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March 2010 • Issue #393 AMSTATNEWS The Membership Magazine of the American Statistical Association • http://magazine.amstat.org/ ASA Board of Directors Candidates ALSO: Biostatistics Internship Opportunities Publications Agreement No. 41544521 Available Statisticians Comment on Status of Climate Change Science MARCH 2010 • Issue #393 Executive Director Ron Wasserstein: [email protected] Associate Executive Director and Director of Operations F eATuRes Stephen Porzio: [email protected] 3 President’s Corner Director of Education Martha Aliaga: [email protected] 6 AsA Board of Directors Candidates Director of Science Policy 13 Statisticians Comment on status of Climate Steve Pierson: [email protected] Change science Managing Editor 17 2010 Mortimer spiegelman Award Megan Murphy: [email protected] 18 Biostatistics Internship Opportunities Available Production Coordinators/Graphic Designers Melissa Muko: [email protected] 20 Member spotlight Kathryn Wright: [email protected] 21 ISR to Publish energy statistics Issue Publications Coordinator Val Snider: [email protected] 23 Staff spotlight Advertising Manager Claudine Donovan: [email protected] Contributing Staff Members Amy Farris • Lisette Werbowetzki • Rebecca Nichols ASA Board Amstat News welcomes news items and letters from readers on matters of interest to the association and the profession. Address correspondence of Directors to Managing Editor, Amstat News, American Statistical Association, 732 Candidiates North Washington Street, Alexandria VA 22314-1943 USA, or email p. 6 [email protected]. Items must be received by the first day of the preced- ing month to ensure appearance in the next issue (for example, June 1 for the July issue). Material can be sent as a Microsoft Word document, PDF, or within an email. Articles will be edited for space. Accompanying art- work 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 monthly by the American Statistical Association, 732 North Washington Street, Alexandria 23 Special Issue to Focus on Industry VA 22314-1943 USA. Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, Virginia, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 25 COPAFs Corner Amstat News, 732 North Washington Street, Alexandria VA 22314-1943 USA. Send Canadian address changes to Station A, P.O. Box 54, Windsor 26 Treasures from the AsA Archives ON N9A 6J5; [email protected]. Annual subscriptions are $50 per year for nonmembers. Amstat News is the member publication of the ASA. For annual membership rates, see www.amstat.org/join or contact 29 Special Issue on statistical Methods for the ASA Member Services at (888) 231-3473. Social sciences American Statistical Association 30 Statisticians View 732 North Washington Street Alexandria, VA 22314–1943 USA (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 Printed in USA © 2010 statisticians Comment on American Statistical Association status of Climate Change p. 13 VISION STATEMENT To be a world leader in promoting statistical practice, applications, and research; publishing statistical journals; improving statistical education; and advancing the statistics profession MISSION STATEMENT Support excellence in statistical practice, research, journals, and meetings. Work for the improvement 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. Column Contributors Funding Opportunities The Federal Budget Request for FY 2011 p. 33 This column highlights research activities that may be of interest to AsA members. These brief articles include information about new research solicitations and the federal budget for statistics. Comments or suggestions for future articles may be sent to AsA Research and Graduate education DePARTMeNTs Manager Keith Crank at [email protected]. 41 International Contributing Editor Conferences Celebrate C. R. Rao’s 90th Birthday Keith Crank has a BS in mathematics education and an MS in mathematics from Michigan State Sessions Focus on Younger statisticians University and a PhD in statistics from Purdue IsOss Conference in Cairo a success University. Prior to joining the ASA, he was a pro- gram officer at the National Science Foundation, primarily in the probability program. 45 Meetings Proposals sought for Late-Breaking JsM sessions Crank 47 Education Chance Project Moves to CAuseweb Science Policy News Weak Forensic Science Has High Cost p. 35 This column is written to inform AsA members about what the AsA is doing to promote the inclusion of statistics in policymaking and the funding of statistics research. To suggest science policy topics for the AsA to address, contact AsA The Federal Budget Director of science Policy steve Pierson at [email protected]. Request for FY 2011 p. 33 Contributing Editor Clifford Spiegelman is a professor of statistics at Texas A&M, where he has been on faculty for 23 years. He is also a senior research scientist at the Texas Transportation Institute. His applied research interests include chemometrics, transportation statistics, envi- ronmetrics, and statistical forensics. spiegelman MeMBeR NeWs 48 People News Master’s Notebook 50 section News Statistics Key in Financial Services Industry p. 39 53 Calendar of events This column is written for statisticians with master’s degrees and highlights areas 61 Professional Opportunities of employment that will benefit statisticians at the master’s level. Comments and suggestions should be sent to Keith Crank, AsA Research and Graduate education Manager Keith Crank at [email protected]. Contributing Editor Sami Huovilainen is a senior vice president for CitiCards’ (the credit card division of Citigroup) decision manage- ment group. He earned his master of science degree in statistics and master of arts degree in economics from The Pennsylvania State University. Prior to join- ing CitiCards, he spent five years in a similar group at JP Morgan Chase. Huovilainen cover design by Melissa Muko PRESIDENT’S CORNER Make Yourself Count here are a few hours to go before the Super for communication between the ASA Board and Bowl commercials start. I promised myself I members. Vice presidents and presidents (-elect, wouldn’t turn on the TV until I finish this current, and past) provide leadership in regard Tcolumn, but my mind keeps wandering. What to our strategic plan. Membership benefits and exciting commercials will be on this time? I can’t growth, meetings, publications, finances, commit- wait to see the commercial for the 2010 Census! tee appointments and accomplishments, education, I heard Census Director Bob Groves on National visibility, and having an impact on public policy are Public Radio last month talking about the difficul- some of the topics discussed regularly by ASA Board ties with undercounts, overcounts, foreclosures, members. Please read the candidates’ biographies etc. I wish him the best with a successful census. and statements; Google them if you need to. Just It is exciting to be a statistician during the decen- don’t forget to cast your vote. sastry Pantula nial census: “United States Census 2010: It’s in Our To provide you (and myself) with more infor- Hands,” “We Count, Because Everyone Counts,” mation, I asked the candidates for president (Jim “How America Knows What America Needs.” The Landwehr and Bob Rodriguez) and vice president importance of accurate counts is well known to all (Linda Gage and Mary Mulry) to respond to some of us. Please encourage everyone you know to fill questions. Their answers (unedited) are below. I out their census forms. hope this information, in addition to their personal Speaking of being counted, do not forget to vote statements, helps you choose. in the upcoming ASA elections. The percentage of members who vote in ASA elections has increased What does the ASA stand for? (I don’t mean over the past few years; however, participation is still just “American Statistical Association.” I’m far below 50%. I hope we have an excellent turnout looking for three bullets or an elevator this year; it is as easy as a few clicks from your email. speech you would give if someone asked Of course, deciding who you would like to vote for what the ASA means to you.) among such good candidates is another story. On the next few pages, you will see information about Jim Landwehr (P): It’s the central focus for the outstanding members who are willing to volunteer statistics profession in this country. It’s the place their time to our association. The ASA thrives on all segments of our profession can and do gather— such dedication. I want to thank each of the candi- through meetings, publications, electronically—to dates for their willingness to participate. Please show communicate among ourselves and with the broader them your support by casting your vote. society, which needs and uses statistics in many and Section officers play an important role in advanc- varying ways. ing the thematic interests of our association and are Bob Rodriguez (P): I believe that ASA stands for a key to the success of our meetings. Council of Activity, Service, and Advocacy! The ASA benefits Chapters and Council of Sections representatives all statisticians by providing