ASA at 175 – More Support for the Importance of Statistics

By Ronald Wasserstein posted 04-21-2014 09:43

  

A few days ago, we blogged about statistics being listed as one of the top jobs in the U.S.  Now in this past weekend’s New York Times was an op-ed article by Thomas Friedman titled “How to Get a Job at Google, Part 2” that adds further evidence to the importance of and opportunities in statistics as a career.

In the article, Friedman interviews Laszlo Bock, Google’s “senior vice president for people operations.”  The interview is a follow-up to a February interview with Bock about what employers like Google are looking for in new employees. In the more recent interview, Bock says the first thing Google looks for “…is general cognitive ability—the ability to learn things and solve problems.” Then, Bock notes, “I took statistics at business school, and it was transformative for my career. Analytical training gives you a skill set that differentiates you from most people in the labor market.”

The Friedman piece is well worth reading in its entirety. It also stirred some lively reader comments that you should find interesting. 

From the standpoint of the ASA in its 175th anniversary year, Friedman’s column and Bock’s comments lend highly credible support to a major ASA activity that will be launched in August.

In consultation with Stanton Communications, a national public relations consulting firm, the ASA will initiate a multi-year campaign to inform high-school and college students (and those who influence them) about the many and diverse career opportunities in statistics. Our goals are to generate greater knowledge of and interest in statistics and to correct misconceptions by demonstrating what statistics really is and what great opportunities it provides for a meaningful, rewarding career.

Stayed tuned in the next three months to this blog and to the Amstat News President’s Column for news about this ASA strategic initiative and to learn how you can contribute to this campaign. 

In 2014, the American Statistical Association is celebrating its 175th anniversary. Over the course of this year, this blog will highlight aspects of that celebration, and look broadly at the ASA and its activities. Please contact ASA Executive Director Ron Wasserstein (ron@amstat.org) if you would like to contribute an entry to this blog.

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