with niques in resolving current economic and the Census and Statistics Department and The HKSS has long been making a con- financial issues, particularly those related to the Education Development Bureau of the scientious effort to advocate statistical lit- the finance and banking activities of Hong Hong Kong SAR Government. The semi- eracy among the general public and sec- Kong. The topics discussed were particu- nar was well received by survey statisticians ondary school students in particular. The larly relevant to Hong Kong, as the city is in the private sector, as well as secondary Statistical Project Competition (SPC) for a major financial center and a substantial school teachers in statistics and mathemat- secondary students, which came to its 21st proportion of manpower is engaged in the ics. Participants learned how to become round in 2006–2007, is now recognized finance and banking sector. smart users of sample survey results and by educational professionals (including To enable its members to keep abreast how to request survey takers to provide secondary school principals and teachers) of the latest international developments answers to basic questions: What is the tar- and students. The competition has always in statistics and economic modeling, the get population and sampling frame used? received tremendous support from the HKSS and Polytechnic University of How is the sample selected? How are the Education Development Bureau. Funding Hong Kong recently organized a public questions, particularly sensitive questions, was provided by prestigious private firms lecture by Sir Clive Granger, the 2003 asked? What is the response rate? in Hong Kong, including banks and real Nobel Laureate in Economics. Granger To provide further reference for the estate companies. offered an interesting and insightful talk proper conduct of sample surveys, the The aim of the SPC is to promote a sense about the valuation of global economic HKSS recently uploaded the booklet of civic awareness in students and encour- models. Participants were impressed by A Practical Guide to Sample Surveys to age them to understand the community

APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 25 Secondary school students, who were winners of the Statistical Project Competition organized annually by the Hong Kong Statistical Society, stand for a photo with the organizing committee and patrons of the competition.

in a scientific manner through the use of promotion of statistical literacy in Hong statistics. Students are asked to select, ana- Kong and the organization of profession- lyze, and interpret official data on any social al examinations and accreditation of the and economic issue in Hong Kong. Every examination results by the Royal Statistical year, the HKSS receives fantastic respons- Society were shared. The strategy of pro- es from secondary schools. In the most moting statistical literacy to youth by orga- recent round, 222 statistical projects from nizing the SPC for secondary students also 989 students of 65 secondary schools were was discussed. received. The projects covered a variety of themes, focusing on various social and eco- Looking Ahead nomic aspects of Hong Kong. Hot issues In 2007, the Hong Kong Special included ageing, environment, unemploy- Administrative Region celebrated its 10th ment, and drug abuses. anniversary after reunification with the mainland of China. At the same time, the Closer Relationships HKSS commemorated its 30th anniversary. The HKSS is dedicated to fostering a closer After 30 years of development, the HKSS relationship with statistical professionals of has become a mature society with a good other statistical organizations in the region. reputation in communities throughout the A delegation of 20 members, led by HKSS region. At this historical juncture, we will President Leslie Tang, visited Statistics and continue to exert our efforts to advance Census Service of Macao SAR Government knowledge of and enhance appreciation for last year. The visit included sports activities the theory and application of statistics. We such as tennis, badminton, and table ten- also will promote the correct use and inter- nis with colleagues of Statistics and Census pretation of statistics among nonprofession- Service of Macao; a commemorative din- al statisticians, which will help Hong Kong ner to celebrate Macao’s Official Statistics continue its success as a thriving economy Day; and a tour of spectacular tourist sites and world business and finance center. in Macao. All participants found the visit Looking ahead, Hong Kong is going to meaningful and enjoyable. host the 59th Session of the International The HKSS is also active in sharing Statistical Institute in 2013. The HKSS is experiences with statistical professionals in prepared to participate in the organization mainland China. In April 2007, the HKSS of this event to further promote the devel- received a delegate of 30 statistical profes- opment of statistics and cross-pollinate sionals from the Jiangsu Province. During ideas among local and international statis- the meeting, the experience of HKSS in the tical professionals. n

26 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 MEETINGS Colorado Offers Something for Everyone JSM 2008 Denver Local Area Committee

olorado offers a wealth of beautiful sampling pizza at Beau and entertaining options for those Jo’s, www.beaujos.com. looking to extend their visit or just Just up the hill Cspend an afternoon outside Denver. Most from Idaho Springs trips will take you into the mountains. is the Georgetown Aside from their natural beauty, the moun- Loop Railroad, www. tains offer relief from the heat during the georgetownlooprr.com, a summer. Go up high enough and you can remnant of Colorado’s find snow. A word of caution: Because of mining past. The nar- the high elevation, you will sunburn more row gauge line has quickly. Also, you might consider drinking steam engines, open air additional water—without the humidity cars, and an optional found in other places, you might not notice mine tour. This ride you are sweating. is especially popular among children and A view of Pikes Mount Evans train enthusiasts. Peak, near Colorado Drive the world’s highest paved road. Mt. Springs, looking Evans, www.mountevans.com, is one of Boulder through a formation Visitors Bureau. & Colorado’s many “fourteeners,” mountains Using public transpor- at Garden of the Gods higher than 14,000 feet. It is exceptional tation, www.rtd-denver. because of its proximity to Denver and the com, you can reach Boulder from Denver road that takes you nearly to the top. The in 30 minutes. Boulder is a beautiful, small drive is scenic and offers cooler temperatures university town nestled at the base of the when Denver is sweltering. John Evans, the foothills. It has outdoor shopping, bike mountain’s namesake, was born in Ohio; trails, myriad hiking opportunities, and became a physician; and founded the Illinois great people watching. Downtown, www. Medical Society, the Illinois Republican boulderdowntown.com, boasts Pearl Street, Party, and Northwestern University in an outdoor pedestrian mall with a mix of Evanston, Illinois. President Abe Lincoln shops and restaurants. And the National appointed him governor of Colorado, Center for Atmospheric Research Mesa Lab, Photo by Richard Grant. Denver Metro Convention where he and his friend, John Chivington, www.ncar.ucar.edu, has free science exhibits Echo Lake with Mount Evans in the background founded the Colorado Seminary—later to open to the public. become Denver University. Unfortunately, Chautauqua Park, www.chautauqua.com, President Andrew Johnson asked Evans to serves as the trailhead for hikes to the tow- resign after he tried to cover up Chivington’s ering red stone formations, known as the leading of the massacre of 163 unarmed Flatirons. Stop by the dining hall and enjoy a south of Denver. It is home to Garden of Cheyenne and Arapahoe at Sand Creek. lunch or cocktail on the wraparound porch. the Gods, www.gardenofgods.com, a free Colorado’s highest peak, Mount Elbert, During the summer, the historic auditorium city park filled with large and unusual red was named after Evans’ son-in-law, Samuel has concerts and silent films. rock formations. On hot days, visit early Hitt Elbert. For those seeking culture, Boulder is or late to avoid the heat. The formations The nearby towns of Evergreen and host to the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, are most easily viewed from your car, tour Idaho Springs are worth a visit. Evergreen www.coloradoshakes.org. The stage is in an bus departing from the visitor center, or on lake is a beautiful place for a picnic, fol- outdoor auditorium on the University of foot. Some people arrange to see them by lowed by fishing or nonmotorized boating. Colorado campus. This year’s plays include bicycle or on horseback. Paddle boats and canoes can be rented at “Macbeth,” “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” “The Near the south end of Garden of the Gods the lake house. Three Musketeers,” and others. This is the is Old Colorado City, www.old-colorado-city. Idaho Springs, www.historicidahosprings. 50th year of the popular festival, so buy com, a remnant of the Pikes Peak gold rush. com, is a quaint mining town. Victorian tickets in advance. This historic district is now home to many architecture and main street shops make it shops and restaurants. worth a stop. Seal the deal by quaffing local Colorado Springs Nearby Manitou Springs is the boarding microbrewed beer at the Tommyknocker Colorado Springs is a small city in the foot- point for the Pikes Peak Cog railway, www. Brewery, www.tommyknocker.com, and hills of the Rocky Mountains, 70 miles cograilway.com, an unusual train designed

APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 27 Richard Grant. Denver Metro Visitors Bureau. & Convention Photo Photo by

Rocky Mountain National Park

to climb the steep grade to the top of Pike’s For those with more time to spend driv- Peak. Reservations are highly recommended ing and sightseeing, a classic scenic loop can for this popular attraction. be made by driving from Denver, through You might also stop at the United States Boulder, up to Estes Park, and back through Air Force Academy, www.usafa.af.mil. Winter Park and I-70. In Estes Park, you can Several areas are open to the public, includ- drive through Rocky Mountain National ing the Air Force Academy Chapel that was Park by taking Trail Ridge Road. This road designed by Walter Netsch. reaches an elevation of 12,183—well above the tree line. The start of the Colorado River Boulder County Courthouse Rocky Mountain National Park, is in the western portion of the park, and, Estes Park, and Winter Park from there, you can drive through the town Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), of Grand Lake on the way to Winter Park. www.nps.gov/romo or www.rmnp.com, is Winter Park is a ski resort owned by the City Winter Park around 9:15 a.m. The return the crown jewel of Colorado’s attractions. of Denver. During the summer, the resort train leaves Winter Park at 4 p.m. and Accordingly, it is extremely crowded during often operates a ski lift, allowing people a reaches Denver by 6:15 p.m. the summer tourist season, with weekdays chance to ride to the summit of one of the offering slightly smaller crowds. It is most larger skiing areas in the country. Mountain Central City Opera commonly viewed by car; however, hikes at bikes can be rented and taken on the ski Central City, which reached its peak during all levels are available within the park. lifts, so you can spend a day riding mostly the silver boom of the late 1870s, is in the The main entrance to the park is Estes downhill. From Winter Park, you would mountains about 40 miles west of Denver. Park, home to the historic Stanley Hotel, continue toward I-70, which will take you What is a Wild West mining town without www.stanleyhotel.com. The façade may be back to Denver. This loop is approximately an opera? In 1877, before the price of silver familiar, as it appeared in the television 220 miles, and the driving time will be at collapsed, the Central City Opera, www. miniseries version of “The Shining.” Inside least four hours. Food options abound in centralcityopera.org, was built. The current the hotel is an antique Stanley steamer. most of the towns along the circuit. company has been performing there since Jonathan Walker, grandfather of Strother Alternatively, you can reach Winter Park 1932, making it the fifth-oldest opera com- Walker—founder of the largest statistical by taking the Ski Train, www.skitrain.com, pany in the United States. In August, the group in the Denver area—lost a fortune by on weekends. This is a restored 1940s-era company will perform Leonard Bernstein’s buying the exclusive rights to the steamer train that operates out of Union Station West Side Story and Susannah, by Carlisle from his friend, Stanley, shortly before the in downtown Denver. Leaving Denver at Floyd. This 550-seat opera house frequent- advent of the internal combustion engine. approximately 7:00 a.m., you will reach ly sells out, so reservations are suggested. n

28 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 EDUCATION

“Understanding statistical concepts, particularly how data is acquired, how it is analyzed, and how the results are interpreted is important for good citizenship. … People need to learn the importance of asking ‘impertinent’ questions, such as ‘What are the data supporting this?’ ‘Do these data make sense?’ ‘How was this information generated?’ Statistics is also an attempt to understand the causes of variation in results. … We strongly support the MWM concept of starting young people on the path to this understanding.”

- Peter Lachenbruch, ASA president ASA Accepting Applications for Workshop Second Meeting Within a Meeting to be held in conjunction with JSM in Denver

he American Statistical Association Katherine Halvorsen, MWM Program is accepting applications for its sec- Committee chair. ond annual statistics workshop for The first MWM focused TK–12 mathematics and science teachers. on middle-school teach- Called Meeting Within a Meeting (MWM), ers and was a huge suc- the program was developed to help teachers cess. Math and sci- meet current mathematics and science ence teachers from requirements that involve statistics educa- Utah and around tion. The conference will be held August the United States 4–5 with the 2008 Joint Statistical Meetings attended interac- in Denver, Colorado. tive sessions with The National Council of Teachers of prominent sta- Mathematics (NCTM) standards, most tistics educators state mathematics standards, and the recent and statisticians. College Board standards include require- Workshop par- ments for teaching data analysis, statis- ticipants are cur- tics, and probability. The ASA’s program rently taking part is designed to enhance K–12 educators’ in MWM follow-up understanding of statistics and provide activities, including information and tools to help strengthen webinars, a meeting at their teaching of statistics within the math NCTM, and other activi- and science curriculum. ties with local ASA chapter MWM 2008 will provide an opportu- members. Due to the success nity for K–12 math and science teachers to of MWM 2007, the workshop discuss and apply the data analysis and sta- will include K–12 teachers this year. tistical concepts embodied in the Guidelines “One of the primary missions of the for Assessment and Instruction in Statistics American Statistical Association is to work Education (GAISE) Report: A Pre-K–12 for the improvement of statistical educa- Curriculum Framework (www.amstat.org/ tion at all levels,” said Ron Wasserstein, the will not only education/gaise). “Teachers will explore prob- ASA’s executive director. “We are pleased enhance under- lems that require them to collect, organize, to reach out to the K–12 math and science standing and teaching of statistics con- analyze, and draw conclusions from data community through the MWM work- cepts in the classroom, but also provide and apply the basic concepts of probability. shop and follow-up activities. It is fitting participants with a network of statisticians The MWM program will include examining to hold this workshop for K-12 teachers and educators to assist in developing the what students can be expected to do at the in conjunction with the Joint Statistical quantitative literacy of their students.” most basic level of understanding and what Meetings, where 6,000 statisticians from Teachers are encouraged to attend both can be expected of them as their skill devel- around the world meet to share advances Monday and Tuesday sessions. Grade K–4 ops and their experience broadens,” said in statistical knowledge,” he added. “MWM and 9–12 teachers will attend their respective

APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 29 sessions on Monday and have the option of reimbursement for lodging expenses for a attending the middle-school session (to see two-night stay (one night for Denver-area what material is taught after or before) or the teachers). Teachers also will have the option Joint Statistical Meetings sessions Tuesday. of attending sessions at JSM, such as the Grade 5–8 teachers will attend the middle- statistical education and poster sessions, school session Tuesday, with the option of and will be admitted to the exhibit hall. attending the elementary or high-school Do you know of mathematics or science sessions or the Joint Statistical Meetings ses- teachers who are interested in enhancing sions Monday. There will be a dinner and their understanding and teaching of career panel discussion Monday for all par- statistics within the mathematics and science ticipating teachers. curriculum? If so, encourage them to attend “The Colorado/Wyoming Chapter is Meeting Within a Meeting. Teachers wishing taking advantage of the MWM workshop to attend the conference can apply online to build connections with teachers in the by going to www.amstat.org/education/mwm area,” said Matt Pocernich, ASA Colorado- and clicking on the “MWM Application” Wyoming Chapter president. “By meeting tab at the top of the screen. Review and with the teachers, we will learn how they acceptance of applications will continue think our members can help encourage until the workshop is filled. more kids to share our enjoyment of num- Questions about the MWM workshop bers and statistics.” should be directed to Rebecca Nichols, To encourage participation, the ASA ASA assistant director of K–16 education will provide the registration fee, handouts, programs, at [email protected] or (703) and some meals to accepted applicants. 684-1221, Ext. 1877. n Workshop attendees also may receive a set

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30 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 MASTER’S NOTEBOOK TAMU Launches Online Master’s Programs

imon Sheather, head of the Department of Statistics at Texas Does your school offer an online master’s degree? Highlight the advantages A&M University, is pleased to of your school’s master’s in statistics program in an upcoming issue of announceS a new online master’s degree and certificate program. The online master’s pro- Amstat News. Or, if you are a student who has recently graduated with gram includes 36 hours of course work, a master’s degree in statistics by way of an online program, we would while the online certificate program is made like to hear from you. Email Amstat News Managing Editor Megan Murphy up of 12 focused hours. Both programs may be customized to meet specific student at [email protected] or Assistant Director of Research and Graduate needs, with areas of emphasis including Education Keith Crank at [email protected]. business analytics, biostatistics, applied statistics, and AP Statistics teacher training. Michael Speed, professor and director of online learning at Texas A&M In addition, online students interact with flexibility to study at any time or in any said, “Although this is the first year of the each other and their instructors via discussion place. This allows students to complete department’s program, we have more than boards and web conferencing. Students in their coursework while maintaining and exceeded our target enrollment and have the online programs also complete the same enhancing their careers. recruited many exceptional individuals homework assignments and take the same In addition to the master’s program, into our program. For example, we have midterm and final exams. A primary benefit there are more than 75 students enrolled a physician who teaches at a medical uni- for students taking the online courses is the in other online courses. n versity, a high-school teacher, a university professor, a meteorologist, a risk analyst, and a senior research scientist. In addition, three students are in the military, with one serving in Iraq.”

Although this is the first “year of the department’s program, we have more than exceeded our target enrollment and have recruited many exceptional individuals into our program. ” The new programs are an integrated extension of the on-campus program and are based on replicating the on-campus experience as closely as possible. This replication is achieved by recording each on-campus class using screen-capturing software. The result is such that everything the on-campus students see and hear in class is captured to be watched later by students in the online programs.

APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 31 32 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 PEOPLE NEWS

William F. Eddy that have undergone the most rapid change chosen as the 2007–2008 statistician of the since humans and chimpanzees separated year. The award will be presented to Wallace William F. Eddy, a from a common ancestor. at a dinner at the East Bank Club in Chicago professor of statistics Pollard received her bachelor’s degree on May 15, 2008. For more information, at Carnegie Mellon from Pomona College in 1995, and a mas- contact Richard Smiley at (312) 525-3606 University, recently ter’s and doctorate in biostatistics from UC or [email protected]. received the school’s Berkeley in 2000 and 2003, respectively. first John C. Warner She carried out postdoctoral research at Professorship of UC Santa Cruz, where she was part of the Ronald Wasserstein Statistics. A distin- consortium that sequenced the chimpanzee Submitted by Lou DiGioia, Executive guished scholar, Eddy genome. Pollard joined the faculty at UC Director, MATHCOUNTS Foundation William F. Eddy has published more Davis in 2005. than 100 research The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation awards The MATHCOUNTS Foundation, a papers and authored or edited 20 books 118 Sloan Research Fellowships each year national nonprofit organization dedicated and monographs. to young scientists in the areas of chemistry, to increasing middle-school mathemat- Eddy has worked in a variety of disci- computational and evolutionary molecu- ics achievement through competition and plines, with research covering theoretical lar biology, computer science, economics, enrichment programs, recently added probability, statistics, and applied prob- mathematics, neuroscience, and physics. Ronald Wasserstein, executive director of lems. His current research focuses on the The fellowships are aimed at helping scien- the American Statistical Association, to its data generated by functional Magnetic tists at an early stage in their careers who board of directors. Resonance Imaging (fMRI), a technique show outstanding promise for making fun- “Ron’s leadership and commitment to used by cognitive neuroscientists to chart damental contributions to knowledge. service are tremendous assets to the ASA brain activity. Eddy is studying other types and its members,” said MATHCOUNTS of imaging, as well. board of director’s chair E. Bruce Lawson. “For more than 30 years, Bill Eddy has Harry M. Rosenberg “His energy and passion are precisely what’s had an enormous impact both on Carnegie needed in order to continue the incred- Mellon, on the field of statistics, and on Harry M. Rosenberg ibly important work that we’re doing at science,” said John Lehoczky, dean of the recently received MATHCOUNTS.” university’s College of Humanities and the 2007 Halbert E. “I’m truly an advocate of the type of Social Sciences. “He has been a leader in Dunn Award from the engaging programs that MATHCOUNTS statistical computing and graphics, and he National Association of has created, and of the initiatives that they’ve is widely recognized for his contributions to Public Health Statistics developed,” said Wasserstein. “Everyone neuroscience and brain imaging. This chair and Information involved shares a common goal, which is to recognition is richly deserved.” Systems. The award bring attention to the importance of boost- A pioneer in the field of statistics, Eddy is the highest recogni- ing confidence and inspiring math excel- started the Journal of Computational and Harry M. Rosenberg tion given by the asso- lence at such a critical age for students. I’m Graphical Statistics, a joint publication of ciation for outstanding looking forward to working with the board the American Statistical Association, the contributions to public health statistics. and the MATHCOUNTS staff to identify Institute for Mathematical Statistics, and A Fellow of the American Statistical opportunities that will allow us to make an the Interface Foundation of North America. Association, Rosenberg, who is now retired, even greater impact on improving numera- He was cofounding editor of CHANCE, a spent much of his career at the National cy and problemsolving skills.” statistics magazine, and founding chair of Center for Health Statistics, where he was Wasserstein joins a group of leaders from the board of the Interface Foundation. chief of the Mortality Statistics Branch, across the corporate, association, and edu- The professorship is named after John Division of Vital Statistics. Rosenberg was cational spectrums. While he is the first C. Warner, who served as Carnegie Mellon’s also the first head of the World Health executive director of the ASA to be a mem- president from 1950–1965. Organization’s Mortality Reference Group. He graduated from The University of ber of the board, MATHCOUNTS has North Carolina and earned his PhD from had an ASA member serve on its board for Katherine Pollard The Ohio State University. Rosenberg is many years. married to Barbara Filner; they reside in MATHCOUNTS was created in Katherine Pollard, assistant professor in the Bethesda, Maryland. He can be reached at 1983 as a joint effort by the National Department of Statistics and at the UC [email protected]. Society of Professional Engineers, CNA, Davis Genome Center, was recently award- and the National Council of Teachers ed the Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, in Mathematics to address a growing worth $45,000 over two years. David L. Wallace concern about the ability and growth Pollard uses computational methods to of America’s work force. For the past 25 study areas of rapid evolution in the human The Chicago Chapter is pleased to announce years, these organizations have partnered genome. With colleagues at UC Santa Cruz, that David L. Wallace, professor emeritus of with MATHCOUNTS to support the she identified specific areas of human DNA statistics at The University of Chicago, was idea that math is essential in preparing

APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 33 today’s students to become leaders in the a BS in mathematics and physics and went both of these fields,” said David S. Guzick, global marketplace. on to pursue and graduate with a master’s dean of the University of Rochester School of “The unique partnerships that were degree from Colorado State University Medicine and Dentistry. “When we set out formed to create MATHCOUNTS pro- and later a PhD in mathematics from the to hire a chair, we needed someone with the vided us with a foundation for our past suc- University of Colorado at Boulder. flexibility to work back and forth between cess,” explains MATHCOUNTS’ Executive Ratliff began teaching as a professor of mathematics, statistics, and systems biology. Director Lou DiGioia. “And creating new mathematics and statistics at Northern We also needed a leader who could attract partnerships between MATHCOUNTS Arizona University in 1976. Since then, he outstanding senior faculty and mentor junior and organizations such as the ASA are of has been a cornerstone of the Mathematics faculty and students. He accomplished all of the utmost importance to advancing our and Statistics Department, having chaired this in spades and did so by creating a col- mission. Ron’s inherent understanding of it from 1981–1986 and 1991–1992. He legial, welcoming environment.” this cooperative approach will ensure that was responsible for numerous curriculum Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Yakovlev our goals are fully realized.” changes, which included developing and became a citizen of the United States in directing the Actuarial Science program. 2005. During the 1990s, he was a visiting Obituary As an associate of the Society of Actuaries, professor at universities in France, Australia, Ratliff was involved with actuarial education and Germany. He also taught at The Ohio Hubert Lilliefors throughout the Southwest. State University and UC Santa Barbara. Prior He published extensively in academic to arriving in Rochester, he was director of Hubert Lilliefors, professor of statistics at journals, received numerous grants, and the Division of Biostatistics at the Huntsman George Washington University, passed away was passionate about his students. He was Cancer Institute at the University of Utah. February 23 in Bethesda, Maryland. an outstanding teacher who received sev- While in Utah, Yakovlev began work- For a long time, Lilliefors was a solid eral “teacher of the year” awards from the ing on a series of landmark studies involv- member of the Statistics Department at department, college, and university. Ratliff ing differentiation of stem cells with Mark GWU. He was also a dedicated teacher and was a member of the American Statistical Noble, Chris Proschel, and Margot Mayer- renowned researcher. He brought fame to Association, Mathematical Association Proschel. Eventually, they all ended up in the institution for his invention (which later of America, National Honor Society of Rochester. Yakovlev’s death is a huge loss came to carry his name) of the Lilliefors Phi Kappa Phi, and Southwest Actuarial for the scientific community, said Proschel. test, an adaptation of the Kolomogorov- Education and Research Consortium. “The hallmark of his mind was that he Smirnov test for the case of normal distri- He successfully balanced his busy scho- questioned everything, literally every butions with unknown mean and variance. lastic career with an equally accomplished assumption ever made, at the peril of run- The null distribution (that of the test statis- outdoor life, which included riding his ning against the stream,” Proschel said. “He tic) is a complicated distribution known as mountain bike from the border of Mexico to was as rigorous a scientist as I’ve ever met.” the Lilliefors distribution, and he was one of Canada in 1988. He was a proficient skier, Yakovlev earned his medical degree in 1967 the first to get a good handle on its numeri- frequently logging 40-day seasons on the from the First Leningrad Medical School, a cal evaluation with the limited computing slopes of Snowbowl and ski areas in Canada, doctorate in biology in 1973 from the Pavlov equipment of the late 1960s. This was a feat Europe, and every state in the West. Institute of Physiology of the Academy of in early computational statistics. Ratliff is survived by his wife and soul Sciences, USSR, and a doctorate in math- Lilliefors was a fine gentleman, a dedi- mate Janet M. McShane of Flagstaff; son ematics from Moscow State University in cated teacher, an influential researcher, and Nicholas Ratliff of Durango, Colorado; 1981. In St. Petersburg, he chaired a depart- a good friend. He is survived by his wife, sister Sandra Ratliff of Walla Walla, ment of biomathematics (1978–1988) and Liliane; his children, James D. and William; Washington; and numerous in-laws, cous- applied mathematics (1988–1992). and his step children, Leith E. Speiden, ins, nephews, and nieces. He was preceded He was an advisor to the World Health Katharine M. Sutliff, and Lilian V. Burns. in death by his parents. Organization and U.S. Environmental Condolences may be sent to the family Protection Agency, a member of the Russian Obituary at www.lozanos-flagstaffmortuary.com. Academy of Sciences (1992), a Fellow of the Michael Ratliff Institute of Mathematical Statistics (1998) and American Statistical Association (2000), Michael Irven Ratliff, 63, died at his home Obituary and elected member of the International in Flagstaff, Arizona, February 4, 2008. Statistical Institute (2002). Ratliff was born October 26, 1944, Andrei Yakovlev In addition to his professional accomplish- to Irven and Edith Ratliff in Williston, Andrei Yakovlev, professor and chair ments, friends and colleagues point out that North Dakota, the younger of two chil- of the Department of Biostatistics and Yakovlev was the life of the party. He liked dren. The family moved to Spokane, Computational Biology at the University to play piano and engage in lively discussions Washington, when Ratliff was 3 years old of Rochester Medical Center, died about art, music, politics, and history. and later to St. Helena, California, where February 27 at his home in Mendon, New He was married and had two sons, one he spent his formative years. He graduated York. He was 63. who died in Russia. He is survived by his from Pacific Union College Prep School “Andrei was the answer to our hopes for a wife, Nina, and a young son, Yuri. For more with honors, earning him a scholarship to chair of biostatistics and computational biol- information, visit www.urmc.rochester.edu/ Pacific Union College. He graduated with ogy, the rare individual who had facility in pr/news/story.cfm?id=1911. n

34 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 SECTION NEWS Biometrics JSM Lineup Includes Short Course, Host of Invited Sessions Edited by Ralitza Gueorguieva, Biometrics Section Publications Officer

he theme of this year’s Joint an exciting program of invited Statistical Meetings—to take place sessions spanning a range of topics August 3–7 in Denver, Colorado— in biostatistics, including the following: Tis “Communicating Statistics: Speaking Out and Reaching Out.” The Biometrics Time Series Analysis via Mechanistic Section is proud to cosponsor a short Models, organized by Ed Ionides, course on August 3 and a number of invit- University of Michigan ed sessions. 08 Scott C. Schmidler, assistant professor A New Paradigm of Statistical Data of statistical science at Duke University, Analysis: ‘Omics’ Data, organized will present the one-day short course on by Susmita Datta, University of statistical challenges in proteomics. It will Louisville provide an introduction to the technolo- New Statistical and Computational gies and statistical issues arising in structur- Methods for Analysis of Genomic Data JSM 2009 al and functional proteomic studies. Topics with a Graphical Structure, organized by to be covered include an overview of exper- It’s already time to start thinking Hongzhe Li, University of Pennsylvania imental data sources, statistical methods about invited sessions for next and challenges in structural proteomics, Statistical Methods for Multivariate year’s Joint Statistical Meetings, and statistical problems in functional pro- Dental Data, organized by Tom Braun, which will be held August teomics. The goal is to introduce academic University of Michigan 2–6 in Washington, DC. Anyone and industrial statisticians to challenges and interested in organizing an opportunities emerging in the application Challenges of Statistical Inference in invited session, or who has ideas of statistical methods to modern proteomic ‘Large p, Small n’ Problems, organized for one, should contact 2009 studies. Lecture notes, complemented with by Annie Qu, Oregon State University Program Chair Wensheng Guo at software demonstrations and data analysis [email protected]. examples, will be used. Directing a Biostatistics Core in Schmidler is a core faculty member Biomedical Research, organized by A typical invited session in the Duke Program in Computational Michael Hudgens, The University of consists of three 30-minute talks Biology and Bioinformatics and Duke North Carolina followed by a 10-minute invited Training Program in Structural Biology discussion and 10 minutes of and Biophysics. He has extensive research The Biometrics Section would like experience in statistical bioinformatics, to thank Mahlet Tadesse, our JSM floor discussion. However, other computational biology, and computation- Continuing Education chair, and Debashis formats are possible. The 2008 al chemistry, with a particular interest in Ghosh, our JSM program chair, for the program is a good source for applications to structural and functional wonderful job they did organizing the examples. Decisions will be proteomics, molecular biophysics, and course and sessions. Visit www.amstat. made in August, so don’t delay. physical chemistry. In addition, he has org/meetings/jsm/2008/onlineprogram for significant expertise in Bayesian statistics, updates on locations and times. Also, ideas for short courses statistical mechanics, and computational should be sent to 2009–2010 statistics, with emphasis on Monte Carlo Member Initiatives Continuing Education Chair and dynamic simulation methods. A section subcommittee was formed in Gerald Heatley at jerry.heatley@ July 2007 called the Member Initiatives thoratec.com. Invited Sessions Subcommittee. You may recall seeing a In addition to the short course, members request for proposals from this subcom- of the Biometrics Section are sponsoring mittee in October. For the past few years,

APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 35 members of the Biometrics Section have Statistics and the Environment supported a number of projects focused on enhancing awareness of biostatistics Environmetrics Workshop: You’re Invited among quantitatively talented U.S. stu- Devin Johnson, Publications Chair dents. In particular, these projects encourage students to pursue advanced training What: Statistical Issues in Monitoring the Environment in biostatistics. The most recently funded initiatives include the following: When: October 22–24, 2008 Where: National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado Promoting Biostatistics: Developing Spatiotemporal data collected in environmental monitoring present interesting and chal- Materials for Linking Statistics and lenging statistical problems, such as modeling of space-time correlation, analysis of mas- Biology Classes sive correlated data, and analysis of high-frequency monitoring data. This workshop will cover state-of-the-art applications and statistical methods in environmental monitoring, Developing a Web Site To House with sessions on monitoring in ecology, air quality, aquatic resources, and climate change Outreach Materials for AP Statistics and its impacts. Technical sessions will cover recent developments in statistical methods Students and Their Teachers: Case for environmental data. Also, there will be a poster session and one-day short course Studies in Collaborative Research about the analysis of spatial and spatiotemporal data taught by Doug Nychka. Poster abstracts must be submitted by September 23, 2008. For more information, visit www. A Biostatistics Apprenticeship Outreach stat.purdue.edu/envr or contact Hao Zhang, Department of Statistics, Purdue University, Program for Urban Magnet High-School West Lafayette, IN 47906; (765)496-9548; [email protected]. Students Student Paper Competition Winners A Synergistic Effort To Recruit Future Matt Heaton of Duke University Biostatisticians in Arkansas High Title: “Temporally Correlated Dirichlet Processes for Pollution Receptor Models” Schools Coauthors: Shane Reese and William Christensen of Brigham Young University Developing Outreach Materials for AP Amanda Hering of Texas A&M University Statistics Students and Their Teachers: Title: “Powering Up With Space-Time Wind Forecasting” Case Studies in Collaborative Research Coauthor: Marc Genton of Texas A&M University and the University of Geneva The activities supported by these initiatives and their outcomes will be highlighted in the biometrics newsletter in the coming months. As we begin thinking about future projects, the primary charge of the subcommittee is two-fold: develop and apply criteria to evaluate the success of completed initiatives and guide thinking on the development of future strategic initiatives, including both overall direction and specific proposals. We need members to assist us in these assignments. Very soon, we will develop a survey so you can give feedback about the direction of future member initiatives. We are excited to be able to participate in this important Biometrics Section endeavor. These initiatives are part of your section, and we are hope you give your input as we move forward. The Member Initiatives Subcommittee includes Bonnie LaFleur, Scarlett Bellamy, Harold Dyck, Mani Lakshminarayanan, and Lisa Sullivan. n

36 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 Biopharmaceutical Statistical, Data Management Issues Addressed by PhRMA Working Groups Catherine Celingant, Millennium; Dave Christopher, Schering-Plough; Christy Chuang-Stein, Pfizer; Jose Pinheiro, Novartis; Walt Offen, Eli Lilly; and Steve Snapinn, Amgen

he Pharmaceutical Research and partially responsible for the recent decline web site is not connected to PhRMA, nor is Manufacturers Association of in the success rate of drug development it overseen or sanctioned by PhRMA.) America (PhRMA) represents the programs. This spawned the formation of a Tcountry’s leading research-based pharma- number of cross-functional teams to address Adaptive Dose-Ranging Studies ceutical and biotechnology companies pre-competitive issues in drug development. Adaptive dose-ranging studies (ADRS) are a devoted to inventing medicines that allow Some teams include a single statistician, while type of response-adaptive design that focus- patients to lead longer, healthier, and more others are mostly made up of statisticians. es on adapting the allocation of patients to productive lives. Although there are many Several of these cross-functional teams are led doses as information becomes available in full-time employees at PhRMA, much of or co-led by statisticians. BDMTG members the trial. The adaptive allocation rule is the work that involves interacting with regu- and others from PhRMA-member companies aimed at optimizing a quantitative char- latory agencies, such as the U.S. Food and have excellent leadership opportunities and acteristic of the trial, such as the precision Drug Administration, is conducted by are making important progress. of the estimated target dose. A practical employees of PhRMA-member companies. appeal of ADRS is that they allow the use PhRMA hosts a number of commit- Adaptive Designs of more initial doses than traditional dose- tees, technical groups, working groups, and Adaptive designs use accumulating data to finding trials, adaptively focusing on fewer other teams comprised mostly of employ- modify certain aspects of a trial according doses in the “most informative” range as the ees of PhRMA-member companies, with a to a pre-specified plan. For an adaptive study unfolds. The Adaptive Dose-Ranging PhRMA staff member serving as a liaison. trial to be credible, the adaptations must Studies Working Group (ADRSWG) The purpose of these groups is to advocate not undermine the validity and integrity was formed with the goals of evaluating for improved regulatory processes for drug of the trial. potential benefits of adaptive dose-ranging development and approval by reaching out After the successful Adaptive Designs methods in clinical development and mak- to academicians and regulatory agencies. Workshop in 2006, the Adaptive Designs ing recommendations about their practical The Biostatistics and Data Management Working Group (ADWG)—led by Mike use, with the intention of influencing their Technical Group (BDMTG) is one such Krams (clinician at Wyeth) and Brenda acceptance by regulators. From its start, group. Active members of BDMTG are Gaydos (statistician at Eli Lilly)—kicked ADRSWG has worked in close collabora- selected in annual elections to a three-year off nine subteams to focus advocacy efforts tion with ADWG. term. Six are from clinical statistics, three regarding education, ICH harmonization, The initial focus of ADRSWG was the are from nonclinical statistics, and three are data monitoring issues and processes, good quantitative evaluation of adaptive and from data management. adaptive practices, case studies, software nonadaptive dose-ranging designs and BDMTG is mostly focused on advocacy user requirements, clinical trial material, analysis methods, via a comprehensive relating to scientific/methodological topics communications/outreach, and key simulation study. The results of this evalu- in drug development. The group works on opinion leaders’ relationships. A core group ation, together with key recommendations problems that are current with regulatory of ADWG participated in a face-to-face from the group, were published in a discus- expectations or requirements and tries to meeting with senior leaders of the FDA in sion paper that appeared in the Journal of influence the regulatory agencies, with a pri- August 2007. ADWG held a face-to-face Biopharmaceutical Statistics in 2007. The mary focus on FDA. Teams can be comprised meeting with its members in September, conclusions and recommendations from of all statisticians, all data management pro- reconfirming the 2008 directions. In the simulation study were also the focus fessionals, or a combination of professions. addition, select members of the working of discussion at a face-to-face meeting the These efforts generally result in PhRMA group participated in a December workshop working group had in May 2007 with position papers published in peer-reviewed on adaptive designs for confirmatory trials senior leaders of the Office of Translational journals. Often, the FDA helps choose the cosponsored by the European Medicines Sciences at FDA. Following suggestions of topics in which the group engages and offers Agency and the European Federation of topics for further investigation made by input to solutions and opinions. Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations. FDA at this meeting, the group reorganized In March 2004, the FDA published what The next milestone for the group is to itself into four work streams: evaluation of is referred to as “Critical Path: Innovation or share case studies with the FDA. Some of additional adaptive dose-ranging methods, Stagnation,” which can be found at www.fda. the working group’s output can be found impact of ADRS on overall probability of gov/oc/initiatives/criticalpath/whitepaper.html, at the BioPharmNet web site at www. success of a clinical development program, highlighting critical issues considered to be biopharmnet.com/doc/doc12004.html. (This impact of exposure-response modeling,

APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 37 38 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 and sample size determination for adequate Expert Team (SET) is addressing QbD, pri- There are initiatives relating to ben- target dose estimation. The working group marily through developing and promoting efit/risk, helping to combine the two into plans to release white papers on these topics a better understanding of one of the princi- a single measure and emphasizing that one this year and to request a new face-to-face pal concepts of QbD: design space. should never make decisions based on only meeting with FDA to discuss them. one. One consideration regarding this topic Data Management is benefit/risk as a patient-specific phenom- Noninferiority Designs Data management is a key component of enon. That is, one patient might be willing When an approved treatment for a disease or clinical research. Statisticians can use the to accept the risk because other agents do condition exists, placebo-controlled trials to best statistical methods that produce mini- not work for him/her, while another patient evaluate an experimental treatment may not mal or no bias; however, if the data fed into might find other agents acceptable and so be considered ethical. In situations such as these methods are inaccurate, incomplete, would not want to take the risk. this, a common approach is to conduct an or slow to become available, then the infer- There are two biomarker groups. One active-control noninferiority trial, directly ences are undermined. Therefore, BDMTG is a statistics expert team, and the other comparing the experimental treatment with supports clinical data management activi- a cross-functional team. Both have been the approved treatment. ties to achieve efficiency and accuracy in focused recently on biomarker qualifica- In addition to providing a direct estimate clinical data. Data Management members tion, which is important, as a biomarker of the relative effects of the approved and of BDMTG have been involved in a range might be a type used to predict ultimate experimental treatments, when combined of activities selected because of their poten- clinical benefit of a new drug, or it might with historical information about the effect of tial positive impact on the overall clinical be one used to tailor a new drug to a sub- the approved treatment, these trials can pro- development process. group of the full patient population, where vide an indirect estimate of the effect of the the benefit/risk is ideal. experimental treatment relative to placebo. Other Clinical Statistics Topics Finally, there are four working groups This team, led by statisticians, argues BDMTG members and colleagues are led or co-led by statisticians. These relate that only one standard of evidence should engaged in many initiatives and working to more statistical or clinical design top- be applied when deciding whether a phar- groups. Several years ago, BDMTG began ics. The first is a team focused on the mer- maceutical treatment has demonstrated suf- forming “expert teams” in a variety of its of flexible dose designs. Such designs ficient efficacy for regulatory approval. areas. In some cases, the topics were being allow various levels of dose flexibility that This standard of evidence is already addressed only through BDMTG. In other depend on patient tolerability and/or effi- well established: The new drug must have cases, it was a cross-functional initiative, cacy achieved. The second team focuses on superior efficacy in comparison to placebo. and, in still other cases, it was both. dichotomizing continuous data for statisti- Team members hope to influence regula- The first team to highlight is one cal analysis. The recommendation from this tory policy; in particular, they hope to have where there was both a SET and a cross- group is that the primary statistical testing an impact on a new FDA guidance docu- functional expert team. Both teams focused should be on the original continuous mea- ment about noninferiority trials, a draft of on addressing the QT prolongation issue. sure, with a potential secondary analysis which is expected to be released this year. It has become expected that new molecular of the dichotomized endpoint. The basic entities be evaluated for effects on QT, which premise to this argument is that dichoto- Nonclinical Statistics is a surrogate for more serious cardiovascu- mization discards information, resulting in There are groups and initiatives not directly lar events. Many new drugs must conduct a loss of statistical power. connected to BDMTG for nonclinical sta- thorough QT studies that are large, expen- The third team focuses on co-primary tistics. However, PhRMA offers support sive, and ethically challenging with an active endpoints. Having co-primary endpoints as it can to such initiatives. And PhRMA’s control known to increase the QT interval. can lead to grossly reduced power to detect nonclinical members help educate everyone Issues include how much of an increase is important treatment effects, so the recom- about important topics, such as Quality-by- too much, especially for the upper limit of mendation to regulators is to move toward Design (QbD). the 95% confidence interval. Multiplicity is accepting a single primary endpoint wher- Just as clinical trials establish the effi- an issue, as ECG measurements are obtained ever possible. Finally, missing data is a com- cacy and safety of a new drug, chemistry, at numerous time points in the study. These plex topic that has had much attention in manufacturing, and controls development two QT teams have had success in influenc- the statistical literature for many years. The establishes the process of manufacturing the ing regulators and the broad cardiovascular paper prepared by the PhRMA working product to meet clinical requirements. QbD, scientific community. group on this topic recently was accepted an FDA initiative, is based on designing nec- There are a number of ongoing initia- for publication in the Drug Information essary quality into a manufacturing process, tives to evaluate for advocacy purposes opti- Journal. The primary argument is regard- instead of “testing” quality into the finished mal methods to assess the safety of a phar- ing why we should move away from the product. This requires developing a mecha- maceutical product. One team is focused three-decade standard of last-observation- nistic understanding of how formulation and on pre-approval evaluations, including carried-forward (LOCF) and use mixed process factors affect product performance. creation of statistical analysis plans for the models repeated measures (MMRM) Statistical thought process and methodology evaluation of safety. Another is focused on analysis instead. is critical for achieving this objective. observational data post-approval. A third For more information about BDMTG Although not formally connected to group is evaluating data mining tools for and its activities, contact Walt Offen at BDMTG, the PhRMA CMC Statistical such observational data. [email protected]. n

APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 39 Physical and Engineering Sciences Spring Conference Planned for May 19–21 Paul Kvam, SPES SRC Program Representative, Georgia Tech

he 2008 Spring Research Conference Vijay Nair of the University of come together to describe current research on Statistics in Industry and Michigan is the honored banquet speak- efforts, identify important problems and Technology will take place in Atlanta, er for May 20. Invited sessions include areas of application, and formulate future Georgia,T May 19–21. The conference will be DOE Computer Experiments, Statistics research directions. held on the campus of Georgia Institute of in Nanomanufacturing, Health Process For more information, contact one of Technology and at the Georgia Tech Hotel Monitoring, Recent European Advances in the 2008 SRC program co-chairs: Paul and Conference Center. You may register Design of Industrial Experiments, Modeling Kvam, [email protected]; Jye-Chyi Lu, now at www.isye.gatech.edu/src2008. Credit Risk Portfolios in Retail Banking, [email protected]; and Kwok Tsui, ktsui@ The goal of SRC is to promote cross- Multiscale Modeling, Machine Learning, isye.gatech.edu. disciplinary research in statistical methods Reliability in Industrial Experiments, and for engineering, science, and technology. Analysis of Supersaturated Design. JSM Roundtables This year’s plenary speakers include the We will cover a range of application areas, Jeff Luner, SPES JSM Program following: including manufacturing, logistics, health Chair-elect, Boeing Peter Bickel, systems, and information sciences. The University of California, Berkeley conference is intended to stimulate interac- Would you like to have an interesting dis- tion among statisticians, researchers in the cussion over lunch at JSM? We are offering James Glimm, application areas, and industrial practitio- two opportunities this year in Denver: University at Stony Brook ners. Statisticians, researchers in the application areas, and industrial practitioners will Joanne R. Wendelberger of Los Alamos Zhong Lin Wang, Georgia Tech National Laboratory will discuss statistical issues in cybersecurity. New attacks on electronic systems and information are being developed all the time, calling Quality and Productivity for novel ways to investigate, analyze, and prevent increasingly sophisticated cybersecurity threats. Roundtable par- Conference To Focus on Data, Statistics ticipants will explore alternative statis- Bruce Ankenman tical and computational techniques for handling potential threats. he 2008 Quality and The conference will focus on theo- Dan Fitzsimmons of Boeing Commercial Productivity Research ry and application of statistical meth- Airplanes will discuss how quality evalua- Conference will be held on ods in industrial and business settings tion can affect product reliability models. Tthe beautiful shores of Lake to facilitate good data collection strat- In some industries, when nonconforming Mendota in Madison, Wisconsin. egies, effective analysis, and connect- product is discovered, it is replaced with The theme of the conference is ing statistical results to guiding deci- a carefully inspected item, thus having a “With Data and Statistics, Unlock sion and policy. It will be held June positive impact on the outgoing quality the Hidden Treasure of Knowledge.” 4–6 at the Pyle Conference Center of the production stream. You will have Appropriately, we will honor two of on the campus of the University of the chance to discuss cases where the our most prominent statisticians Wisconsin-Madison. increased probability of conformance who have roots at the University of On June 3, there will be a pre- might affect the product’s reliability bud- Wisconsin. George E. P. Box will be conference short course, titled get, and, conversely, how high product lauded for a lifetime of achievement “Graphical Analysis of Designed reliability requirements might constrain in statistical methods and applica- Experiments,” presented by the application of product sampling. tions for quality and productivity, Veronica Czitrom. For more infor- For more information, contact SPES while C. F. Jeff Wu will be honored mation about conference registra- Program Chair-elect Jeff Luner at jeffery. for seminal contributions to statisti- tion and accommodations, go to [email protected]. And keep a lookout for cal theory and methods for quality www.education.wisc.edu/conferences/ more information about JSM 2008 SPES and productivity. 2008QPRC. activities in future issues of Amstat News. Hope to see you in Denver. n

40 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

or more information about these events, visit www.amstat.org/dateline. 24–26—SIAM International Conference Announcements are accepted from educational and not-for-profit on Data Mining (SDM ’08), Atlanta, organizations only. Commercial enterprises should contact the ASA Georgia AdvertisingF Department at [email protected]. This conference will provide a venue for researchers addressing the problems * Indicates events sponsored by the American Statistical Association or one of its associated with large, complex, and noisy sections, chapters, or committees data sets to present their work in a peer- ➤ reviewed forum. It also will provide an Indicates events posted since the previous issue ideal setting for graduate students and others new to the field to learn about cutting-edge research. For more information, visit www.siam.org/meetings/sdm08 or contact Pang-Ning Tan, 3115 Engineering 21–25—The International Conference Building, East Lansing, GA 48824; (517) 2008 on Trends and Perspectives in Linear 432-9240; [email protected]. Statistical Inference, LINSTAT 2008, in April Celebration of Tadeusz Calinski’s 80th *27–29—20th Annual Kansas State Birthday, Bedlewo, Poland University Conference on Applied 15–17—Research Workshop on This conference will bring together Composite Likelihood Methods, Statistics in Agriculture, Manhattan, researchers sharing an interest in a vari- Kansas Coventry, United Kingdom ety of statistical aspects and applications This international workshop aims to This conference will bring together and offer discussion of current develop- statisticians from academia, industry, and review the state of art of composite ments in these subjects. The format will likelihood inference and promote government to discuss ideas and advances involve several sessions with plenary and in the application of statistics to solve vigorous discussion of foundations, contributed talks, as well as a special ses- applications, and future developments. agricultural research problems. The three- sion dedicated to Tadeusz Calinski. Topics day conference will include a keynote The workshop will bring together active to be included so far include estimation, researchers in the theory and application speaker, workshop, and series of con- prediction and testing in linear models, tributed paper and poster presentations. of composite likelihood for an intense, robustness of relevant statistical meth- three-day meeting at CRiSM, University Keynote speaker Thomas Loughin will ods, estimation of variance components present the Sunday workshop, “Methods of Warwick. For more information, visit appearing in linear models, generaliza- go.warwick.ac.uk/complik2008 or contact and Models for Categorical Data in tions to nonlinear models, design and Agriculture.” For more information, visit David Firth, Department of Statistics, analysis of experiments, and comparison University of Warwick, Coventry, www.ksu.edu/stats/agstat.conference or con- of linear experiments. For details, contact tact John Boyer, Kansas State University, International CV4 7AL, UK; d.firth@ Katarzyna Filipiak, Wojska Polskiego 28, warwick.ac.uk. Department of Statistics, 101 Dickens Poznan, International 60-637, Poland; Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506; (785) 532- [email protected]. 0518; [email protected]. *19—New England Statistics Symposium 2008, Boston, Massachusetts 24—The 16th Federal Forecasters ➤30–5/1—Workshop on Bayesian New England statisticans will share Conference, Washington, DC Methods that Frequentists Should Know, research, discuss emerging issues in the This conference, themed “Health Care College Park, Maryland field, and network. NESS 2008 will be Forecasting: Informing Future Choices,” The purpose of this workshop is to assess held at Sargent Hall, Suffolk University seeks to highlight how forecasting must Law School, in downtown Boston. the current state of usage of Bayesian account for rising health care costs, methodology in different disciplines Invited speakers are Andrew Lo of MIT demographic changes, and emerging and Martin Wells of Cornell University. and discuss potential issues preventing diseases. It also will focus on how new the application of Bayesian methods. In addition, there will be contributed technologies and treatments might change paper sessions, allowing 15 to 20 minutes The workshop will highlight methods both the supply of and demand for health that have a broad interest and appeal per paper. We invite talks on all aspects care. We will examine the role of federal of statistics and probability. For more that cut across the Bayesian/frequentist forecasters in the evolution of public divide. Posters related to the theme of information, visit http://mail.beaconhill. policy to address the need for sustainable, org/~j_haughton/ness2008home.html or the workshop will be accepted, subject to high-quality health care in a time of www.jpsm.umd. contact Dominique Haughton, Bentley space constraints. Visit change. For more information, visit edu/stat/workshop College, 175 Forest Street, Waltham, MA for detailed information www.federalforecasters.org or contact Jeff about the workshop and submission of 02452; (781) 891-2822; ness2008april@ Busse, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS gmail.com. poster abstracts. There is no registration 988, Reston, VA 20192; (703)648-4914; fee for attending the workshop, Statistics [email protected]. Consortium of Distinguished Lectures,

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APRIL 2008 22–25—International Indian Statistical Statistical Indian 22–25—International on Association (IISA) Conference and Statistical of Probability Frontiers Connecticut Science, Storrs, of the The Department of Statistics will host Connecticut-Storrs of University plenary Two 2008. the IISA conference Jayaram by presented will be lectures Also and Marvin Zelen. Sethuraman - six specially named presenta arranged are D. Basu, Bahadur, tions honoring R. R. R. Krishnaiah, S. K. P. S. Huzurbazar, V. The six special Sukhatme. V. and P. Mitra, Barry C. by will be presented lectures Giné, Evarist Athreya, Arnold, Krishna B. and Lee-Jen Sarkar, Sanat Meeden, Glen program of the technical The rest Wei. invited paper sessions will be made up of of probability of the areas most covering under way are and statistical science. Plans on topics panel discussions to organize forum, and including teaching, editor’s are needs. Invitations researchers’ young extended to all colleagues to participate. information, visit http://merlot. more For stat.uconn.edu/~nitis/IISA2008/index. Mukhopadhyay, htm or contact Nitis CT 06269; Storrs, Road, 215 Glenbrook (860) 486-6144; nitis.mukhopadhyay@ uconn.edu. and SSC the of Meeting 25–29—Joint Canada SFdS, Ottawa, The joint meeting of the Statistical française of Canada and Société Society de statistique will be held at the Ottawa informa- more For Centre. Congress or contact Bruno tion, visit www.ssc.ca chemin 3000, HEC Montréal, Rémillard, Montréal, de la Côte Sainte-Catherine, H3T 2A7, Canada; (514) 340- Quebec . 6794; [email protected] on Statistical Workshop *29–31—Fourth (SAND4), Data Analysis of Neuronal Pennsylvania Pittsburgh, series is concerned with This workshop sources analysis of neural signals from such as EEG, fMRI, MEG, 2-Photon, aims to It and extracellular recordings. define important in neuronal problems data analysis and useful strategies for attacking them; foster communication experimental neuroscientists between and those trained in statistical and computational methods; encourage young including graduate students, researchers, expose young their work; to present to important challenges and researchers on current issues in clinical trials; dis- clinical trials; issues in on current statistical focus on will covery/preclinical of -omics design and analysis issues in the focus on nonclinical will experiments; - develop contributions to CMC statistical control; and quality ment, manufacturing, assessing will focus on and postmarketing also will There post-launch. medicines session. Poster be a contributed poster 25, April by abstracts must be submitted for may submit posters 2008. Students more For Award. the Charlie Sampson or information, visit www.mbswonline.com Global Takeda Munsaka, contact Melvin Takeda 1 Inc., Development, & Research Deerfield, IL 60015; (224) 554- Parkway, . 5912; [email protected] Research Spring *19–21—2008 and Industry in Statistics on Conference Georgia Atlanta, Technology, is to The purpose of this conference in statistical methods research promote in industry problems that address and The focus will include manu- technology. facturing, logistics, health systems, and - information sciences to stimulate interac in tions among statisticians, researchers and industrial prac- the application areas, a forum where will provide titioners. It research, participants can describe current of identify important and areas problems research application, and formulate future information, visit more For directions. or contact www2.isye.gatech.edu/src2008 Atlanta, Tech, Georgia ISyE, Kvam, Paul GA 30332; (404) 894-6515; pkvam@isye. gatech.edu. North Durham, 2008, 21–24—Interface Carolina 2008 is RISK: The theme for Interface the dual focus on the Through Reality. of information extraction, risk problems modeling, analysis, and decisionmaking and on the computational technology in tools to make charac- and advances terization, quantization, and evaluation of risk possible, this symposium will issues central to understanding address risks and conceptualizing potential real risks and risk management scenarios. For information, visit www.niss.org/ more interface2008/index.html or contact Alan Research Alexander Drive, T.W. 19 Karr, NC 27709-4006; (919) Park, Triangle 685-9300; [email protected]. 16–17—Recent Advances in Statistics: in Statistics: Advances 16–17—Recent ➤ May or the reception. For details, contact details, contact For reception. or the Department, Mathematics Slud, Eric Maryland of Park, College University (301) 405-5469; MD 20742; Potomac, . [email protected] *19–21—Thirty-First Annual Midwest Midwest Annual *19–21—Thirty-First Workshop Statistics Biopharmaceutical (MBSW), Indiana Muncie, Michael will feature This workshop and Rod Friedman, Jerome Proschan, in talks will be presented Little. Invited four parallel tracks: Clinical will focus 16–18—International Conference on on Conference 16–18—International and Mathematical Interdisciplinary 2008/FIM IMST Techniques, Statistical Tennessee XVI, Memphis, will be broad-based, This conference - a range of topics in mathemat covering ics, statistics, and other closely related The focus will be on highlighting fields. in interdisciplinary mathemati- advances The confer- cal and statistical techniques. ence also will facilitate participation of particularly women junior researchers, financial providing and minorities, by will be plenary talks support. Featured including distinguished researchers, by Karton, Nigel Ghosh, C. R. Rao, Malya Mary Rayner, John Melas, Viatcheslav Zelterman. and Dan Lou Zeeman, details, visit www.msci.memphis. For edu/IMST2008-FIMXVI or contact Sat and Department of Mathematics Gupta, NC 27412; (336) Greensboro, Statistics, 256-1126; [email protected]. A Conference in Honor of Professor of Professor in Honor A Conference East Birthday, 65th His on Koul L. H. Lansing, Michigan will focus on the latest This conference in statistics, with special developments on, worked Koul emphasis on the areas data, empirical process such as censored theory with applications to statistics, and nonlinear time sequential methods, plenary will be three There series analysis. and contributed invited talks and several visit information, more For sessions. paper or con- www.stt.msu.edu/conference2008 of Statistics, Lahiri, Dept. tact Soumendra College Station, A&M University, Texas TX (979) 845-3141; snlahiri@ 77843; stat.tamu.edu. opportunities; and provide an atmo- offered. Contributed paper abstracts may analysis, fractal methods, and the sphere that aids the interaction of young be submitted to Minge Xie at icsa2008@ discovery of power law structure. For researchers and senior colleagues. Some stat.rutgers.edu. The symposium also will more information, visit www.apa.org/ travel funds will be available. All partici- sponsor student awards and travel grants. science/ati.html or contact Nicolle Singer, pants are encouraged to present posters For more information, visit stat.rutgers. 750 1st Street NE, Washington, OH involving new methodology, investigation edu/icsa2008 or contact Jun Zhao, 56 20002; (202) 336-6000; [email protected]. of existing methods, or application of Livingston Avenue, Roseland, NJ 07068; CALENDAR OF EVENTSCALENDAR state-of-the-art analytical techniques. For (973) 324-6602; [email protected]. 11–13—Graybill Conference VII more information, visit http://sand.stat. - Biopharmaceutical Statistics, Fort cmu.edu or contact Cathy Schaefer, 132D ➤8–11—Southern Regional Council on Collins, Colorado Baker Hall, Carnegie Mellon University, Statistics, Summer Research Conference, Graybill Conference VII will focus on Pittsburgh, PA 15213; (412) 268-5100; Charleston, South Carolina biopharmaceutical statistics and include [email protected]. This conference is designed to facilitate invited sessions and short courses bringing interaction between junior and senior together leading researchers in the fields ➤30–31—Statistics: Theory and researchers. Contributed poster presenta- of clinical and nonclinical statistics and Practice, Madison, Wisconsin tions from graduate students and junior statisticians with statistical programmers We will celebrate the career of Richard faculty are especially encouraged. Keynote and data managers interested in learning A. Johnson and the contributions of all speakers include Raymond Carroll, about current work in these fields. the students, colleagues, and collabora- Malay Ghosh, Michael Kosorock, Peter Keynote speakers will be Bob O’Neill, tors who have enriched his 42 years at Lachenbruch, Xihong Lin, Thomas L. J. Wei, Christy Chuang-Stein, and Wisconsin. For details and registration Louis, and Pranab Sen. Grant funding is Janet Wittes. For details, visit www.stat. forms, visit www.stat.wisc.edu or con- anticipated to support students and junior colostate.edu/graybillconference or contact tact Richard Johnson, 1300 University researchers. For more information, visit Naitee Ting, Pfizer Inc., Global Research Avenue, Madison, WI 53706; (608) 262- www.musc.edu/dbbe/srcos2008 or contact & Development, MS6025-B3141, 50 2357; [email protected]. Angela Williams, 135 Cannon Street, Ste. Pequot Ave., New London, CT 06320; 303, MSC 835, Charleston, SC 29425; (860) 732-4871; [email protected]. (843) 876-1152; [email protected]. June 18–20 Summer Institute of Applied 8–11—International Workshop on Statistics, Provo, Utah *4–6—ASA Quality and Productivity Recent Advances in Time Series Analysis, The 33rd Annual Brigham Young Research Conference, Madison, Protaras, Cyprus University Summer Institute of Applied Wisconsin The aim of this workshop is to bring Statistics will be presented by Dr. Scott The theme of the 2008 conference is together a number of experts in time M. Berry, of Berry Consultants, and is “With Data and Statistics, Unlock the series analysis with young researchers entitled “Bayesian Clinical Trials.” The Hidden Treasure of Knowledge.” George in the field. The meeting was organized course will describe recent Bayesian inno- E. P. Box will be honored for a lifetime around two short courses given by vations in the design and analysis of clini- of achievement in statistical methods and M. Rosenblatt and P. Brockwell and cal trials. For more info visit statistics.byu. applications for quality and productivity 10 sessions with invited speakers. edu/summer_institute. and C. F. Jeff Wu will be honored for For more information, visit www.ucy. seminal contributions to statistical theory ac.cy/~rats2008 or contact Konstantinos and methods for quality and productivity. 22–25—28th International Symposium Fokianos ([email protected]) or For more information, visit www. on Forecasting (ISF2008), Nice, France Theofanis Sapatinas ([email protected]). education.wisc.edu/conferences/2008QPRC The International Symposium on or contact Paul Tobias, 8418 La Plata Forecasting (ISF) is the premier Loop, Austin, TX 78737; (512) 288- 9–13—APA Advanced Training Institute: forecasting conference, attracting the 0951; [email protected]. Nonlinear Methods for Psychological world’s leading forecasting researchers, Science, Cincinnati, Ohio practitioners, and students. Through This institute teaches methods of a combination of keynote speaker 4–7—ICSA 2008 Applied Statistics nonlinear analysis and provides each presentations, academic sessions, Symposium, Piscataway, New Jersey participant with first-hand experience workshops, and social programs, the ISF Short courses for this symposium will be analyzing time series for nonlinear provides many excellent opportunities for held on June 4, with scientific sessions structure. The course is tailored to networking, learning, and fun. For more June 5–7. Participants will exchange psychologists and graduate students, with information, visit http://forecasters.org/ and explore new scientific research and the only prerequisites being the standard conf-isf.html or contact Pam STROUD, application techniques. The symposium statistics courses taught in psychology 53 Tesla Avenue, Medford, MA 02155; will feature a keynote speech from Robert graduate programs. The course focuses [email protected]. O’Neill and another keynote from David on analyses that have already affected DeMets, Zhiliang Ying, and Jianqin psychological science in prominently Fan. Six short courses and as many as 50 published work, such as quantitative invited and contributed sessions will be recurrence analysis and cross-recurrence

44 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 45

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APRIL 2008 8–11—European Conference on Quality Quality on Conference 8–11—European Italy Rome, Statistics, in Official to meeting is intended This biannual forum dis- for serve as a European-level - and achieve developments cussing recent method- field of quality and ments in the surveyologies for with a special statistics, The conference statistics. focus on official - for improv topics will encompass relevant statistical ing quality in the European also will be offered. courses system. Short q2008.istat. information, visit more For via C. Balbo Signore, it or contact Marina Italy; 00184, International 16, Rome, [email protected]. of Congress 8–12—III European Oviedo, Spain Methodology, of Congress The III European with held in conjunction Methodology, Analysis in for Multivariate the Society Sciences, will and Social the Behavioural of teaching focus on the improvement in methodology in the fields and research of social science, health, education, and information, visit more For behavior. Steyer, or contact Rolf methodology.cop.es International 1, Jena, 3, Haus Am Steiger rolf. 00493641945231; 07743, Germany; . [email protected] Biometry and 10–11—Epidemiology in Methods Statistical Recent 2008: France Paris, Epidemiology, This meeting will focus on innovative the design and to statistical approaches analysis of epidemiological surveys. invited will include The program talks, contributed oral sessions, and and contributed posters. Epidemiologists expected to propose biostatisticians are talks about methods (e.g., presentation, illustration, comparisons) or problems looking for which epidemiologists are information, more for solutions. For visit biomserv.univ-lyon1.fr/SFB/fichiers/ epidbiom2008.html or contact Michel INSERM U780, 16 avenue Chavance, Villejuif, Vaillant-Couturier, Paul + 33 (0)1 45 94807, France; International 59 50 63; [email protected]. Dublin, 13–18—IBC 2008 Dublin, Ireland will include 20 invitedThis conference sessions, other special sessions, contributed shorttalks, posters, and preconference lan- The conference 13). courses (July information, more For English. is guage de Cartuja, Granada, International 18071, 18071, International Granada, Cartuja, de . [email protected] 958243950; 34 Spain; 1–4—ISBIS-2008: International International 1–4—ISBIS-2008: and Industrial on Business Symposium Republic Czech Prague, Statistics, focus on quan- This symposium will aspects of banking, insurance, titative finance, and important statistical issues improvement to productivity relating of busi- at all levels and decisionmaking leading quan- Many ness and industry. financial analysts and industrial titative participatingstatisticians will be in the - and stimulating scientific pro varied contributed papers. gram of invited and the opportunity will have to Authors of their papers submit extended versions for publication in a special edition of the Models Stochastic journal, Applied society’s infor- more . For and Industry in Business mation, visit www.action-m.com/isbis2008 Vrsovicka Zeithamlova, or contact Milena 10, International 68, 101 00, Prague, . [email protected] Republic; Czech of Conference 2–4—International Data and Statistics Computational United 2008, London, Engineering Kingdom World is held under the This conference the 2008 by on Engineering Congress Association of Engineers. International information, visit www.iaeng. more For or con- org/WCE2008/ICCSDE2008.html 37-39 1, 1/F, Unit Young, William tact International Kong, Hong Road, To Hung . [email protected] Kong; HK, Hong of School 7–18—IOPS Summer and Sociometrics, Psychometrics The Netherlands Wassenaar, This new of the IOPS Graduate initiative course an intensive School will provide of master classes in quantita- program and methodological methods outside tive The IOPS course program. the regular is intended for PhD School Summer a good students and postdocs who have sociomet- in psychometrics, background rics, statistics, econometrics, or related www. information, visit more For areas. iops.nl/summerschool or contact Susanna Sciences, P.O. of Social Faculty Verdel, 2300 9555, Leiden, International Box +31 71 527 3829; The Netherlands; RB, . [email protected] July 30–7/4—ICMI/IASE Study Teaching Teaching 30–7/4—ICMI/IASE Study Mathematics, in School Statistics Mexico Monterrey, This study brings together the mathematics and statistics education communities teaching statistics at the school to analyze about and make recommendations level to train mathematics teachers to how better succeed in educating statistically details, visit www. literate students. For or contact Carmen ugr.es/~icmi/iase_study Campus Educación, de Facultad Batanero, *30–7/2—1st International Symposium Symposium International *30–7/2—1st Statistics, on Biopharmaceutical China Shanghai, for Society The International (ISBS) will Statistics Biopharmaceutical host its first international symposium to an international forum for sta- provide the world to across tistical professionals and to information and exchange share the harmonization and promote improve The symposium will of statistical practice. - devel a range of topics in research, cover of drugs, biolog- opment, and regulations ics, medical devices, and biotechnologics. in The theme is “The of Statistics Roles There Globalization.” Biopharmaceutical will be keynote speeches and presentations of invited and contributed talks. Abstracts of contributed talks will be accepted There 2008. online starting in January also will be two days of preconference infor- more 28–29. For short courses June or con- mation, visit www.IsBioStat.org Lane, Walk 304 Evening Chen, tact Jie 18976; (215) 491-4623; PA Warrington, . [email protected] 26–27—Fordham Council on Applied Council 26–27—Fordham New Bronx, Conference, Psychometrics York will focus on defining This conference the its applications, and psychometrics the need for training, and lack of adequate of paper mixture will be a There expertise. expose sessions that aim to and poster and its the many facets of psychometrics speakers include applications. Keynote invit- Rindskopf; and David Holland Paul Charles Lewised speakers include and will be The conference Edwards. Michael workshops a day of technical by preceded more For WinBUGS. on R, SAS, and information, visit www.fordham.edu/fcap/ Casabianca, 441 or contact Jodi conference NY 10458; York, New Road, E. Fordham . (718) 817-0654; [email protected] Recognized as the

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APRIL 2008 model selection and related shrinkage shrinkage related and selection model Yannick include speakers Invited methods. Patrik George, Ed Beran, Ruudy Baraud, Paul Ching-Kang Ing, Guggenberger, Yang. Yuhong and Lugosi, Gabor Kabaila, For welcome. are presentations Contributed www.univie.ac.at/workshop_ details, visit 24 Leeb, Hannes contact or modelselection 06510; CT Haven, New Avenue, Hillhouse . (203) 508-2339; [email protected] 28–29—2nd CensusAtSchool Los Angeles, Workshop, International California projectLeaders of the CensusAtSchool for teach- hands-on presentations will give the in data use they how illustrate to ers edu- Statistics international C@S database. will States United the cation leaders from plenary of series a with meeting the open information, visit www. more talks. For Sanchez, Juana contact or stat.ucla.edu 8125 MSUCLA Department of Statistics, CA Angeles, Los 951554, Box Building, 90095-1554; (310) 825-1318; jsanchez@ stat.ucla.edu. Conference, Researchers 29–8/2—New Colorado Boulder, of New Meeting The Eleventh and Probability in Statistics Researchers - an opportunity new for research provides ideas in an research ers to exchange informal setting and interact with invited information, more senior participants. For visit www.stat.rutgers.edu/~rebecka/NRC 501 Hill Jornsten, or contact Rebecka NJ 07030; (732) 445- Piscataway, Center, . 3145; [email protected] August Meetings, Statistical *3–7—2008 Joint Colorado Denver, the is Meetings) Statistical (Joint JSM largest gathering of statisticians held in is jointly held with America. It North Association, Statistical American the Society Biometric International the of WNAR), the Institute (ENAR and and the Statistical Statistics, Mathematical more by Attended Canada. of Society the of activities people, 5,500 than panelmeeting include oral presentations, Continuingsessions, poster presentations, courses, an exhibit hall (withEducation state-of-the-art and statistical products Placementopportunities), the Career behavioral scientists. There will be morningThere scientists. behavioral afternoon and experts GIS by presentations aspects that focus on technical lab sessions information, visit www. more of GIS. For Nicolle or contact apa.org/science/ati.html DC Washington, NE, 1st Street 750 Singer, . 336-6000; [email protected] 20002; (202) of Summit World 1st 20–26—BIT’s China Antivirals, Kunming, for updating the This is a focused event R&D of in worldwide advances current therapeutics. Attendees antiviral novel decisionmakers top-level will represent leading biotech, pharmaceutical, and from The conference organizations. health care an ideal forum for the also will provide - companies, prod of relevant promotion more ucts, technologies, and services. For information, visit www.bitlifesciences. com/wsa2008 or contact Chris Han, 26 Gaoneng Street, Room 405, Dalian International Dalian, Zone, High-Tech LN 116025, China; 0086-411-84799479; [email protected]. of the Meeting World 21–25—9th Bayesian for Society International Australia Island, Analysis, Hamilton sci- ISBA 2008 will combine an excellent keynote five program—including entific paral- three speakers, 90 oral presentations, lel sessions, and two poster evenings—with details, For schedule. social active an visit www.maths.qut.edu.au/asba/docs/ isba08 or contact Clair Alston, School Sciences, Queensland of Mathematical 2434, Box GPO Technology, of University Australia; 4001, International Brisbane, [email protected]. Workshop International 23–26—17th IWMS’08, and Statistics, on Matrices Portugal Tomar, information about this conference, more For Anderson’s W. T. of honor in held being or visit www.ipt.pt/iwms08 90th birthday, Serra da Estrada Carvalho, Francisco contact International Tomar, do Contador, - Quinta 249 +351 Portugal; TOMAR, 2300-313 328 100; [email protected]. and Challenges Trends 24–26—Current Areas, and Related Selection in Model Vienna, Austria forum a provide will workshop This and discussion of cur- for presentation in problems challenging and trends rent 16–18—APA Advanced Training Training Advanced 16–18—APA Information Geographic Institute: Santa Research, Behavioral for Systems California Barbara, the science andThis course introduces Information Geographic of technologies and other (GIS) to psychologists Systems 15–17—LASR 2008: The Art and and Art The 2008: 15–17—LASR Bioinformatics, Science of Statistical Kingdom Leeds, United The 27th Leeds Annual Statistical will continue to workshop Research the LASRexplore themes of statistical bioinformatics, shape and image analysis, details, and interdisciplinary statistics. For or visit www.maths.leeds.ac.uk/lasr2008 Department of Barber, contact Stuart LS2 9JT, International Leeds, Statistics, UK; +44(0)1133435146; workshop@ maths.leeds.ac.uk. 14–19—7th World Congress in in Congress World 14–19—7th Singapore and Statistics, Probability and in Probability Congress World The in event is a major international Statistics held every and statistics probability four - the latest scientific devel features It years. and opments in the fields of probability The statistics and their applications. a range of topics will cover program keynote than a dozen more and feature leading specialists. by presented lectures paper will be invited there addition, In sessions highlighting topics of current and many contributed interest research informa- more talks and posters. For tion, visit www.ims.nus.edu.sg/Programs/ Tan, or contact Irene wc2008/index.htm and Applied Department of Statistics of 2, Faculty 6 Science Drive Probability, of Singapore, University Science, National 117546, International Singapore, . [email protected] Singapore; 13–19—AACR Cancer Biostatistics Cancer 13–19—AACR California Sonoma, Workshop, information, visit www.aacr.org For 615 Mendenhall, or contact Mark Philadelphia, Floor, 17th Chestnut Street, 19106-4404; (267) 646-660; PA . [email protected] or visit www.cpregistrations.com/ibc/2008 Dept, Mathematics Hinde, John contact GA1, International Galway, Galway, NUI john.hinde@ +353 91 492043; Ireland; . nuigalway.ie Service, society and Section business its possible applications in diverse areas sessions, and luncheon roundtables. To meetings, committee meetings, social of sample survey design and inference. maintain the seminar atmosphere, the activities, and networking opportunities. The meeting will begin with a 1.5-day workshop is limited to 650 registrants. For more information, visit www.amstat. workshop followed by a 2.5-day confer- Short courses will be offered on September org/meetings or contact Elaine Powell, 732 ence consisting of invited and contributed 15 for an additional fee. For more North Washington Street, Alexandria, VA research and applied papers and a special information, visit www.amstat.org/meetings/ 22314; (703) 684-1221; [email protected]. panel discussion. For more information, fdaworkshop or contact Ning Li, 520 CALENDAR OF EVENTSCALENDAR visit www.s3ri.soton.ac.uk/ssbs08 or contact Skidmore Blvd., Gaithersburg, MD 20877; 7–9—14th ISSAT International Christina Thompson, S3RI, University (240) 276-3166; [email protected]. Conference on Reliability and Quality in of Southampton, Southampton, Design, Orlando, Florida International SO17 1BJ, UK; ssbs08@s3ri. ➤21–24—Applied Statistics 2008, Ribno This annual conference is an international soton.ac.uk. (Bled), Slovenia forum for the presentation of new results, This conference will provide an oppor- research development, and applications September tunity for statistics researchers, data in all aspects of reliability and quality in analysts, and other professionals from design. For more information, visit www. 1–5—RSS 2008 International various statistical and related fields to issatconferences.org or contact International Conference, Nottingham, United come together, present their research, Society of Science and Applied Kingdom and learn. Cross-discipline and applied Technologies, P.O. Box 1504, Piscataway, This scientific program aims to encom- paper submissions are especially wel- FL 08855; [email protected]. pass the range of statistical interests within come. Selected papers will be published the Royal Statistical Society and beyond. in Advances in Methodology and Statistics, 12–14—useR! 2008: The R User It will include a range of special topic a peer-reviewed journal of the Statistical Conference, Dortmund, Germany sessions with invited speakers from both Society of Slovenia. Abstract submissions This conference is focused on R as the the UK and overseas. There also will be are due June 1, 2008. For details, visit “lingua franca” of data analysis and statisti- a special program for young statisticians. http://conferences.nib.si/AS2008 or contact cal computing, providing a platform for R For more information, visit www.rss.org. Andrej Blejec, Vecna pot 111, Ljubljana, users to discuss and exchange ideas about uk/rss2008 or contact Paul Gentry, 12 International SI-1000, Slovenia; +386 1 how R can be used for statistical compu- Errol Street, London, International EC1Y 423-33-88; [email protected]. tations, data analysis, visualization, and 8LX, UK; [email protected]. applications in various fields. It also will 22–24—ENBIS-8, Athens, Greece ➤ give an overview of the new features of the 8–12—International Conference on The European Network for Business rapidly evolving R project. For more infor- Robust Statistics (ICORS) 2008, Antalya, and Industrial Statistics invites papers mation, visit www.R-Project.org/useR-2008 Turkey and presentations about innova- or contact Uwe Ligges, Vogelpothsweg The aim of this conference is to bring tive applications of statistical think- 87, Dortmund, International 44221, together established and young researchers ing and statistical tools in business Germany; [email protected]. from around the world who are actively and industry. For more informa- working on and/or interested in the the- tion, visit www.enbis.org or contact ory, application, and overall development 17–21—29th Annual Conference of Winfried Theis, ENBIS Permanent of robust statistics and related fields. The ISCB, Copenhagen, Denmark Office, Plantage Muidergracht 24, conference will provide a forum for lead- This conference will provide a forum Amsterdam, International 1018 TV, ing experts and young researchers to dis- for the international exchange of The Netherlands; [email protected]. cuss recent progress in the field, exchange theory, methods, and applications of ideas, and make informal contacts. biostatistics in medical research and October Although, robust statistics is the core of practice among clinicians, statisticians, the conference, special emphasis will be ➤3–4—International Conference on and members of other disciplines who laid on interdisciplinary research and the Price, Liquidity, and Credit Risks, are working or interested in the field of interaction between theory and practice. Konstanz, Germany clinical biostatistics. For more informa- For more information, visit www.icors08. This conference is targeted to research- tion, visit www.iscb2008.info or contact org or contact Olcay Arslan, Çukurova ers in financial economics, financial Bjarne Nielsen, Datavej 24, Birkerod, University, Department of Statistics, econometrics, and financial mathematics. International DK-3460, Denmark; +45 Adana, International 01330, Turkey; Abstracts are being accepted and are due 70202058; [email protected]. +3223386084/2577; [email protected]. May 31. Notification of acceptance will be given no later than August 1. For more 26–29—Sample Surveys and Bayesian *15–17—2008 FDA/Industry Statistics information, visit http://cofe.uni-konstanz. Statistics: Workshop and Conference, Workshop, Arlington, Virginia de or contact Beran Jan, Department of Southampton, United Kingdom This workshop will feature sessions Mathematics and Statistics, University of The aim of this meeting is to highlight organized by statisticians from industry, Konstanz, Konstanz, International 78457, the potential advantages of Bayesian academia, and the FDA. It will include at Germany; 049 7531 88 2653; jan.beran@ methodology and discuss and illustrate least four plenary sessions, 15 concurrent uni-konstanz.de.

48 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 49

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APRIL 2008 n researchers, as well as users of statistics of statistics as users well as researchers, workshops will present It and probability. sessions. and contributed and invited sections in biostatistics, features The SSC survey and industrial methods, business Consequently, and probability. statistics, in all will include papers the program About and probability. of statistics areas expected to partici- 450 statisticians are visit www.ssc. information, more pate. For University Léger, ca or contact Christian Department of Mathematics of Montréal, CP 6128 Succursale and Statistics, H3C 3J7, Quebec Montréal, Centreville, leger@dms. Canada; (514) 343-7824; . umontreal.ca August Meetings, Statistical *2–6—2009 Joint DC Washington, is the Meetings) JSM (Joint Statistical largest gathering of statisticians held in is held jointly with America. It North Association, the American Statistical Society Biometric the International of WNAR), the Institute (ENAR and and the Statistical Statistics, Mathematical more by of Canada. Attended Society than 5,500 people, activities include panel sessions, poster oral presentations, continuing education presentations, courses, an exhibit hall, a placement service, and section business society meetings, committee meetings, social opportunities.activities, and networking information, visit www.amstat. more For 732 Powell, org/meetings or contact Elaine VA Alexandria, Street, Washington North . 22314; (888) 231-3473; [email protected] Institute Statistical 16–22—International South Durban, Session, Biennial 57th Africa This session will include meetings of the International Society, the Bernoulli Computing, Association for Statistical Association of the International the International Statisticians, Survey Association for Official Statistics, and the Association for Statistical International information, visit more For Education. or contactwww.cbs.nl/isi Shabani Mehta, 950, Box P.O. Beatrixlaan, 428 Prinses Voorburg, International 2270 AZ, The Netherlands; +31-70-3375737; [email protected]. 3–7—Fifteenth Annual 3–7—Fifteenth 2009 May of 31–6/3—37th Annual Meeting of Canada, Society the Statistical Canada Vancouver, will bring together aca- This conference and industrial demic, governmental, December on Conference International 1–3—2008 (CAPS and Statistics Probability Applied Vietnam 2008), Hanoi, practical aims to promote This conference statistics, and probability of applications and particularly in business and industry, among international relations to strengthen Contributed in these areas. researchers probability applied on be may papers conference The statistics. of area any or researchers both to interest of be will business andand practitioners from information, visit more For industry. or contact www.action-m.com/CAPS2008 135, Hanoi, IPO Box Nguyen, Nam-Ky (844) 754- Vietnam; Hanoi, International 5125; [email protected]. November ➤ Biopharmaceutical Applied Statistics Statistics Applied Biopharmaceutical Georgia Savannah, Symposium, keynote the deliver will Berry A. Donald Bayesian in Developments “New address, visit information, more For Trials.” Clinical bass.georgiasouthern.edu or contact Ruth University, Southern Georgia Whitworth, Health, Public of College Hsu Jiann-Ping 30460; GA Statesboro, 8015, Box P.O. [email protected]. Information of Impact 8–10—The on Systems Statistical Integrated and Ras-Al- Development, Socio-Economical Arab Emirates Khaimah, United the on light shed to aims conference This and importancerole of information systems and integrated statistical systems in modern of development socioeconomic the societies in general and of Ras-Al-Khaimah committee organizing The particular. in to be partinvites you of this conference. or details, visit www.rakeconconf.ae For Box P.O. El-Bassiouni, contact Mohamed 17555, International UAE, Al-Ain, 17555, 7133386; +9713 Emirates; Arab United . [email protected] 28–31—24th International Methodology Methodology International 28–31—24th Ottawa Gatineau, Symposium, is “Data The theme for this conference Collection: Challenges, Achievements, will bring It Directions.” and New together statistical methodologists and analysts from the data collection community—including those from and university, government, private, other research organizations—to address a variety of topics related to data The first day will consist collection. while the following of workshops, days will consist of both plenary and of parallel sessions. multiple streams Additional research and results will be presented via poster sessions. For details, visit www.statcan.ca/english/conferences/ symposium2008 or contact Chris Pasture Driveway, Mohl, Tunney’s 100 Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0T6, Canada; [email protected]. 22–24—International Conference on on Conference 22–24—International Analysis and Data Learning Machine California Francisco, 2008, San World is held under the This conference and Computer on Engineering Congress papers must be submit- Science. Draft and 2, 2008. Registration July ted by 30, due July papers are camera-ready papers will be published 2008. Accepted (ISBN: proceedings in the conference informa- more 978-988-98671-0-2). For tion, visit www.iaeng.org/WCECS2008/ ICMLDA2008.html or contact IAENG To 37-39 Hung 1, 1/F, Unit Secretariat, HK, International Kong, Hong Road, . [email protected] Kong; Hong *9–10—52nd Annual Fall Technical Technical Annual Fall *9–10—52nd Arizona East/Mesa, Phoenix Conference, The goal of this conference is to engage researchers and practitioners that leads to a more in a dialog of statistics to improve use effective quality. It will feature the latest as in statistical methods developments and to quality improvement they relate also will highlight decisionmaking. It discoveries in unique and innovative statistical methodologies and quality tools. For more information, contact J. K1- Circle, Research One Williams, D. NY 12309; (518) 5A-61, Niskayuna, 387-7322; james.williams@research. ge.com. CALENDAR OF EVENTSCALENDAR

50 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Connecticut rofessional Opportunity Listings may not exceed 65 words, plus equal n opportunity information. Ads must be received by the first of the preceding Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceutical month to ensure appearance in the next issue (i.e., September 1 for the Inc. is seeking a MS/PhD-level POctober issue). Ads received after the deadline will be held until the following biostatistician to work on all phases of issue. clinical trials. The ideal candidate is Listings are shown alphabetically by state, followed by international listings. required to have a strong background Vacancy listings may include the institutional name and address or be identified in statistical principles, data analysis, by number, as desired. computing (especially SAS), and excellent Professional Opportunities Vacancies also will be published on the ASA’s web oral and written communication skills. site (www.amstat.org). Vacancy listings will appear on the web site for the entire Experience in clinical trials is preferred. calendar month. Ads may not be placed for publication in the magazine only: Please see http://us.boehringer-ingelheim. All ads will be published both electronically and in print. com for details (requisition no. MD5408 Rates: $320 for nonprofit organizations (with proof of nonprofit status), $475 us.boehringer-ingelheim.com Boehringer- for all others. Member discounts are not given. Display advertising rates are at www. Ingelheim Pharmaceutical Inc. is an amstat.org/advertising. AA/EOE. Listings will be invoiced following publication. All payments should be made to the American Statistical Association. All material should be sent to Amstat News, Florida 732 North Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1943; fax (703) 684- n 2036; email [email protected]. The University of Florida College of Employers are expected to acknowledge all responses resulting from publication Public Health and Health Professions of the ad. Personnel advertising is accepted only with the understanding that the Department of Epidemiology and advertiser does not discriminate among applicants on the basis of race, sex, religion, Biostatistics invites applications for a age, color, national origin, handicap, or sexual orientation. full-time, tenure-track asst./assoc./full Also look for job ads on the ASA web site at www.amstat.org/jobweb. professor (or a nontenure-track lecturer) faculty position in biostatistics. View the complete job posting, including application instructions, at www.phhp. ufl.edu/services/humanresources, click on job vacancies. Application review begins March 14, 2008, and continues until a suitable candidate pool is established. The University of Florida is an Equal Research Assistant/Associate - M.S. Biostatistician Opportunity Employer. Individuals Department of Biostatistics with minority and/or disability status are encouraged to apply. If an Virginia Commonwealth University has an opening for a Master’s level biostatistician in the Department of Biostatistics. The Department of Biostatistics is housed in the VCU School of Medicine and is com- accommodation due to a disability is mitted to excellence in conducting multidisciplinary collaborative biomedical research, developing new needed to apply for this position, statistical methods, and providing a graduate training program. Our department includes 15 full-time please call (352) 392-1251 or faculty members who are engaged in mentoring 21 PhD and 14 Master’s level students. The department TDD (352) 392-7056. offers both MS and PhD programs in Biostatistics, including a concentration in Genomic Biostatistics, and an MS in Clinical Research in Biostatistics. Our faculty, students, and staff have established strong collaborative research with departments and centers within the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, and Allied Health and with local health departments. Illinois We are seeking an individual with a Master’s degree in biostatistics or statistics with excellent English n Center for Management of Complex language communication skills. Experience in data analysis is necessary and working collaboratively in a Chronic Care (CMC3) at Hines VA biomedical research environment is desirable. The candidate should also have excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, as well as an ability to disseminate research findings in both oral and written formats. Hospital and Department of Preventative The candidate should have experience in maintaining databases and in performing extraction, analysis Medicine & Epidemiology, Loyola and presentation of data using spreadsheets and graphical statistical packages. The candidate should also University Medical School, are seeking be familiar with organizing data searches, planning analytical approaches, and performing appropriate a statistician. Qualifications: doctoral and informative analyses. More specifically, the candidate should be able to define technical problems in research projects and databases and to implement new or revised statistical approaches to alleviate the degree in statistics; 3+ years experience in problems. The candidate should also be capable of performing critical analyses of the literature relevant to health services, epidemiologic, or quality ongoing or planned research projects and to prepare manuscripts for publication. improvement research. Salary based on Interested candidates should submit a cover letter describing their research experience along with a CV education and experience. Send CV and to Shumei S. Sun, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980032, 730 E Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23298, telephone: 804- cover letter to Fran Weaver, PhD, P.O. 827-2042, email: [email protected]. Box 1033, Hines, IL 60141. Center for VCU is an urban, research intensive institution with a richly diverse university community and commitment to Management of Complex Chronic Care is multicultural opportunities. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. an equal opportunity employer.

APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 51 OPPORTUNITIESPROFESSIONAL

52 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES n Two, nontenure-track assistant professor positions in the Biostatistical Collaboration Mathematical Statisticians Center requires a doctoral degree in Surveillance Research Program biostatistics/statistics for collaboration, Division of Cancer Control consultation, teaching, and research in biomedical field. Excellent communication And Population Sciences skills are essential. At least one-year postdoctoral experience. To apply, send CV and The National Cancer Institute (NCI), located within the National Institutes of Health references to Marie Lee, Department of (NIH), Department of Health & Human Services, has openings for several positions Preventive Medicine, NU Feinberg School within the Surveillance Research Program (SRP), which provides statistical expertise of Medicine, 680 N. Lake Shore Suite and sets the direction for mathematical and statistical research used in carrying out surveillance of the nation’s cancer burden. NCI’s surveillance activities support 1102, Chicago, IL 60611. Northwestern nationwide program planning and policy setting, and are of interest to researchers University is an affirmative action/equal and the public at large. Statistical and mathematical modeling increases the utility of opportunity employer. data for assessing progress in cancer control. Statisticians within the Surveillance Research Program work with population- Louisiana based data on cancer incidence, mortality, survival, and prevalence and study n Tenure-track assistant professor their relationship to geography, risk factors, screening, treatment, and socio-eco- position is anticipated in the Experimental nomic factors. Examples include: (1) using state-of-the-art methods to make sure Statistics Department at LSU. Duties our population-based cancer registry data are accurate, timely, and to detect include teaching, research, consulting, outliers and understand their source (using methods such as spatial-temporal participating in graduate/undergraduate scan statistics and data mining techniques), (2) developing and evaluating new programs, and establishing productive cancer and cancer-related progress measures and methods for the analysis and programs of research and scholarship presentation of our national cancer statistics (e.g. survival cure models, change in applied statistics. PhD in statistics or point models, back-calculation methods, small area estimation), (3) analysis and related area and a strong background simulation modeling to better understand and project trends in cancer data, and in applied statistics are required by (4) identifying and developing funding opportunities for the outside research com- employment data. Salary commensurate munity to advance methodology in population-based cancer research and managing the resulting grants and contracts. The existing program is expanding its continued on page 57 scope, and exciting opportunities are available integrating diverse areas such as spatial statistics/ GIS, population genetics, survival modeling, demography, survey methods, mixed models, simulation modeling, data mining, program evaluation, and outcomes research.

NORC conducts high quality social science Applicants with masters or doctorial degrees in statistics, biostatistics or a re- research in the public interest from its head- lated area with strong academic backgrounds, training and experience are be- quarters at the University of Chicago and ing sought. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential for from its offices in Chicago, IL, Washington, working in this interdisciplinary setting with various collaborators. Multiple posi- DC, Bethesda, MD, and Berkeley, CA. tions for Mathematical Statisticians are available at GS12/13/14 levels ($69,764- We conduct research in economics, demo- $127,442). U.S. citizenship is required for permanent positions and this position is graphics, education and child development, subject to background investigation. In addition, opportunities also exist for expe- health, substance abuse, mental health, rienced professionals from academia to spend all or a part of their sabbaticals in justice, and survey quality both in the U.S. and internationally. We offer full-service SRP and for graduate students and post-docs to join SRP in fellowship positions survey design and operations as well as ranging from summer-only to 1-2 year appointments. strengths in analysis, information technol- The location is Rockville, Maryland, close to Washington D.C. Excellent benefits. ogy, and technical assistance. NORC supports the research needs of government in NIH is an equal opportunity employer. Please send a CV and a letter describing the U.S. and abroad, international donor your background and interests, by email, to: agencies, foundations, academic researchers, and private organizations. Judith Swan, MHS Public Health Advisor NORC is actively seeking statisticians, Surveillance Research Program survey methodologists, statistical program- Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences mers, data managers, survey directors, and social scientists with advanced training National Cancer Institute or experience in survey research or survey [email protected] operations. New staff will be based in our http://surveillance.cancer.gov/ Chicago, IL or Washington, DC offices. To learn more about NORC and to apply for employment, visit our website at:

http://www.norc.org/careers

NORC is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer that values and actively seeks diversity in the workforce.

APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 53 Senior Advisor for Clinical Trial Design and Analysis Department of Health and Human Services

OPPORTUNITIESPROFESSIONAL Food and Drug Administration/Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research Office of Biostatistics and Epidemiology Opening Date: March 10, 2008 Closing Date: June 20, 2008 The Department of Health & Human Services, Food & Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) is soliciting applications for a Senior Advisor for Clinical Trial Design and Analysis. CBER is responsible for the safety and efficacy of vaccines, the blood supply and blood products, and cellular, tissue and gene therapies that have a major impact on public health. The candidate will provide expert advice and consultation on the design and evaluation of clinical studies and statistical issues for biologic products and conduct and coordinate related research efforts. Candidates should have a record of collaborative research and demonstrated ability in the design and analysis of clinical trials. The successful candidate will interact extensively with a team of 20 biostatisticians, other FDA scientists and management, as well as leaders in other government agencies, academia, and industry. He or she will represent CBER at meetings, workshops and Agency and Department discussions concerning clinical trial matters. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are required for this position. CBER plays an integral role in the Department of Health and Human Services. CBER staff conducts biomedical research to provide a strong scientific base for the regulation of blood and blood-related products, vaccines, allergenic products, and gene therapies according to statutory authorities in order to protect and enhance the public health. In conjunction with regulatory and research responsibilities, the Center statistically evaluates clinical and pre-clinical studies of human biological products and vaccines and epidemiologically evaluates post-marketing studies and adverse biological reactions. Qualifications Candidates for Civil Service or Commissioned Corps appointments must be US Citizens. Senior Advisor for Clinical Trial Design and Analysis, Mathematical Statistics Series, GS-1529-15 A degree that includes 24 semester hours of mathematics and statistics, of which at least 12 semester hours were in mathematics and 6 semester hours were in statistics. Or Combination of education and experience—at least 24 semester hours of mathematics and statistics, including at least 12 hours in mathematics and 6 hours in statistics, as shown in the above paragraph, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Candidates may also be hired under Title 42 Title 42 209(g) Staff Fellow positions candidates must possess a Ph.D or equivalent degree plus two or more years of post-doctoral health related research/regulatory review experience. Applicants for permanent positions must hold U.S. citizenship. Non-U.S. Citizens with permanent residency are required to provide proof with Green Card I-551. Salary Range GS- 15 $115,317.00-$149,000.00 Location Rockville, Maryland How to Apply Submit resume or curriculum vitae with cover letter to: FDA/CBER, 1401 Rockville Pike, Suite 200 South, Rockville, MD 20857, HFM-210 Attn: Steven Anderson or email to: [email protected] or fax to: 301-827-3529. For further information please visit our website at http://www.fda.gov/cber/inside/vacancy.htm

Department of Health and Human Services is an equal opportunity employer Smoke free environment

54 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Article GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER Reprints Faculty Biostatisticians Clinical Trials and Epidemiology Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Biomathematics

Article reprints are The Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Biomathematics invites applications for two available from the ASA positions as tenure-track assistant or associate professor of Biostatistics. Applicants should have a Ph.D. in Biostatistics or Statistics, expertise in the design and analysis of clinical trials or epidemiological stud- www.amstat.org/ ies and at least 5 years experience in one of these fields. The requirements for these positions are a strong membership/ research background, excellent communication skills and an interest in teaching. The successful candidates will collaborate with physicians and scientists from the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Individual_Articles.pdf conduct independent biostatistical research, and teach in our Master’s degree program. (single copies) or Interested individuals should send a letter of application, curriculum vitae, and the names and addresses (including e-mail address) of three references to: through the Copyright Françoise Seillier-Moiseiwitsch, Chair Clearance Center at Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, and Biomathematics Georgetown University Medical Center www.copyright.com Building D, Suite 180 (multiple copies). 4000 Reservoir Road Washington, DC 20057-1484 or [email protected] These Positions Have an Immediate Starting Date. Applications Will Be Reviewed Until the Positions are Filled.

Georgetown University is an equal opportunity employer.

APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 55 Statistician in Join Population now Genetics

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is searching for a statistician with ex-

OPPORTUNITIESPROFESSIONAL pertise in population genetics. The position is in the Statistical Research Become a Student Member of the and Applications Branch (SRAB) of the Surveillance Research Program American Statistical Association (SRP), which manages the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, a comprehensive population-based cancer reporting sys- for only $10 tem. The utility of this database is extended through linkages with other key datasets and special studies to collect auxiliary information (e.g., tissue samples). SRP also provides leadership in developing statistical meth- Join the more than odologies appropriate for analyzing trends and for evaluating the impact of cancer control interventions as well as geographic, socioeconomic, behav- 4,000 students who ioral, genetic, and health care delivery factors on the cancer burden. SRP already know what is in process of expanding its program in the area of statistical genetics to include topics such as linkage analysis, genome-wide association stud- ASA membership means... ies, and the examination of gene-environment interaction. The position will provide opportunities for: Free subscriptions to STATS: The • Independent and collaborative methodologic research. Magazine for Students of Statistics • Oversight and administration of extramural funding involving and Amstat News, your monthly cutting-edge statistical genetics to address methodologic questions membership magazine! in cancer epidemiology. • Interaction with a wide range of NIH consortia focusing on Free online access to the Journal of genetics and cancer, thus providing the basis for transdisciplinary the American Statistical Association, collaborative research. The American Statistician, and the • Developing a program of scientific research relating the rich Journal of Business & Economic resource of population-based cancer registries to genetic-based Statistics. epidemiologic studies and basic statistical research. The ideal candidate will have a doctoral degree in biostatistics or statistics, ASA members-only discounts at least 3 years of post-doctoral experience with a good publication record on ASA publications, meetings, and in developing methods in population genetics, and an interest in working in Continuing Education courses, PLUS collaborative research teams. special discounts from publishers. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential. Salary range is commensurate with experience, and benefits are excellent. NIH is an equal A network of professional opportunity employer. Please send a cover letter with a brief summary of ex- colleagues made up of more than perience and interests, CV, list of publications, and the names and contact 18,000 ASA members, including information for three references, preferably by email to: 4,000 students. Ram Tiwari, Ph.D. Statistical Research and Applications Branch Free or discounted dues for most Surveillance Research Program regional chapters and special- Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences interest sections. National Cancer Institute 6116 Executive Blvd., Suite 504 Career opportunities and Rockville, MD 20892 [email protected] information through www.amstat. http://srab.cancer.gov/ org, our JSM Career Placement Service, and Amstat News.

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56 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES with qualifications and experience. For application procedure visit www.stat.lsu. edu. Louisiana State University is an EOE. Massachusetts n Research Scientist, Biostatistics. Collaborate in cancer clinical trials with an emphasis on laboratory correlative science and/or imaging studies. Required: PhD in biostatistics/statistics, 1–2 years’ experience, exceptional skills in data analysis and SAS/S/R, and excellent written and oral communication skills. Email CV and names of three references to Research Scientist Job Search, Biostatistics & Computational Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02115; biostatistics. [email protected]. Dana- Farber is an AA/EOE. n MS Biostatistician. Collaborate with medical and scientific researchers in design, analysis, and publication of cancer clinical trials and related research. Requirements: strong background in statistical principles, data analysis, computing (especially SAS), communication skills, and 1–2 years of experience. Send CV and names of three continued on page 61

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APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 57 OPPORTUNITIESPROFESSIONAL MEMBER SERVICES

Do you have an address change, membership question, claim, or general inquiry? Please call the ASA’s Member Services toll-free direct line at (888) 231-3473 for all your ASA needs. If you prefer, you may email Member Services at [email protected] or fax (703) 684-2037. (888) 231-3473

58 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

ASA’s Online Forum is now available to members.

The forum encourages general discussion related to statistics.

Access to the forum may be found in the

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APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 59 Mathematical Statistician Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration/Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research

OPPORTUNITIESPROFESSIONAL Office of Biostatistics and Epidemiology Opening Date: March 1, 2008 Closing Date: June 20, 2008 Mathematical Statistician The Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) Division of Biostatistics is soliciting applications from well-trained statisticians with knowledge of biological applications. Several new positions are being established that will offer the opportunity for biologic research and statistical collaboration in the development and evaluation of cell, tissue, and gene therapies; blood and blood products; and preventive vaccines. The candidate may apply their expertise in areas such as clinical trial design and analysis, laboratory data or bioassay analysis, or assay validation. Candidates with interest or experience in current high-profile areas, such as adaptive trial designs or Bayesian approaches, will be especially attractive. CBER Mathematical Statisticians work in an environment dedicated to the public health and upholding the highest scientific standards in research into new biological therapies and vaccines. Good written and oral communication skills are essential. The successful candidate will interact extensively with other FDA reviewers, industry scientists, and scientists in other government agencies and in academia. He or she will represent CBER at meetings and workshops focusing on methods and policies for design and evaluation of clinical studies or pre-clinical /laboratory studies. CBER Mathematical Statisticians are responsible for evaluating study designs and final results of studies assessing new biological products such as gene therapies, vaccines, medical imaging products, immune therapies and many others. They are also responsible for assessing proposed new design and analytical approaches, and for developing innovative approaches potentially better suited to a novel product. They collaborate with medical colleagues and expert laboratory scientists on the development of scientific and regulatory policy, and frequently have the opportunity to represent CBER in collaborations with outside groups. Qualifications A degree that included 24 semester hours of mathematics and statistics, of which at least 12 semester hours were in mathematics and 6 semester hours were in statistics. Or A combination of education and experience: at least 24 semester hours of mathematics and statistics, including at least 12 hours in mathematics and 6 hours in statistics, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Candidates may also be hired under Title 42 Title 42 209(g) Staff Fellow positions candidates must possess a Ph.D. or equivalent degree plus two or more years of post-doctoral research experience. Applicants for permanent positions must hold U.S. citizenship. Non-U.S. Citizens with permanent residency are required to provide proof with Green Card I-551. Salary Range Depending on qualifications and experience, the salary range starts at $82,961.00-$107,854.00. How to Apply Submit resume or curriculum vitae with cover letter to: Food and Drug Administration, CBER/Office of Biostatistics and Epidemiology Attn: Henry Hsu, 1401 Rockville Pike, HFM-215, Rockville, MD 20852 or send e-mail to [email protected] or fax to 301-827-5218. If you have any questions please call 301-827-3977. For further information please visit our website at http://www.fda.gov/cber/inside/vacancy.htm

Department of Health and Human Services is an equal opportunity employer Smoke free environment

60 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES references to: MS Biostatistician Job Search, Biostatistics & Computational Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02115; biostatistics. [email protected]. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an AA/EOE. New York n Consumers Union seeks senior- and junior-level statisticians w/work exp. and advanced degree in statistics w/exp. in health sciences and design/analysis of experiments. Knowledge of SAS software nec. Strong communication/time mgmt. skills essential. Entry-level indivs. will be considered. Send resume to HR Dept., Consumers Union, 101 Truman Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10703-1057 or go to www. consumersunion.org and click “About Us” and “Career Opportunities.” Consumers Union is an EOE. n Four Fall 2008 Assistant Professor positions. Limited-term, one-year appointments normally renewable for two more years. Three courses taught per year at the undergraduate and graduate levels; opportunities to participate in interdisciplinary projects and join research groups within department. PhD in statistics or related field required. Vita, teaching and research statements, and three letters of reference to dk@ stat.columbia.edu. Application screening begins on April 1, 2008. Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action employer. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply. Ohio n Cleveland Clinic: biostatisticians, outcomes researchers, and statistical programmers; doctoral, master’s, and bachelor’s levels. The clinic is a nonprofit academic medical center known globally as a leader in patient care, research, and education. Its Department of Quantitative Health Sciences has over 90 professionals, including over 50 biostatisticians and statistical programmers. Openings are posted at www.clevelandclinic.org/qhs. The Cleveland Clinic is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Pennsylvania n A fixed-term position as faculty consultant in The Statistical Consulting Center is available fall 2008. Responsibilities: continued on page 65

APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 61 ATTENTION SEC T ION OFFICERS

OPPORTUNITIESPROFESSIONAL Promote your meetings and events through the ASA’s online calendar of events. Visit the ASA’s web site: www.amstat.org/dateline

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APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 63 Yale School of Public Health Yale University School of Medicine Have You Faculty Positions in Bioinformatics, Statistical Genomics, or Genetic Epidemiology Yale School of Public Health has at least two faculty positions available at the level of Professor, Associate Professor, or advanced Assistant Professor in the disciplines of bioinformatics, statistical Moved genomics, or genetic epidemiology. With a broad commitment to health sciences research and its

OPPORTUNITIESPROFESSIONAL continuing support for Yale’s Center for Genomics and Proteomics, Yale is significantly expanding its infrastructure and faculty in genomics research. The new faculty will be expected to build a strong program in their discipline and to collaborate with ongoing genomics/proteomics activities at Yale. One of the positions is linked to a concurrent initiative in genomic medicine at the Veterans Affairs Lately? (VA) Medical Center in West Haven, CT. Specifically, a faculty position will be based at the VA, with an academic appointment at Yale University, to develop and oversee genomic medicine activities within the Cooperative Studies Program (a national network of biostatistical and epidemiological research centers). The candidate filling this position will have the opportunity to lead in the development of a Send us your new address: genomics research program that utilizes the data and infrastructure of the VA system. Successful candidates will have an active research and training program; an extensive body of influential publications; a history of service to international/national-level committees, professional organizations, and scholarly journals; a reputation for mentoring successful academic careers; and an addresschange@ established international reputation in their field of research. Applications, nominations, and inquiries are all invited. Applicants are asked to submit a letter of interest, a complete curriculum vitae, and copies of recent publications, by May 1, 2008, in confi- amstat.org dence to: Genomics Search Committee c/o Charmila Fernandes or Yale School of Public Health Yale University School of Medicine P.O. Box 208034 New Haven, CT 06520-8034 American Statistical Association 732 North Washington Street Yale University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Men and women of diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds and cultures are encouraged to apply. Alexandria, VA 22314-1943

Assistant/Associate Professor Department of Biostatistics

The Department of Biostatistics at Virginia Commonwealth University is seeking applicants special- izing in genomic biostatistics for a tenure track position at the level of assistant (or associate) professor. Qualifications include: Ph.D. in biostatistics, statistics, bioinformatics, or related field. Candidates should have demonstrated experience in the analyses of genomic and/or proteomic data, familiarity with statistical programming environments for analyzing such data, and have excellent oral and written communication skills. Application areas of particular interest include epigenomics, cancer genomics, whole genome association studies, and analysis of signaling pathways. Techniques of particular interest include multivariate analysis, time series analysis and Bayesian methods. Primary responsibilities include teaching and advising graduate students as well as conducting independent methodological research. In addition, the successful applicant will be expected to collaborate with other VCU investigators in related fields in obtaining extramural grant support. Virginia Commonwealth University is a large comprehensive university in Richmond Virginia, an affordable mid-sized city of considerable historic charm located two hours south of Washington DC, and an hour’s drive from the Shenandoah mountains. The medical school (formerly Medical College of Virginia) has a distinguished history, and has embarked on a major expansion of research capacity. VCU is an urban, research intensive institution with a richly diverse university community and commitment to multicultural opportunities. Applications must include a statement of research interest, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three professional references and should be directed to Mark Reimers, Ph.D., Department of Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Box 980032, 730 E. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23298, telephone: 804.827.2055, email: [email protected].

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Women, minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

64 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008 PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES consultant training and teaching. Qualifications: PhD in statistics (or relevant field), and consulting experience. Send cover Doctoral and Masters Openings letter, contact information for three refer- Center for Biostatistics in AIDS Research (CBAR) ences, CV, and description of consulting Harvard School of Public Health, Boston experience to Bruce Lindsay, Department of Statistics, 326A Thomas Building, The Pennsylvania State University, University The Department of Biostatistics at HSPH has immediate openings in CBAR in the Park, PA 16802-2111. Visit www.stat.psu. PhD-level Research Scientist track and for MS/MA Research Analysts to join over 60 edu/~scc. Penn State is committed to affir- statisticians and epidemiologists collaborating in multi-center clinical trials, observa- mative action, equal opportunity, and the tional studies, and related research in AIDS and HIV. An international component is possible. Positions include: diversity of its work force. PhD Research Associate (recent graduate) or Research Scientist Biostatistician to work in the International Maternal Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials Group Virginia (IMPAACT) on the design and conduct of Phase I-III trials and on observational n The Department of Statistics (http:// studies. Applicants should demonstrate the ability to conduct collaborative and methodological research and have an interest in assuming a leadership role at CBAR. statistics.gme.edu), George Mason Research Scientist appointment requires 2 or more years of productive experience. University, Fairfax, is seeking up to two Excellent written and interpersonal skills are required. (Requisition number 32740) visiting assistant professor positions PhD in Quantitative Epidemiology to take a leadership role in the Adult AIDS for the 2008–2009 academic year. The Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) in a wide range of epidemiological activities including candidate should have a PhD in statistics or an observational study of over 4,500 adult subjects followed for up to 9 years. The biostatistics, and a dedication to teaching. level will depend on prior experience as outlined above. (Requisition number 31449) Special consideration will be given to Masters-level biostatisticians, new grads to experienced, strong quantitative and candidates with a well-documented research SAS programming skills. Knowledge of HIV, clinical trials, epidemiology, pediatrics, plan, which may result in release time. neurology and/or Splus/R is a plus. (Requisition number 31281) Apply at http://jobs.gmu.edu, position Apply at: http://jobs.harvard.edu/jobs/search_req number F9118Z. GMU is an equal Or www.employment.harvard.edu/careers/ opportunity/affirmative action employer. Women and minority candidates are We are an equal opportunity employer. particularly encouraged to apply. n

APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 65 OPPORTUNITIESPROFESSIONAL

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Main Giving to the ASA American Statistical Association Members and friends of the ASA may contribute to 732 North Washington Street the statistics profession by financially supporting Alexandria, VA 22314-1943 our mission and goals. The ASA is a 501(c) (3) not- Phone: (703) 684-1221 for-profit corporation. Contributions to the ASA are tax-deductible. Please visit www.amstat.org/giving Toll-free: (888) 231-3473 for more information. Fax: (703) 684-2037 Email: [email protected] Host a Membership Social Host a membership social and the ASA will reim- ASA Departments burse up to $100 to cover the cost of pizza, sand- wiches, snacks, and soft drinks! Please visit www. Advertising: [email protected] amstat.org/membership/ChapterSchoolSocials.pdf Amstat News: [email protected] for more information. Awards: [email protected] K–12 Teachers, Join the ASA Today! Education: [email protected] Join the ASA as a full individual member and enroll Fellowships and Research Programs: your school in a K–12 Membership for only $95! [email protected] Visit www.amstat.org/membership/k12promotion.

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APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 69 Member Benefits and Honors Awards Each year, a number of awards are presented in recognition of outstanding contributions or dedication to the field of statistics, professional accom- plishments, and distinguished service. For more information, please visit www.amstat.org/awards or email [email protected]. Grant Program ASA JobWeb/Career Center Six major research programs and one grant pro- The ASA JobWeb, a targeted job database and gram are administered by the ASA. Please visit résumé-posting service, will help you take advan- www.amstat.org/research_grants or email farp@ tage of valuable career opportunities. Check out amstat.org for more information. the many services available at www.amstat.org/ visit www.amstat.org/membership/devcountries/app jobweb, or email [email protected]. Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM) for more information. Chapters & Sections JSM is the largest annual gathering of statisticians Salary Report in North America. 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APRIL 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 71 April 2008 • Issue #370 MSTATNEWS ADVERTISING DIRECTORY Listed below are our display advertisements only. If you are looking for job-placement ads, A please see the professional opportunities section. For more job listings or more information on advertising, please visit our web site at www.amstat.org.

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72 AMSTAT NEWS APRIL 2008