President’s Column – Page 2

President’s Column 2021-02-102021-07-10

Thinking Strategically and Acting Accordingly

ISI strategic priorities are described in our 2017-2021 strategic plan: These include:

encourage statistical communication and networking;
increase the public voice of statistics;
develop statistical capacity;
secure our financial stability.

President’s Column 2021-01-102021-01-26

Continuing Strong in 2021

I decided to review my January 2020 President’s message before writing this message. That message reflected an excitement about the preparation for upcoming in-person conferences. We planned and, ultimately, the coronavirus causing COVID-19 laughed.

President’s Column 2020-12-112021-07-10

2020 in Review; 2021+ in Preview

2020: A year for the record books

As long as you wear a mask, spend less than 15 minutes reading this message and wash your hands after then you shouldn’t have to worry about COVID-19 exposure here.

President’s Column 2020-11-092021-07-10

Gratitude

November is the month when Thanksgiving is celebrated in the United States. It is a day often characterized by gatherings of family and friends. This year is different. Many families will have remote, virtual meals together as part of efforts to control the continuing spread of COVID-19. Virtual gatherings of families are natural given how much of our paid work and volunteer work is being done virtually as well. While there may be disappointment with not being together, reasons to be thankful remain. I decided to focus my message this month on my gratitude for the work of ISI members and staff.

President’s Column 2020-10-092020-11-12

What do you get for someone on World Statistics Day?

You know who is being honored on birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and even Labor Day. But who is being recognized and celebrated on World Statistics Day (WSD)? The simple and easy answer is the profession and practice of statistics. The WSD website, worldstatisticsday.org, describes this year’s theme: Connecting the world with data we can trust.

President’s Column 2020-09-142020-09-24

Purposeful participating presence

Planning for the virtual World Statistics Congress 2021 continues. The final testing of the online submission system is occurring now. While I participated in multiple online conferences this summer, I recently had the pleasure of meeting (online!) with organizers of the Bernoulli-IMS One World Conference, Siva Athreya, Leif Döring (chair), Andreas Kyprianou, Jean-Christophe Mourrat, Christian Robert.

President’s Column 2020-08-182021-07-10

Creating Space

I had the pleasure of meeting educator and author Parker Palmer many years ago. He said that the role of a teacher is to create a space where students can learn. I thought about Palmer’s comment when I reflected on the role of a statistical society and conferences that it hosts. I like that ‘creating space’ contains two meanings – the act of creating space for some purpose and the space itself where a creative act occurs.

President’s Column 2020-04-062021-08-20

New Normal Now / Connected Community Always

One month ago I was visiting with statistical colleagues from around the world the vibrant city that never sleeps, New York City. Today, the streets of this city are empty, and, like most of you, I’m working from home with daily videoconferences to interact on projects.

President’s Column 2020-03-192021-08-20

Encountering the World of (Official) Statistics

I just returned home after attending my first United Nations Statistical Commission meetings. The delegates from National Statistical Offices, International and regional Statistical Organisations and Non-Governmental Agencies participated in the UNSC with focus, intensity and engagement. In fact, participants were invited to bring these traits to the World Statistics Congress in 2021.